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A review by pogseu
Femmes d'Alger dans leur appartement by Assia Djebar
5.0
What a wonderful collection of short stories. I am ashamed to say this was the first book by Assia Djebar that I read, even though I sown at least three or four other titles...
I am so glad I read these stories back to back, because they truly fit together by giving us a beautiful overview of Algerian women past and present, and their sufferings. The French edition from this century has a short story that was written in 2001, so 21 years after the original publication of the book. This gave me an even stronger sense of connecting with present and past women, by learning about their experiences before independence, during the 7-year war of independence, and soon afterwards, 15 years later and finally, 40 years later.
It beautifully depicts women’s condition and what is in the end an endless repetition of oppression of women, before during and after the war, with a glimmer of hope for the emancipation of the new generations. But as Assia Djebar explains in the postface, whenever women gained in independence, new restrictions were applied and they were caged, controlled, dominated once more.
I don’t think I can do this beautiful book justice, unfortunately, as I feel very inadequate as I am writing this review. I don’t know how to convey the beauty of the language, which manages to convey without us feeling any pity, the harshness of the world for women we encounter in all these stories. Assia Djebar tells us of oppressed women and I feel like I’ve read a book about extremely strong women. I feel like I’ve opened a door into understanding a bit more the customs and thinking behind these customs in the Maghreb.
I will keep it on my list of books to reread. It deserves a second, maybe more in-depth reading (or understanding?!)
I am so glad I read these stories back to back, because they truly fit together by giving us a beautiful overview of Algerian women past and present, and their sufferings. The French edition from this century has a short story that was written in 2001, so 21 years after the original publication of the book. This gave me an even stronger sense of connecting with present and past women, by learning about their experiences before independence, during the 7-year war of independence, and soon afterwards, 15 years later and finally, 40 years later.
It beautifully depicts women’s condition and what is in the end an endless repetition of oppression of women, before during and after the war, with a glimmer of hope for the emancipation of the new generations. But as Assia Djebar explains in the postface, whenever women gained in independence, new restrictions were applied and they were caged, controlled, dominated once more.
I don’t think I can do this beautiful book justice, unfortunately, as I feel very inadequate as I am writing this review. I don’t know how to convey the beauty of the language, which manages to convey without us feeling any pity, the harshness of the world for women we encounter in all these stories. Assia Djebar tells us of oppressed women and I feel like I’ve read a book about extremely strong women. I feel like I’ve opened a door into understanding a bit more the customs and thinking behind these customs in the Maghreb.
I will keep it on my list of books to reread. It deserves a second, maybe more in-depth reading (or understanding?!)