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A review by watermelleon
The Circling Song by Nawal El Saadawi
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a completely blind read, and am I shocked to see the rating on this so low!!
"A Circling Song" found me, when I was in a public library craving a short novella to demolish! This book looked so tiny and unassuming on the shelf, and hadn't been checked out since 2012. I know now that this fact is an absolute disgrace.
The description of this book as a "kaleidoscope" was so perfect. The story comes across as a feeling and an idea, a string of consciousness contemplating the reality of gender and politics in Egypt. Narratives weave and blend and interconnect. Somehow, a world so culturally different from mine is explained in a way that I have never heard yet fully understood.
The feminist potential of the Arabic language was the most beautiful discourse I have ever heard. With so many languages discussing gramatical gender the fact that a simple dash is the sole difference between the masculine and feminine is something fascinating to reflect on.
Cried a lot, reflected a lot. Learned a lot. Love!!!
"A Circling Song" found me, when I was in a public library craving a short novella to demolish! This book looked so tiny and unassuming on the shelf, and hadn't been checked out since 2012. I know now that this fact is an absolute disgrace.
The description of this book as a "kaleidoscope" was so perfect. The story comes across as a feeling and an idea, a string of consciousness contemplating the reality of gender and politics in Egypt. Narratives weave and blend and interconnect. Somehow, a world so culturally different from mine is explained in a way that I have never heard yet fully understood.
The feminist potential of the Arabic language was the most beautiful discourse I have ever heard. With so many languages discussing gramatical gender the fact that a simple dash is the sole difference between the masculine and feminine is something fascinating to reflect on.
Cried a lot, reflected a lot. Learned a lot. Love!!!