Points of Incredulity

Two points:

The current book that I picked up from a hotel lobby in Cairo is written by a 15 year old boy. 15 years!  I have loved fantasy books since I was a dork in elementary school, and Eragon certainly has the markings of a good (if not somewhat overused storyline) book.  Amazing -- the flow and vocabulary that this kid has.

In Egypt, over 95% of women undergo genital mutilation. Usually, the lining of their nether-regions is scraped off so they would have less sensory pleasure (and therefore, less susceptible to sin and the enjoyment of sex) during periods of activity.

What is more incredible is that over 65% of women in Egypt approve of this rite as proper and would perform it on their children.

The procedure is actually common across the Middle East and parts of Africa.

From Wikipedia:

A number of reasons are put forward for the practice of FGC. These include the belief that it annuls or moderates sexual desires in women. It is also believed that it is more hygienic. Frequently the practice is associated with traditional initiation rites. Some believe religion justifies the practice. In some cultures there exists the belief that a newborn child has elements of both sexes. In the male body the foreskin of the penis is considered to be the female element. In the female body the clitoris is considered to be the male element. Hence when the adolescent is reaching puberty, these elements are removed to make the indication of sex clear.

The operation is most often carried out by female practitioners. Thus it has been attributed by some authors to a deep-rooted fear of elder women that the more attractive younger women might seduce away their husbands and thus leave them without support.

I liked Eragon too! They're coming out with a movie now. Imagine being 20 and having a movie coming out based on your first book...

Posted by: blowingbubbles | October 20, 2006 at 11:12 PM

a Movie? No way! I mean, I'd love to see a movie with Luke, um.. Eragon and the Jedis.. uh, Dragon Riders, and Gandalf.. oops, no wait..

Seriously, have to give the guy props. He does rip off a lot of stuff, but the mind-talk and some other stuff shows real imagination. AND I would think that he got a lot of help from his publisher parents!

(I finished it in a day).

Posted by: j.fisher | October 22, 2006 at 01:10 PM