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casspro's review against another edition
3.0
There are four women central to this novel's structure are more alike than they are portrayed. While they are all struggling in their own circumstances to find their place, blend in, stand out, or make a name for themselves, few of them try to get out of their situations. They create their own prisons, but don't ever try to escape. Suha is the only one who, after pages and pages of complaining and voluntary isolation, chooses to gather herself together and find a way out. Tamr has her temper tantrums and histrionic episodes in an attempt to manipulate those around her and when those don't work, she pouts. Suzanne is so wrapped up in keeping her lover interested, that she disregards her husband and children; when her lover succumbs to an STD, she distances herself completely from him and his family that she becomes close to and washes her hands of the entire situation. Nur is just bat-shit crazy and intense in her obsession over Suha. The characters aren't very likable, but there are moments of sympathy and sadness and beauty.
The novel itself gives a good overview of what everyday life is like in various Middle-Eastern countries. As an American female, one has to put aside any preconceived notions of female civil rights to fully submerge into the culture of this novel. The descriptions of the desert and the people are beautiful and very realistic; you can almost feel the sand blowing in your face and smell the incense smoke in the air.
The novel itself gives a good overview of what everyday life is like in various Middle-Eastern countries. As an American female, one has to put aside any preconceived notions of female civil rights to fully submerge into the culture of this novel. The descriptions of the desert and the people are beautiful and very realistic; you can almost feel the sand blowing in your face and smell the incense smoke in the air.
davidpatricx's review against another edition
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
caramay's review
DNF @ 54%.
No plot or storyline, boring and the writing was dull in execution.
No plot or storyline, boring and the writing was dull in execution.
_rusalka's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to pin down my feelings for this book. It raises so many, it was really hard to wade through them all and work out what I thought of the book as a whole.
The book is 4 intertwining stories about 4 different women within a very strict, restrictive Islamic society within the Middle East. The best I can find is Saudi Arabia is probably the closest with these restrictions. I loved that this was from the women's perspective which gave us an insight into a world half of us would never see.
The book is split into 4 parts, each part with a different woman telling their story. The women pop up in other women's stories as they are all connected but your perspective is changing throughout the book. We have Suha from Lebanon who's husband has a contract in this country and they have moved there for him to work for a while. Tamr, who is the daughter of a sheikh and his concubine from Turkey, but is a native to this 'country' and a student of Suha's at the local womens' TAFE. Suzanne, an American housewife who again's husband has a contract in this country, yet she finds all men find her exotic and desirable in this country and never wants to leave. And Nur, who is incredibly spoiled by her very wealthy husband, but there is so much more to that relationship.
Some of these women I completely empathised with. Some I was appalled with. But I understood most of them. They were all products of this restrictive society. And it made me so glad that I could drive and go where I wanted, when I wanted, without a man, I can work, I can be educated, I can leave my house without a man I'm related or married to, I can wear what I like and so much more. It was one of those books that immersed you in were you were and I think that's really important, as so many of us write off these places. We don't think about them. We know about them but we don't think about them, as they make us angry and so it's easier not to. And we forget the women within them.
It's important to remember.
For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/
The book is 4 intertwining stories about 4 different women within a very strict, restrictive Islamic society within the Middle East. The best I can find is Saudi Arabia is probably the closest with these restrictions. I loved that this was from the women's perspective which gave us an insight into a world half of us would never see.
The book is split into 4 parts, each part with a different woman telling their story. The women pop up in other women's stories as they are all connected but your perspective is changing throughout the book. We have Suha from Lebanon who's husband has a contract in this country and they have moved there for him to work for a while. Tamr, who is the daughter of a sheikh and his concubine from Turkey, but is a native to this 'country' and a student of Suha's at the local womens' TAFE. Suzanne, an American housewife who again's husband has a contract in this country, yet she finds all men find her exotic and desirable in this country and never wants to leave. And Nur, who is incredibly spoiled by her very wealthy husband, but there is so much more to that relationship.
Some of these women I completely empathised with. Some I was appalled with. But I understood most of them. They were all products of this restrictive society. And it made me so glad that I could drive and go where I wanted, when I wanted, without a man, I can work, I can be educated, I can leave my house without a man I'm related or married to, I can wear what I like and so much more. It was one of those books that immersed you in were you were and I think that's really important, as so many of us write off these places. We don't think about them. We know about them but we don't think about them, as they make us angry and so it's easier not to. And we forget the women within them.
It's important to remember.
For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/
misspalah's review against another edition
4.0
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.
mwmakar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's 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!
daddyvegeta's review against another edition
4.0
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.
heyrachelbaby's review against another edition
4.0
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.
vezreads's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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.