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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
Honestly, I dont really like it. People said it was good but i was struggling to finish it. I skipped Suha chapter first and proceed to read Tamr, Suzzane and Nur chapter. Tamr Chapter called out to me most, she wanted an education and feeling the need to upgrade herself and being independent. Her chapter is the reason i finally finished reading this book. Once i done with Nur chapter, I get back to Suha Chapter and try to connect the dots among this 4 characters. This is a good book considering Hanan Al-shaykh wrote it. Maybe it just doesnt meet my expectation or add up to my liking.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe I went through a little too fast and didn’t pick up a ton of plot but it’s a refreshingly new angle for litfic (for me) with surprisingly familiar tones in an unfamiliar world. Nur and Suha’s relationship was definitely the most memorable part to me. Worth rereading, I’d guess!
reflective
slow-paced
Many of the reviews, I believe, are unfair. The English translation was heavily edited. The name of the book, and therefore, the meaning of the story was altered. Even the order of the perspectives were swapped around! This definitely changed our idea of who was the protagonist and who's story we should really be following. If this book was read as it is told in its original form, we would have seen it as Al-Shaykh intended. This story is very important for Middle Eastern feminism, identity, and sexuality, and I hold it as a very important book to women all across the globe.
Many of the reviews, I believe, are unfair. The English translation was heavily edited. The name of the book, and therefore, the meaning of the story was altered. Even the order of the perspectives were swapped around! This definitely changed our idea of who was the protagonist and who's story we should really be following. If this book was read as it is told in its original form, we would have seen it as Al-Shaykh intended. This story is very important for Middle Eastern feminism, identity, and sexuality, and I hold it as a very important book to women all across the globe.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the characters and the way the writer made their emotions so palpable. However the timeline jumped around so much that it made the story really hard to follow. Overall it was interesting but quite a hard/dense read.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book follows four different women living in an unnamed (but inspired by Saudi Arabia) Middle Eastern country. Their story is divided into four sections, one for each woman, and tells of their personal, cultural, and religious struggles living in this region. It’s an incredible insight into the region and the lives of the women there. In particular, I thought the stories of Suha and Tamr, the first two stories, were inspiring for their explorations of marriage, motherhood, and trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content
Set in an unnamed country in the Mid East, this novel follows the lives of four women: Suha, Nur, Suzanne, and Tamr. Each woman is affected by the conservative Muslim culture they live in, but react in four distinctly different ways. Suha--Lebanese born and educated--chafes at the restrictions she faces and acts out by entering into a dangerous sexual relationship with Nur. Wealthy and pampered Nur uses sex to break up the boredom of her life as does American Suzanne. Unsurprising, both women do not find the happiness they seek, but with different results. Finally, mousy Tamr risks family ire by attending classes and opening up her own business.
I found this novel striking but difficult: Al-Shaykh's characters are fleshy and realistic, often acting in ways challenging to the reader to like or admire. I was surprised to realize that even in the Mid East, local mores vary; Lebanese Suha, in particular, struggles to show the reader that Islamic doesn't have to equal repressive.
I found this novel striking but difficult: Al-Shaykh's characters are fleshy and realistic, often acting in ways challenging to the reader to like or admire. I was surprised to realize that even in the Mid East, local mores vary; Lebanese Suha, in particular, struggles to show the reader that Islamic doesn't have to equal repressive.