I would not have guessed this was a debut for author Anna Halabi. I enjoyed the short little snippets and was fascinated by the intricacies of a culture so different from my own. Um Hussam was an outrageous character. I was caught between uproarious laughter and mortification when she suggested she needed to grope a bridal candidate to ensure the girl had all her original parts. I’m still cracking up as I think about it. I’m so very glad my MIL didn’t cope a feel during our first time meeting. My favorite story was “Nobody’s Wife” which featured an unknown female that outfoxes two businessmen.
If anything, I felt most of the stories could have been longer and I truly mean that as a compliment. I would love to read even a novella or full-length novel to see Anna’s colorful characters develop and grow to their full potential. I would even enjoy reading about a character like Um Hussam in a series of connected short stories featuring her bridal search antics similar to Helene Tursten’s An Elderly Lady Up To No Good. Bottom line, I found this book to be very entertaining and I will be keeping an eye out for her work in the future.
**The author generously provided a review copy of the book for an honest review. This does not impact my thoughts or opinions on the book.
Full Review on Dream Come Review Jan 24, 2019
In Syrian Brides, Anna Halabi has skillfully mimicked the language of Arabian folk tales to offer a trenchant portrait of the plight of women in Syria. Her description of physical abuse is not for the faint-hearted. “Bana felt her left cheek bone crack as her husband punched her in the face. She started screaming at the top of her lungs, when another blow to her stomach took her breath away. She gasped for air and she tried to crawl away from her attacker on all fours. He grabbed her ankles and pulled her towards him. She tried getting up, but his elbow struck her spine sending her back to the floor.”
But Halabi’s women are not without resources. In this story, “The Groom’s Miracle,” Bana tricks her husband into making absurd claims to his friends, who physically restrain him and drag him off to the police station after the abuse described above, in a twist that recalls James Thurber’s “The Unicorn in the Garden.” In “Nobody’s Bride,” a woman successfully double-crosses both a baker and a goldsmith. In “The Nostalgic Groom,” a man’s second wife finds an ingenious way to put an end to his endless rhapsodizing about his first wife.
Not every bride fares so well. A pregnant woman becomes suspicious when her husband brings home a gorgeous young woman to serve as her maid. “I asked for a maid. An older woman with hairs sprouting out of her chin and wide hips like that of a bull! Not a twenty-year old beauty queen! I know how men’s eyes tend to stray and there is no such thing as bitter prey,” I hissed, pointing to the young woman in the entrance.” He ends up taking the young woman as a second wife, legal under Sharia law. ““Aaaakh, aaaakh, Allah is punishing me for my foolishness. How could I have been so naïve to believe that a man could resist his primal urges?” I cried. “Aaaakh, aaaakh, I curse the day that I agreed to let this girl into our home!”
In “The Groom’s Hand,” perhaps the most painful tale to read, the bride blames herself for her husband’s ill treatment. ““Yes, but it was my fault,” she said, waving a dismissive hand at her sister’s reproachful look. “I talked back and argued with him.”” She then proudly shows off her beautiful wardrobe, each piece in compensation for some physical abuse.
Concealed beneath a disingenuously simple style lies a biting critique of the lot of women in Syria.
SYRIAN BRIDES was a delightful peek into the lives of Syrian women revealing the good, the bad, the sad, the funny, the warmth of a culture unknown to most American women.
The book consists of eleven short essays on varying aspects of the Syrian ladies’ lives.
One of my favorite stories was NOBODY’S BRIDE in which a woman outsmarts two shop keepers in order to acquire jewelry. I found it quite humorous.
I loved THE COUNTERFEIT BRIDE. Men, be careful what you ask for! The man asks for a woman who is blonde, blue-eyed, and fair. On his wedding night she discovers she has been wearing blue contacts (her eyes are actually brown), hair extensions and black hair dyed blonde, fake nails, and other cosmetic changes to give him exactly what he was looking for. I think we can agree that this story would apply to most cultures today.
One of my least favorite stories was THE GROOM’S MIRACLE which, in my opinion, was the epitome of the stereotypical Muslim marriage – a stereotype that those more knowledgeable of the Muslim culture realize that the relationship portrayed is not the norm and not what their religion teaches. But, sadly, marriages like this one do exist. The husband locks his bride in each day when he leaves for work. Throughout the day she has conversations through the opened window with her upstairs neighbor whom she has never met. The bride had been told her husband-to-be, at the time, was handsome, religious, very pious and honorable, and would treat her with respect. However, in reality, he abused her physically and emotionally.
The other stories will either warm your heart (THE BRIDE’S CAKE) or cause you to cringe (THE BRIDE’S MAID), but none will leave you unaffected.
What a fabulous collection of stories! Love, love, LOVE!!
This book contains several stories about Syrian culture; the common thread is marriage .. either pre-marriage, happy marriage or not-so-happy unions. It is a wonderful insight into a culture which, up until now, I knew nothing about.
Each one of these tales is marvellously entertaining. Gorgeous writing from a really talented author who draws you in to each story so easily. Every story is different, and so cleverly composed. The characters are superbly drawn, the writing beautifully crafted and I expect to hear so much more from this debut author. It would be impossible to pick a favourite from this anthology; each tale stands on it's own merits and they all made me smile, giggle, and nod in agreement. This is a first class read and I really cannot recommend it highly enough!
My grateful thanks to the author for my copy. The decision to read and review - as well the opinions included herein - are entirely my own.
If I could, I would give this ten stars! Amazing! Wonderful, intriguing, spectacular! This author is one to be followed. She has much more to give. This book was a work of art. Absolutely wonderful. I couldn't sleep tonight, and decided to read. Oh! I could not stop! You must read this incredible New author! I recommend this book A MUST READ!
Syrian Brides by Halabi is her debut novel of short stories about life for Syrian brides. I was given a copy to review and this is my honest opinion. I had to forestall the names as they are not common for me but I understood the gist of each one. My favourite would be the last story "The bride's cake". The notary advised the woman seeking a divorce to ask for the ingredients for a cake from her neighbours. What did she discover that made her change her mind?
There are 11 stories in all and in each one this Westerner learnt a little more about the lives of married Syrian women. I am glad I live in Australia and do not wonder why refugees, like Syrians, want to come here.
“Syrian Brides” is an entertaining peek into what life is like for women in Syria. Through 11 short stories, the author covers a range of marital problems while also highlighting the warmth and compassion a relationship can bring -it’s 4 stars from me.
My full review is now up on my blog: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.com/2019/01/09/syrian-brides/
