Escaping the Twilight [Paperback]

Sigrid Weidenweber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2005

Escaping the Twilight is the coming-of-age story of Amina, a Sudanese girl who undergoes female circumcision at the age of nine. Intensifying her struggle for identity in the silent world of women, she cannot erase the pain and humiliation of that experience. With steely determination, she vows to do whatever is necessary to prevent her daughter from suffering the same demoralizing fate--even if it means going against the wishes of her husband and the rules of her family. The detailed descriptions of customs and lifestyle give a deep, fascinating insight into the Sudanese culture, as well as entry into the cloaked world of Muslim women.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I am deeply impressed by Sigrid's knowledge of her subject and skill... I hope this book is widely read. -- Mildred Minthorne

About the Author

Born in Germany in 1941, Sigrid Weidenweber remembers the closing days of World War II. She grew up under communism in East Germany and fled East Berlin with the help of a French passport shortly after the Wall was erected. Sigrid has a degree in medical technology from Wuerzburg as well as a degree in psychology from Portland State University. During her time at PSU, she fell in love with anthropology, a subject she still pursues with course work and on her own time as well. As co-founder of American Aid for Afghans, Sigrid traveled and lived with Afghan and Pakistani Muslims and learned about the culture and religion of different tribal groups.

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Arnica Publishing (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972653554
• ISBN-13: 978-0972653558
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,618,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Moving Story of a Girl's growth into a Strong Woman, September 26, 2003

By 

Anne Weidenweber "anne-henson" (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Escaping the Twilight (Paperback)

This touching and compelling book is so much more than I expected. Reading the back cover, I would never have guessed at how sensitively and successfully the heroine's story would be told. You will be captivated by her dilema. This well researched subject makes Amina's dilema understandable to our western minds because it is put in the context of a girl indoctrinated in a culture that teaches her that she is "property," in a relationship, not a partner. Thus, her ability to develop independent thought and to weigh the consequences of liberated thought and action, make her plight all the more dramatic. Needless to say, I recommend this book!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Escaping the Twilight, September 16, 2003

By 

Ray Loen (Lake Oswego, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Escaping the Twilight (Paperback)

A fascinating tale that rings of authenticity, relevance, and urgency. This is fiction based on real life cruelty, ignorance,
and tradition. I was hooked from the first sentence even though I am a male septuagenarian.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than I expected, November 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Escaping the Twilight (Paperback)

I read this book because my girlfriend praised it and wanted to discuss it. (I thought "Oh boy, feminist literature !!!".(I'm a Fitzgerald/Salinger/Hemingway enthusiast)
I was happily surprised and relieved to find it a novel in the style of the classics.
The story moves well, and the characters are compelling.
This novel is a must read for academics in the fields of Sociology, Political Science, Religious Study, Anthropology, etc... It is a surprising expose' on Muslim traditions in many 3rd and even 2nd world regions !!!
Quite timely and eye opening, with a triumphant resolution.
I rated it a 5.