Review – Syrian Brides by Anna Halabi #shortstories #fiction #syrianbrides

StoreyBook Reviews 

 

Synopsis

This delightful collection of short stories offers insight into the lives of Syrian women, both the married and the brides-to-be. It reveals the warmth and humor as well as the oppression in the Syrian society. The stories make the reader laugh while addressing serious issues such as domestic violence.

Um Hussam can’t find a suitable bride for her son, testing each candidate’s sight, hearing and reading skills, occasionally cobbing a feel. Jamila’s husband Hassan can’t forget his deceased wife until she makes sure he never mentions her again. Rami can’t help but wonder whether his new bride is a natural beauty or a talented surgeon’s masterpiece. Khadija’s maid stabs her in the back while Rana’s husband Muafak can’t find the right excuse to avoid a fight.

 

Review

This is an interesting collection of short stories.  While the stories are set in Syria, the issues they deal with span the globe and aren’t limited to just their country.  Some of the stories made me chuckle and some were a little heartbreaking especially when it came to domestic abuse.  The women in Syria have just as many issues with their men as I see in the US.  Men that abuse their spouse, those that are shallow, infidelity, and so much more.  But the women don’t let that stop them!  Some are very clever and devious, and some are just trying to survive.

Each story had a moral to it but not all stories ended where I felt that it was wrapped up and concluded.  I wanted to know what happened next in a few cases.  I liked one story where a woman wanted a divorce and the “judge” said for her to bring him a cake but she had to ask for all of the ingredients from her neighbors.  On this journey, the woman realizes that maybe her life isn’t as bad as she thinks.  Sometimes I think that needs to happen in my country!

Overall I enjoyed reading these stories and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Anna Halabi was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. She emigrated to Europe in 1999 for her university studies. She currently lives with her family in Germany.
Syrian Brides is her debut as an author. The stories and characters in this collection were inspired by her personal experiences as well as her relatives, friends and TV shows.
 

Inspiration for writing the stories:

 
Syrian Brides is a collection of socially critical short stories about the everyday life of married women in Aleppo, Syria, back when life there was peaceful… before the war… It seems like forever when I think back about the life I left behind and my country that now lies in ruins.

I tried to illustrate the tragedy of the Syrian women‘s oppression in a light-hearted way and to celebrate their empowerment and wits. It is probably one of the only funny books about Syria. I wanted to portray a different image of the Syrian people who are now seen as refugees and war victims. I wanted to show what life was like before the revolution ruined our country. Back when everything was still “normal”.

Facebook

 

Recommended Posts

Children christmas excerpt

Excerpt – Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir by Mike Martin

    Synopsis Princess Sophie and the Magic Elixir is the story of a young girl who loves Christmas. When she sees that the people of Melodica are losing their Christmas spirit, she sets out to help them rekindle their magic. At the end she finds that all we really need is to believe in […]

StoreyBook Reviews 
Cozy Giveaway Guest Post LGBTQ+ mystery

Guest Post & Giveaway – Plausible Deception by Dwain Lee

    Plausible Deception Mystery/Detective/LGBT/Quozy Setting: Primarily Los Angeles/Anaheim CA; Louisville KY; New York NY Publisher: Butler Books (October 15, 2024) Paperback: 332 pages ISBN 978-1-964530-02-4   Synopsis There’s only one Jackson Stradivarius. Welcome to the arcane world of handcrafted, professional violins. Master luthier Greg Zhu and his husband, Presbyterian minister Dan Randolph, travel to […]

StoreyBook Reviews 
4 paws fiction Review women

Review – Don’t Let Me Keep You by Kathie Giorgio

  Synopsis Motherhood is a symphony, from the first movement, through crescendo after crescendo, to the finale. Hildy Halverson, a genius in math and science, is pushed by her parents to step into a male-dominated field and change the world for women. But Hildy, enamored of the scientific force of the human body, and her […]

StoreyBook Reviews