Customer Reviews

Sweet Dates in Basra: A Novel

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kathmiya Mahmoud grows up in the marshes north of Basra. As a teen, instead of being married off as expected, she is sent by her alcoholic father to Basra as a maid to bring money into the family. In additional to the culture shock of life in the city, Kathmiya is tortured by family secrets: why does her father not love her like her older sister, Fatimah; why does no one want to see her married; what are the items left to her mother and her by the American missionaries for whom her mother used to work?

In her loneliness, Kathimiya turns to friendship with a young Jewish boy, despite the death sentence it would mean if anyone discovered their relationship. Shafiq has grown up with a seamless Iraqi-Jewish identity, but that identity is challenged throughout his adolesence by WWII, one brother's Zionism, another brother's Communism, and the collapse of Iraqi society as Britian becomes an enemy.

The story is a page-turner, but what I found even more appealing was the deft way in which the author created complex characters. Although Kathimiya and Shafiq are caught in a familiar forbidden-love situation, the characters themselves are far from stereotypical, with compex personalities and unexpected facets. Even minor characters are well-drawn and interesting.

This book is an all out great story. It has love, peace and a portrait of a world unknown to many. The author draws on her rich family history and comes up with a story more powerful than The Kite Runner. It is a page turner! Great story-telling with a fine novelistic touch.

This was a captivating story that I couldn't put down. Set in Iraq in the 1940s, it conjures an era not often written about: the intrusion of Hitler's ideology into Iraq. Set against this larger backdrop is the deep, abiding friendship of two neighboring families, one Jewish, one Muslim. Their sons, Shafiq and Omar, grow up calling one another "brother."

This is a touching look at how friendship and love can overcome prejudice and strict societal rules, to varying degrees. In addition to the friendship between Shafiq and Omar, it also explores Shafiq's forbidden feelings for a Marsh Arab maid. Themes of religious division (and unity of those of different religions) as well as the role of honor in Middle East culture, are explored honestly and with good historical detail. The plot was fascinating, although there were some twists that could be seen coming, and the writing lush and descriptive. A very good read.

Set against the backdrop of World War II and its effects on the people of Iraq, Sweet Dates in Basra traces the developing relationship between a Marsh Arab girl, Kathmiya and a Jewish boy, Shafiq. Coming from very different cultures and backgrounds, each with their own difficulties in life, they nevertheless manage to forge a connection and fall in love. A second, but equally important, backdrop against which the story's events play out is the relationship between Shafiq and his Muslim next door neighbor, Omar, who grow up as brothers in all but name.

The thing which elevates the book to a point way above that of a love story set in an exotic location is the multiple themes which Jessica Jiji develops throughout. Friendship, family, sacrifice, tolerance, identity - both religious and national - unification and idealism are all addressed. This might seem way too ambitious for a single story, but Jiji handles each one with sensitivity, allowing each theme it's moment in the spotlight. The multiple themes echo the confusion of the times, but the writing itself is in no way confused. Instead it highlights the way the all intertwine with each other, much like the personal relationships in the book.

There are a large number of supporting characters in the book, which may seem confusing to some readers at first, but a little patience allows for each one to take their place in the narrative. Then there are beautiful details of the links and connections between seemingly disparate persons, underlying the theme of unification and the sense that we are all one people at heart.

I particularly loved that I got a history lesson along with the story, yet I never felt like I was being lectured to. Instead, Jiji has seamlessly woven historical information and personal emotion into a beautiful, smooth, well-paced narrative. Of particular interest as well was the information about the Midaan people and culture, written so as to allow the reader to understand Kathmiya's motivations and actions, while leaving the desire to know more about this fascinating people.

The difficulties surrounding the partitioning of Pakistan are echoed in the troubles faced by Shafiq and Kathmiya, written with an intensity that left the sense that both sets of events were tumbling to their particular conclusions.

Overall, while certainly not as popular as some of the recent stories coming out of this region, Sweet Dates in Basra is a beautiful, moderately easy read, with a powerful story to tell.

