Customer Reviews

Memoirs from the Women's Prison (Literature of the Middle East)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I had to read it for a class in college, and I will be the first to admit that I was turned off by the cover and the bland title. I'm glad I was forced to give this book a chance. It's an amazing true story of a female doctor in Cairo who is taken away to a prison for her outspoken ideas. The governemnt takes her from her home and forces her to live with several other women with very differnt backgrounds from one another. However, the situation causes Sadaawi to become somewhat of a "leader," and the women form a strong and unique friendship. It's an amazing and beautiful book and also a fast read - don't pass this up.

Dr. Saadawi relates her prison experience in piercing detail, from the putrid infestations to the commentary on the various women with which she shares her living space. But more importantly, readers see inside her mind just how she was able to get through nearly a month of torturous living conditions and the violent separation with her family and home. Dr. Saadawi gives us an insight into what goes through prisoners minds when they deal with an infinite amount of prison time ahead of them with little chance of release. Her courage and determination in living while still in prison and standing up to the ridiculous circumstances surrounding her imprisonment are brought forth with an emotion one can not help but enjoy.

Nawal El Saddawi is one of the most prolific and poignant writers of our time. Both her fiction and non-fiction writing is beautiful and insperational. I highly recomend this book.

I got the book sooner than I expected, and it was in great condition. I was very satisfied with this purchase.

Although I like Sadawi's fiesty, rebellious spirit, I must say that I was HIGHLY disappointed in her work! I rarely come across a book that I don't finish and to tell you the truth, she made me return the book. Her bland and simplistic writing style didn't go well with me. At times, this book even put me to sleep. Anyway, the real significant drawback of this book is that it is written in an extremely narraw perspective! The whole book is about her and her memoirs, you don't even know what the other person is thinking. Hence, if you ask me I would say: SAVE YOUR HARD EARNED CASH!!!