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teatonic's review
4.0
For a fictional memoir very nicely written. It was atmospheric and good at transferring the emotional state of the characters. I often felt immersed in the scenes she was describing. It was informative of the political and cultural state of Morocco in the 1940s.
What made it less than captivating was the fact that it was fictional. It made me doubt whether her characters would indeed think in real life the way they have in her book. There was also no storyline and the topics were changing from chapter to chapter, which made me lose focus from time to time.
What made it less than captivating was the fact that it was fictional. It made me doubt whether her characters would indeed think in real life the way they have in her book. There was also no storyline and the topics were changing from chapter to chapter, which made me lose focus from time to time.
amatullah's review against another edition
5.0
I found a lot of interesting references that I’m planning to dig on. I loved reading this book; it reminded me of my own childhood summers in Morocco.
magsmcwelch's review
3.0
I really liked this one, but I would be hesitant to recommend, as it took me a long time to get through.
donnaadouglas's review
5.0
This is a lot more than just a straightforward memoir of life in a harem (A harem being a family living quarter for women and children, not the publicised westerm view of it as a 'brothel') - this is a coming-of-age tale at a major turning point in the history of Morocco.
Fatima Mernissi, the writer, was fortunate to grow up at a time when Morocco was granted two freedoms: freedom from the French, and freedom for women.
As a European woman married to a Moroccan man, this was of particular interest to me. My husband comes from a family of strong women, and reading about a time when women weren't allowed to show 'strength' publicly is something I feel incredibly moved by. It's something that it is easy to forget about when you grow up in a postfeminist society, but a lot of strong women made sacrifices so we can live as we do today, and I feel honoured to walk in their footsteps. Fatima Mernissi gives voice to lost generations of women who previously had none, and she should be applauded for this.
Women's lib aside, this is a onderful memoir, balancing the funny, awkward innocence of youth, with the mature and educated wisdom of hindsight. A five-star read!
QUOTATIONS I LIKED
" Our Medina streets were narrow, dark, and serpentine - filled with so many twists and turns that cars could not enter, and foreigners could not find their way out if they ever dared to come in. This was the real reason the French had to build a new city for themselves: they were afraid to live in ours."
"Cousin Zin, who had visited England, said that the tea up there was so bitter, they mixed it with milk. So Samir and I poured some milk in our mint tea once, just to give it a try, and it was ugh! awful! No wonder the Christians were always miserable and looking for fights!"
Fatima Mernissi, the writer, was fortunate to grow up at a time when Morocco was granted two freedoms: freedom from the French, and freedom for women.
As a European woman married to a Moroccan man, this was of particular interest to me. My husband comes from a family of strong women, and reading about a time when women weren't allowed to show 'strength' publicly is something I feel incredibly moved by. It's something that it is easy to forget about when you grow up in a postfeminist society, but a lot of strong women made sacrifices so we can live as we do today, and I feel honoured to walk in their footsteps. Fatima Mernissi gives voice to lost generations of women who previously had none, and she should be applauded for this.
Women's lib aside, this is a onderful memoir, balancing the funny, awkward innocence of youth, with the mature and educated wisdom of hindsight. A five-star read!
QUOTATIONS I LIKED
" Our Medina streets were narrow, dark, and serpentine - filled with so many twists and turns that cars could not enter, and foreigners could not find their way out if they ever dared to come in. This was the real reason the French had to build a new city for themselves: they were afraid to live in ours."
"Cousin Zin, who had visited England, said that the tea up there was so bitter, they mixed it with milk. So Samir and I poured some milk in our mint tea once, just to give it a try, and it was ugh! awful! No wonder the Christians were always miserable and looking for fights!"
justine3's review
4.0
Took a bit for me to get into this book but it came highly recommended and I’m glad I read it before/during my trip to Morocco!
isarza's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Disfruté mucho de conocer la vida de una persona de una cultura tan diferente a la mía pero los 2 últimos capítulos los sentí diferentes al resto y eso le restó puntos para mí.
Me parece un buen libro para quienes no conozcamos nada de la cultura árabe.
Me parece un buen libro para quienes no conozcamos nada de la cultura árabe.
nanirump's review
3.0
An interesting look into what life in a harem is like as viewed from a curious and quiet child as well as some of the adult insights which are brought to us by the varying adult women- those who are happy in the strict traditional ways and those wanting to break free.
melvankomen's review
4.0
Lovely and informative. My western idea of a harem were corrected. I gained insight into this way of life, realized all humans are so alike on fundamental levels, and that freedom really is a most fundamental right.