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ppratz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
4.25
books_coffees_wines's review against another edition
4.0
“From teachers, friends, family and the moral police, the message was clear: the world was a dangerous place for women and we needed to be careful at all times.”
This book surprised me. It surpassed all expectations I had – her writing flows effortlessly, and I could not put it down.
My Past Is A Foreign Country is a memoir from an Indian Muslim feminist who grows up in Saudi Arabia, about her journey to self-acceptance whilst not letting negative experiences define her. The way she writes makes you feel connected to the book immediately and you felt like you got to know her.
We learn of her experiences growing up in a patriarchal society; the pressures not just on Talkhani, but on all women. Talkhani suffers hair loss and her Mother is ashamed and does everything to hide it, putting more pressure on her daughter. “And maybe that’s the biggest cost of hiding our vulnerabilities, that we no longer know how to be empathetic.”
Zeba’s mother cannot always be the parent she wishes to be, and similarly, she is not always the mother that Zeba needs her to be “We remained unable to free ourselves of the restrictions placed on us by the patriarchy, even when it threatened to create an insurmountable barrier between us.”
We learn of her experiences of sexism, assault, and women being treated as if their only purpose in life is to marry and bear children. “I was told that men and women are equal but not ‘identical’, that men knew better”.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. An excellent memoir - it is short yet powerful. If it is on your TBR then read it! You will read it quickly and will not be able to put it down.
This book surprised me. It surpassed all expectations I had – her writing flows effortlessly, and I could not put it down.
My Past Is A Foreign Country is a memoir from an Indian Muslim feminist who grows up in Saudi Arabia, about her journey to self-acceptance whilst not letting negative experiences define her. The way she writes makes you feel connected to the book immediately and you felt like you got to know her.
We learn of her experiences growing up in a patriarchal society; the pressures not just on Talkhani, but on all women. Talkhani suffers hair loss and her Mother is ashamed and does everything to hide it, putting more pressure on her daughter. “And maybe that’s the biggest cost of hiding our vulnerabilities, that we no longer know how to be empathetic.”
Zeba’s mother cannot always be the parent she wishes to be, and similarly, she is not always the mother that Zeba needs her to be “We remained unable to free ourselves of the restrictions placed on us by the patriarchy, even when it threatened to create an insurmountable barrier between us.”
We learn of her experiences of sexism, assault, and women being treated as if their only purpose in life is to marry and bear children. “I was told that men and women are equal but not ‘identical’, that men knew better”.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. An excellent memoir - it is short yet powerful. If it is on your TBR then read it! You will read it quickly and will not be able to put it down.
mmefish's review against another edition
The narrative is all over the place and the author does not meditate on any of the (purposless) information they include.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
absolute_bookery's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
An excellent memoir that taught me a lot. Zeba talks with so much heartbreaking honesty, what an amazing lady!
orrantw's review against another edition
4.0
The book was a bit too optimistic to the point where it got a bit unrealistic. Instead of talking about how to engage with the patriarchy, she sort of offers the solution to numb yourself to it and you’ll be free. As a gay woman who lost my entire family and who continues to be harassed in public with my girlfriend and at work from my coworkers, her solution seems a bit like she gave up and had accepted her place in society. It was an easy read though and enjoyable otherwise.
whamydid's review against another edition
4.0
My Past Is A Foreign Country is one of my favourite memoirs in recent years. Zeba discusses her life growing up as a Muslim girl of Indian descent in Saudi Arabia before moving to study in India, Germany and England. The book looks critically at the society she grew up in and discusses the struggle as a Muslim woman to be beautiful, to be married etc. I gained so much knowledge about life in Saudi Arabia, the expectations on Muslim women and lots about different cultures. I found Zeba’s story fascinating. I learned so much. It’s an important book, one that was super insightful and I highly recommend!
marinazala's review against another edition
3.0
** Books 71 - 2022 **
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2022
3,3 of 5 stars!
I'm curious about this books when i read the title is since what happen with her past country? is she have to move from her original country? I'm really expect a lot from this books but it is unfortunately it didn't reach my expectation. This pieces more into the difficult relationship between the author dan her mother since they have different perspectives. However you can found a glimpse culture differences of India and Arab Saudi.
Actually the author's mother is really got my sympathy in the same time. Can you imagine she is the youngest daughter in her family and suddenly have to flew into Arab Saudi with her husband and doesn't have any friend or neighbor that can be friend with.. So i guess her mother is have depression and repressed alot her feelings. That's why she can express her feelings freely into her children
It is also interesting when the author is not really bother what people thinks of her when she is not married yet and she want to continue her study. she is really wants to learn and learn more and that's really an inspiring one
Thankyou Periplus Bookstore!
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2022
3,3 of 5 stars!
I'm curious about this books when i read the title is since what happen with her past country? is she have to move from her original country? I'm really expect a lot from this books but it is unfortunately it didn't reach my expectation. This pieces more into the difficult relationship between the author dan her mother since they have different perspectives. However you can found a glimpse culture differences of India and Arab Saudi.
Actually the author's mother is really got my sympathy in the same time. Can you imagine she is the youngest daughter in her family and suddenly have to flew into Arab Saudi with her husband and doesn't have any friend or neighbor that can be friend with.. So i guess her mother is have depression and repressed alot her feelings. That's why she can express her feelings freely into her children
It is also interesting when the author is not really bother what people thinks of her when she is not married yet and she want to continue her study. she is really wants to learn and learn more and that's really an inspiring one
Thankyou Periplus Bookstore!
lynsey1889's review against another edition
4.0
Very readable, enjoyable and challenging. So important that stories like this are told and read by everyone.
thewoollygeek's review against another edition
5.0
A powerful read is a huge understatement, this book fills you with hope and Zeba is such an inspiration to every generation, women and men. More books like this are needed , I can’t emphasise this enough. Thank you so much for sharing your story Zeba. I hope it inspires so many people as much as it did me.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion