The Woman I Left Behind: a Novel [Paperback]

Kim Jensen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2006

The Woman I Left Behind is a poetically written novel about a turbulent love affair between a young American woman and a Palestinian refugee. When Irene, an intelligent, committed and discerning student meets Khalid, a Palestinian refugee now living in Southern California, she immediately knows that this man would cause her both immense pain and immense joy. Coming from two separate worlds that are at odds with each other, both Irene and Khalid have to overcome their cultural differences. Irene comes to realize that she has to break free from her parents' norms and values and lead a more meaningful life-a life not guided by superficialities but by a sense of commitment and purpose. After opening her eyes not only to the psychological wounds Khalid suffered during his experiences of war, deportation, and exile, but also to her own childhood wounds, Irene abandons her detached self, ultimately leading to a reconciliation with Khalid.

With its detailed depictions of modern Palestinian history, as well as its cast of colorful characters-from Palestinian feminists to American cyberpunks-Kim Jensen's novel reiterates the vital connections between politics, the imagination, and the most intimate aspects of our lives.

Kim Jensen has lived and taught in the Arab world. She has published her work in a variety of journals and magazines. In 2001, she won the Raymond Carver prize for short fiction. Currently, she teaches writing in Baltimore, Maryland.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jensen's awkward debut describes the politically and intellectually impassioned love affair between two students at a Southern California university in the 1980s who share a radical politics and love of poetry, but must bridge a wide cultural gulf. Khalid, a Palestinian refugee whose parents were shot by Israeli soldiers, and Irene, an alienated, antiestablishment Gentile from an affluent East Coast family, meet at an antiapartheid rally. From having "no inner resilience" (the result of her empty, materialistic upbringing and a sexual assault), Irene begins to discover purpose and engage with identity politics. Irene and Khalid's initially intense sexual attraction is strained by cultural differences and Khalid's war-bred cynicism, but their tumultuous relationship spans the course of the novel, which lasts to the first Iraq war. The woman of the title refers to the sheltered child-of-privilege Irene was before her radicalization, the beloved aunt Khalid left behind in Palestine, and Bernie, the activist he married for U.S. citizenship and abandoned for Irene. The book suffers from cardboard characters propped up to represent ideas and an oblique structure, which seeks to authenticate the fractured consciousness of victims of personal and political violence, while also encompassing an affected he said/she said approach to narrative. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

When Irene, a young American woman, meets Khalid, a Palestinian refugee, the connection between them is instantaneous, fueled by shared passions for politics, activism, and poetry. But as tensions grow in the Middle East, Khalid feels increasingly isolated in his adopted home of Los Angeles. Set during the late 1980s and early 1990s--with flashbacks to Khalid's childhood, first in East Jerusalem and later in Beirut--Jensen's first novel explores the political dimensions of a young couple's tumultuous affair. She takes great pains to paint a picture of Khalid's culture, but the results--such as the description of his technique for making Arabic coffee: "always let it boil over the top (like a revolution)"--seem self-consciously precious, as does the poetry that Irene and Khalid constantly recite to each other. Still, Jensen's story is a touching one. Despite cliches and awkward passages, her characters and their complex relationship do appeal to the imagination in this penetrating portrait of a young couple's struggle to overcome cultural differences. Emily Cook
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Curbstone Books (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931896224
• ISBN-13: 978-1931896221
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,199,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kim Jensen (www.kimjensen.org) is a writer who has lived in France, California, and the Middle East. Her first novel about a turbulent affair between a Palestinian exile and an American student, The Woman I Left Behind, was published in 2006 by Curbstone Press, and was a finalist for Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year. Her first book of poems, Bread Alone, was published this year (2009) by Syracuse University Press. In 2001, Kim won the Raymond Carver Prize for Short Fiction, and her writings have appeared in the following anthologies and journals: Come Together: Imagine Peace (Bottom Dog Press); Hunger and Thirst (San Diego City Works Press); Poetic Voices without Borders 2 (Gival Press); Blood Lotus; Ezra Journal of Translation; Liberation Literature; Rain Taxi Review; Left Curve; Boston Book Review, and many others. Kim currently lives in Maryland where she serves on the editorial board of the Baltimore Review and is associate professor of English at the Community College of Baltimore County. She lives with her husband, Palestinian artist Zahi Khamis (www.zahiart.com), and their two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Consciousness--Revised!, November 27, 2006

By 

av williams "justice 4 all" (virginia beach, va) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Woman I Left Behind: a Novel (Paperback)

The very best qualities of Kim Jensen's spicy first novel "The Woman I Left Behind" must be experienced for one's self. From the vivid descriptions of historically-accurate war-torn vignettes of a life forever lost in Palestine & Beirut to the airy coast of California, the setting frames the tumble of fast-paced emotional events. I couldn't put it down!

The freshness of youthful experience merges into resolution of distinctly different personal histories of a rocky intercultural relationship to create new threads of connectivity between Irene & Khalid in unexpected ways. Although from two very different worlds--she a child of White Western Privilege & a recovering rape victim; he a displaced Palestinian refugee who has forever lost his home & family through violent injustice of the IDF Occupation, each brings their unique pain & universal struggles to the relationship. Each has experienced forms of oppression which define their identitities. While they endure & sometimes transcend so many obstacles in their path, they are stunned to discover they are each capable of taking on the role of the oppressor as well. As their sense of social justice grows, they become more aware of this tragic possibility.

This is a perceptive first novel--it is about paying attention to details & listening to the signals around us. It is about building bridges, not tearing one another down. Its analogies hold a greater message involving the causes of suffering & redemption, between will-to-power & desire.

"The Woman I Left Behind" contains an elusive key to peace--within ourselves, within our culture & the greater world around us. If we would only listen.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A GREAT BOOK, April 8, 2006

By 

Kim Owens "Kim Owens" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Woman I Left Behind: a Novel (Paperback)

I just read this book in one day and couldn't put it down. It was everything a good novel should be--a great story, a powerful, poetic writing style, and a strong social message. This is a must read! If you want to laugh, cry, and learn more about Palestine and Palestinians--get a copy of The Woman I Left Behind.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Woman I Left Behind, December 29, 2006

By 

T. Elliott "Narlie Charlie" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Woman I Left Behind: a Novel (Paperback)

This book was definetly one of the best books I've ever read, and I strongly recommend it. It was so true when Khalid said of Irene, but it applies to every American, she has an inborn, cultural arrogance that makes her blindto other ways of acting,perceiving, thinking about the world.This explains the bumper stickers, Proud to be an American and flags everywhere. Americans don't see the pain they are causing because they are all blind with arrogance. I learned, and laughed and cried from this book! It was hard to put down and I hated to finish reading it, I wanted it to go on but I would like to see Israel end it's occupation of Palestine!