Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi

4 reviews

k_kay's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Such a brave beautiful exploration of feminism through Firdaus’ experiences as well as the impact she has on those around. Saawadi does not shy away from the short comings of feminism, particularly the illusions of autonomy under a patriarchal and classist society.
There were so many times I was angry and crying.
It’s not a hopeful read, but felt cathartic in its rawness. 
“For truth and death are similar in that they both require a great courage if one wishes to face them. And truth is like death in that it kills”

An incredibly emotional read, that I think speaks to experiences of many women.

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bdilley28's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I thought this book was very well written, and the different POVs tied together really well. 
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pilesandpiles's review

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dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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uselessreader's review

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

 
Feminism! The protagonist is a woman, who basically is abused all throughout her life by men (physically, sexually and verbally)
Spoiler (beaten by her father, molested by her uncle, beaten and raped by her husband and then again raped by multiple men, …) , runs away a couple of times and ends up working as a sex worker, during which she again experiences abuse at the hands of men.
All of this turns her into a bitter woman, who hates men and is full of anger at the ways in which they treat women. The book portrays many of the horrible ways in which women have to suffer daily (because of misogyny and the patriarchy and religion) and functions as an outcry against this injustice. 

 „However, every single man I did get to know filled me with but one desire: to lift my hand and bring it smashing down on his face.” (p.14) 

“All women are victims of deception. Men impose deception on women and punish them for being deceived, force them down to the lowest level and punish them for falling so low, bind them in marriage and then chastise them with menial service for life, or insults, or blows.” (p.117) 

 “(…) men force women to sell their bodies at a price, and that the lowest paid body is that of a wife.” (p.124) 
 
I have to say though, I didn’t care much for the writing. It is not particularly beautiful or clever and was very (!) repetitive. I know that this was done on purpose, to create a desired effect, but to me it just felt very lazy and clumsy. Maybe it is the translation that isn’t the best, but I wouldn’t know. 



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