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A review by heykellyjensen
I Love I Hate I Miss My Sister by Amélie Sarn
This is a tiny little punch of a book! It's not even 150 pages but it packs in a lot.
Sohane and Dejlila are sisters in a housing project in France. Both are Muslim. The story picks up and we know that Dejlila has been killed by a boy who lives in the project who thinks it's his job to police how people look and behave. The story unfolds as Sohane talks about how that moment came to be. It's a story about their devotion to one another as sisters, as well as a story about how French laws make wearing a head scarf in the public school classroom illegal. That is one of the catalysts here, as Sohane decides she's going to wear the head scarf as a means of pride in her religious beliefs. Dejlila, on the other hand, has never been interested in wearing one, and she dresses much more "liberally" than her sister or others around her may. And while Sohane may judge her for doing so, she respects Dejlila's right to do as she pleases, even if Dejlila doesn't always offer that back to Sohane and her choices.
This is a blisteringly feminist novel about choice. There's even a great passage in the book where the girls talk about their use of the f word and what it means to them, as well as to their religious beliefs more broadly. It was utterly refreshing and lovely to read a book with Muslim characters and beliefs where feminism is touted as a powerful, accepted tenant. Both parents in this story are fantastic and supportive of their daughters, as well. When Sohane makes the tough decision to leave public school, she has the unwavering support of her family to make her own choices.
Sarn's book is a novel in translation, and at times, the writing isn't as smooth or cohesive as it could be, and at times the pacing feels a little off (it almost moves too quickly). But the story is outstanding.
Sohane and Dejlila are sisters in a housing project in France. Both are Muslim. The story picks up and we know that Dejlila has been killed by a boy who lives in the project who thinks it's his job to police how people look and behave. The story unfolds as Sohane talks about how that moment came to be. It's a story about their devotion to one another as sisters, as well as a story about how French laws make wearing a head scarf in the public school classroom illegal. That is one of the catalysts here, as Sohane decides she's going to wear the head scarf as a means of pride in her religious beliefs. Dejlila, on the other hand, has never been interested in wearing one, and she dresses much more "liberally" than her sister or others around her may. And while Sohane may judge her for doing so, she respects Dejlila's right to do as she pleases, even if Dejlila doesn't always offer that back to Sohane and her choices.
This is a blisteringly feminist novel about choice. There's even a great passage in the book where the girls talk about their use of the f word and what it means to them, as well as to their religious beliefs more broadly. It was utterly refreshing and lovely to read a book with Muslim characters and beliefs where feminism is touted as a powerful, accepted tenant. Both parents in this story are fantastic and supportive of their daughters, as well. When Sohane makes the tough decision to leave public school, she has the unwavering support of her family to make her own choices.
Sarn's book is a novel in translation, and at times, the writing isn't as smooth or cohesive as it could be, and at times the pacing feels a little off (it almost moves too quickly). But the story is outstanding.