A review by archytas
Muddy People: A memoir by Sara El Sayed

reflective slow-paced

3.25

El Sayed plays on the sense of muddy here as unclear, liminal as well as using to refute and recount experiences of Australian racism. Structured around a set of family 'rules' that related to anecdotes about growing up in between cultures and places, the book is frequently funny and frequently intentionally uncomfortable. A big strength of the book is the portrayal of El Sayed's parents, whose characterisation often comes as much through El Sayed's responses as their actions, but who feel infuriatingly and lovably human while never slipping into exaggerated, as is a bit common in memoir. Her mother's reticence, focus, impatience and quiet determined ambition contrast with a faithful, spontaneous and loving father whose confidence that his daughter will meet his high expectations can be intimidating. You can see not only that divorce is on the cards, but also that negotiating that divorce will be something more done in the unsaid than the said, from these two different people.
This was highly anticipated for me, as I thought El Sayed's piece in Growing Up African in Australia, was a stand out. I wasn't all the tonal shifts entirely worked for me, but I will be following where El Sayed goes next.