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A review by nicolet2018
The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write by Sabrina Mahfouz
3.0
I was really interested to pick this up because I wanted to read from different perspectives. I do feel that muslim women are stereotyped and I was hoping this collection would provide a look into these womens' lives. Was it really so different from mine?
As usual, I will review the pieces individually.
Under the Cypress Tree by Fadia Faqir
I liked this one, an unlikely friendship between two elderly women with a twist. I could not quite understand the flashbacks Doris had. I wished those were explained more.
Home, to a Man by Amina Jama
Poetry usually eludes me unless it is straight forward. This one held echoes I could identify with and feel upset about but some parts were confusing.
Cutting Someone's Heart Out with a Spoon by Chimene Sulayman
I did not really understand this story of two teenage boys trying to sell the gall bladder of one of them. They were trying to remove it with a spoon, obviously it is not possible. Though at times I was scared that something gross would happen.
Sentence by Aliya Hasinah Holder
These poems were part literal and other times too abstract to get.
The Girl Next Door by Kamila Shamsie
I quite liked this as the main characters makes comparisons to this neighbour she used to know who went to the west and changed. It seems to explore how we stereotype others who are the opposite of what we believe. Also how women are brought up to be competitive instead of supportive of one another.
The Right Word by Imtiaz Dharker
Again, rather abstract. Perhaps I do not understand because I am not the target audience.
Islamic Tinder by Triska Hamid
I have been wanting to find out if there was really an islamic version of Tinder. A piece that feels current as women are advancing in the workplace and find it difficult to date because of the traditional view of their religions. Men just don't like a woman who is capable or possibly better than him.
This Body is Woman by Nafeesa Hamid
This felt relatable but the use of the word "woman" felt too repetitive and did not make sense the way it was put into sentences.
Mezzaterra by Ahdaf Soueif
This was actually interesting, it felt like an honest commentary on how the western world stereotypes the Middle East and denies aid to those who need it the most. But there was alot of information to digest and it went over my head.
Uominni Candranno by Seems Begum
I did not really understand this.
The Insider by Leila Aboelela
I did not like the way the story was presented in a. script form. It was confusing and did not connect with me.
Fallujah, Basrah by Shazhi Quraishi
The first set of poems sounded so sad. But most after that was confusing.
Blood and Broken Bodies by Shaista Aziz
This piece talks about how honour killings are normalised in the Middle East and how females are so controlled in their interactions with men. I could not help but feel upset.
Stand by Me by Miss L
The author talks about how she is constantly stereotypes for acting roles based on her skin colour. I do feel like more variety needs to be given.
Staying Alive through Brexit Racism, Mental Health and Emotional Labour by Aisha Mirza
It was quite surprising to see a muslim woman identify as gay. But I did not really under stand her narrative.
The Things I would Tell You by Hibaq Osman
Did not understand these poems either.
Brown Girl by Azra Tabassum
The first poem spoke about the expectations (none) put on coloured females whilst the other poems were hard to understand.
Take Me There by Selma Dabbagh
I was not sure if this was a fictional story based on the situation in the Middle East or a real life experience.
Last Assignment to Jenin by Selma Dabbagh
This was such a sad story of two lovers who are torn apart by war.
Belongings by Esma Elbadawi
In some ways I got this and at others, nope.
My Other Half by Samira Shackle
Intriguing piece on returning to your homeland to discover what you have been missing. I like that the author highlights the flaws and upsides of going back.
Battleface by Sabrina Mahfouz
An interesting script between an MI6 agent and a plastic surgeon. At the end, I am not sure who wins. This was good.
An Eye That Sees by Hanan Al-Shaykh
This was okay.
Overall, a well rounded collection using different mediums of writing but most of the writing did not call to me. This is a good start though.
As usual, I will review the pieces individually.
Under the Cypress Tree by Fadia Faqir
I liked this one, an unlikely friendship between two elderly women with a twist. I could not quite understand the flashbacks Doris had. I wished those were explained more.
Home, to a Man by Amina Jama
Poetry usually eludes me unless it is straight forward. This one held echoes I could identify with and feel upset about but some parts were confusing.
Cutting Someone's Heart Out with a Spoon by Chimene Sulayman
I did not really understand this story of two teenage boys trying to sell the gall bladder of one of them. They were trying to remove it with a spoon, obviously it is not possible. Though at times I was scared that something gross would happen.
Sentence by Aliya Hasinah Holder
These poems were part literal and other times too abstract to get.
The Girl Next Door by Kamila Shamsie
I quite liked this as the main characters makes comparisons to this neighbour she used to know who went to the west and changed. It seems to explore how we stereotype others who are the opposite of what we believe. Also how women are brought up to be competitive instead of supportive of one another.
The Right Word by Imtiaz Dharker
Again, rather abstract. Perhaps I do not understand because I am not the target audience.
Islamic Tinder by Triska Hamid
I have been wanting to find out if there was really an islamic version of Tinder. A piece that feels current as women are advancing in the workplace and find it difficult to date because of the traditional view of their religions. Men just don't like a woman who is capable or possibly better than him.
This Body is Woman by Nafeesa Hamid
This felt relatable but the use of the word "woman" felt too repetitive and did not make sense the way it was put into sentences.
Mezzaterra by Ahdaf Soueif
This was actually interesting, it felt like an honest commentary on how the western world stereotypes the Middle East and denies aid to those who need it the most. But there was alot of information to digest and it went over my head.
Uominni Candranno by Seems Begum
I did not really understand this.
The Insider by Leila Aboelela
I did not like the way the story was presented in a. script form. It was confusing and did not connect with me.
Fallujah, Basrah by Shazhi Quraishi
The first set of poems sounded so sad. But most after that was confusing.
Blood and Broken Bodies by Shaista Aziz
This piece talks about how honour killings are normalised in the Middle East and how females are so controlled in their interactions with men. I could not help but feel upset.
Stand by Me by Miss L
The author talks about how she is constantly stereotypes for acting roles based on her skin colour. I do feel like more variety needs to be given.
Staying Alive through Brexit Racism, Mental Health and Emotional Labour by Aisha Mirza
It was quite surprising to see a muslim woman identify as gay. But I did not really under stand her narrative.
The Things I would Tell You by Hibaq Osman
Did not understand these poems either.
Brown Girl by Azra Tabassum
The first poem spoke about the expectations (none) put on coloured females whilst the other poems were hard to understand.
Take Me There by Selma Dabbagh
I was not sure if this was a fictional story based on the situation in the Middle East or a real life experience.
Last Assignment to Jenin by Selma Dabbagh
This was such a sad story of two lovers who are torn apart by war.
Belongings by Esma Elbadawi
In some ways I got this and at others, nope.
My Other Half by Samira Shackle
Intriguing piece on returning to your homeland to discover what you have been missing. I like that the author highlights the flaws and upsides of going back.
Battleface by Sabrina Mahfouz
An interesting script between an MI6 agent and a plastic surgeon. At the end, I am not sure who wins. This was good.
An Eye That Sees by Hanan Al-Shaykh
This was okay.
Overall, a well rounded collection using different mediums of writing but most of the writing did not call to me. This is a good start though.