If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran
by Carla Power
Power’s book begins as a personal challenge: to read and understand the Qur’an in a world full of stereotypes and fear. She frames the journey through her friendship with a conservative Islamic scholar, creating a dynamic of debate, affection, and mutual frustration. The narrative makes theology approachable by grounding it in conversation and lived questions. Power writes with curiosity and humility, admitting what she doesn’t know and showing her learning in real time. The book explores how texts are interpreted—how politics, culture, and personal history shape reading. Power also brings in travel and reporting, connecting scripture to diverse Muslim communities. The tone is accessible and human, resisting polemic in favor of genuine inquiry. Moments of disagreement are treated honestly, without flattening either side. The result is a book about friendship as method: understanding built through sustained attention rather than instant consensus. It’s thoughtful, clarifying, and quietly hopeful. A valuable invitation to read more carefully and fear less reflexively.
