Richard Morris

Masjid Morning Richard Morris

Winner in the 2017 Bookvana Awards in the category Fiction: Romance. 2017 International Book Awards Finalist in the category Fiction-Romance. While their families feud, Atif and Amy fall in love and strive to surmount their conflicting religions, cultural backgrounds, and opposition from their families. In a small Maryland town, Atif, a premed student, and Amy, a high school senior, meet secretly as Atif answers Amy's questions about Islam. Their attraction grows, and Amy tries to convert him to Christianity, while Atif believes that if they marry, she will convert to Islam. Atif's father, an immigrant from Lahore, Pakistan and chief surgeon at a hospital, is leading his congregation in construction of a mosque, while Amy's father, a decorated veteran of the Battle of Mogadishu who owns a large dairy farm, is opposed to the construction and heads a group doing everything they can to stop it. It's about two young people in two families and two homes with two religions. Where do they belong? "Masjid Morning is a Romeo and Juliet story set in present day rural America with characters struggling over questions of love, loyalty, and belonging. It makes one question whether community spirit can ever overcome the violence of our prejudices." -Cynthia A. Snavely, minister -Kirkus Reviews calls it "A thought-provoking and ultimately moving story that looks at love, human nature, and conservative religion."