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A review by shelfexplanatory
Bride of the Sea by Eman Quotah
3.0
BRIDE OF THE SEA by debut author Eman Quotah is a family saga about a Saudi family that gets torn apart. Saeedah, a young mother, suddenly disappears from her Cleveland home, taking her young daughter Hanadi with her. Her husband Muneer is left behind, to search for his lost wife and daughter for years following. The story covers multiple persepctives and spans decades, from Saeedah and Muneer's courtship and marriage in Saudi Arabia, to their marriage and immigration to Ohio, and finally Hanadi's search to connect with her lost identity and family when she comes of age.
Quotah juxtaposes Saeedah and Muneer's dynamic family life in Saudi Arabia, the familial expectations that lead Saeedah to run, and the isolation that she imposes on herself and Hanadi in order to remain hidden from their family.
My favorite perspective was Hanadi, who is raised knowing little of her heritage. It felt bittersweet to watch her reconnect with her lost family and culture in her 20s. Although she is welcomed with open arms, there is a sense of uncertainty that looms over her, and the knowledge of what her life could have been like if things had been different. It's not a perfect happy family reunion. It's a reminder that families aren't perfect, and the simplistic idea of "family is everything" is messier than it seems.
Thank you to NetGalley and TinHouse for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. BRIDE OF THE SEA is out January 26, 2021!
Quotah juxtaposes Saeedah and Muneer's dynamic family life in Saudi Arabia, the familial expectations that lead Saeedah to run, and the isolation that she imposes on herself and Hanadi in order to remain hidden from their family.
My favorite perspective was Hanadi, who is raised knowing little of her heritage. It felt bittersweet to watch her reconnect with her lost family and culture in her 20s. Although she is welcomed with open arms, there is a sense of uncertainty that looms over her, and the knowledge of what her life could have been like if things had been different. It's not a perfect happy family reunion. It's a reminder that families aren't perfect, and the simplistic idea of "family is everything" is messier than it seems.
Thank you to NetGalley and TinHouse for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. BRIDE OF THE SEA is out January 26, 2021!