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rmnedder's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was very excited to revisit Hanan al-Shaykh with Women of Sand and Myrrh, which follows four women in an unnamed desert state and provides us with vignettes of their lives and their relationships to the desert. Each of these four women has their own distinct narrative style, and while their stories technically stand on their own, they all subtly intertwine. I found all of the women to be interesting, but I particularly enjoyed Tamr's story. I think some of the writing felt very clunky at times, but I think that is probably a fault of the translation, rather than of al-Shaykh's prose.
It's important to note that the English translation of this work was very heavily altered. Not only was the title changed, the order of the chapters were completely rearranged. I truly think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had the chance to read it as it was intended to be read, without the integrity and impact of the story being flattened and exoticised in translation.
All this being said, Edward Said was right when he said that this is a book that "Western feminists should read."
It's important to note that the English translation of this work was very heavily altered. Not only was the title changed, the order of the chapters were completely rearranged. I truly think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had the chance to read it as it was intended to be read, without the integrity and impact of the story being flattened and exoticised in translation.
All this being said, Edward Said was right when he said that this is a book that "Western feminists should read."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
oddtreeford's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book follows four different women living in an unnamed (but inspired by Saudi Arabia) Middle Eastern country. Their story is divided into four sections, one for each woman, and tells of their personal, cultural, and religious struggles living in this region. It’s an incredible insight into the region and the lives of the women there. In particular, I thought the stories of Suha and Tamr, the first two stories, were inspiring for their explorations of marriage, motherhood, and trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content