I read Sweet Dates in Basra in about 5 days (so this was a quick read, which was nice) for a book club. We later got to hear Jessica Jiji speak on the subject at the Jewish Community Center in my area. It was really nice, hearing her speak on the book. It gave a lot of background to me, which I think helped me to understand the story a little more.

Anyway, I enjoyed this book for the most part. Like I said, it was a quick read. If you like sophisticated romance and a tale of intrigue, you'll probably like this book.

So If you don't want to read my long entire review, here is a recap: I was annoyed by some characters (Moshe and Jamila) that felt unrealistic and unnecessary (especially in Moshe's case). Other than a few holes in characters and story, I liked the book. It was an easy read and an interesting story. I felt that the focus should have remained on Kathmiya the entire story, since the part about Shafiq and Omar's friendship was completely forgotten by the end of the novel, which was utterly depressing to me, considering the beginning of the book. I'm not sure if I felt closure at the ending. Though I felt this was a good book, I am not sure if I would read another Jessica Jiji book. I would recommend this book if you are looking something heavier than a romance novel. A book with a rich history and many deep characters that's a fast, weekend read. It's a good ride.

So now if you would like to read my entire review...see below.

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with several parts of the book, including the character of Kathmiya's mother, Jamila. This character made absolutely no sense to me inside the context of the book. I can understand that characters will do things that are seemingly outside of their nature, however, by the end of the book I was left wondering why Jamila did anything she did to her daughter. The character was not complex to me, rather she was a scapegoat to give the story the forward momentum without properly explaining her insanity. It really bothered me the way Jiji wrote the character and the lack of explanation. It made the entire ending feel flat and the life that Kathmiya lived contrived.

That was another thing I had an issue with, believability. I honestly am not sure that, based off of the way that Jiji wrote Kathmiya's family, if they would have spared her and her mother. I did not believe this for a minute. Since there was so much emphasis put on young Muslim girls getting impregnated out of wedlock (or by other men) and then subsequently being murdered by their family (and this being viewed as the right thing to do), the uncle did not strike me as a man that would just forget his traditional upbringing.
That being said, I really feel like this was Kathmiya's story, and not Shafiq's as Jiji stated it was at the talk I was at. I would have liked so much more Kathmiya. The story did leave me wondering if this part had happened to Jiji's father as well...and it made me feel as though a lot of crammed into such a little space. In fact, by the end, Shafiq's story fell to the wayside and seemed like an afterthought, which was depressing, considering the importance that the boy's relationship played at the beginning of the novel.

The last issue I had was with Marcelle's husband, Moshe. God. This was an utter throw away to me. While I realize that this is loosely based off of Jiji's father's life...this part could have been left out. I realized that all of the business with Moshe and Marcelle leads up to the the pink sapphire (a huge and important plot point), but I know there must have been a better way to get to that place without having this utterly pointless instigator annoying the storyline.

Well, enough of that. I did like the book. As I said, I read this book in 5 days, on my iPhone between work and school (a large feat). I enjoyed this book for what it was, I think it could have been better, but all things considered, I would give it four stars.

Why four stars? It was an easy read, which was enjoyable. The story was enjoyable as well. Even though I could nearly predict what was going to happen between Shafiq and Kathmiya, I still enjoyed the story. Most of the characters were very realistic to me. Yes, I had issues with Moshe and Jamila and Marcelle, for certain, but most of the characters I found to be deep and rich.

The way Jiji sets the scene is fantastic. The scenic descriptions she gives are illuminating. I felt the heat in Iraq, the touches between Kathmiya and Shafiq between the fences and while on the bike. Part one was truly amazing to me. I even further enjoyed the historic parts. Jiji stated at the lecture I attended that the story of the little Jewish girl being saved by a Muslim man was true. I felt that her soul was pouring into much of this novel. I appreciated it. I think she really captured the feeling that I wanted her to. She "told" a lot more than she showed...but a job well done nonetheless.

book was ok - a little predictable - but would recommend - was a book club selection