Gilded
Serpent presents...
Love
and Romance, Egyptian Style
Book Review of The
Poison Tree,
planted and grown in Egypt by Marwa Rakha
Review by Bonita
Oteri
This book
is a poignant portrait written by a young Egyptian woman
blessed or burdened, depending on one's perspective,
with excessive moral courage and brutal honesty.
Her microscopic
scrutiny of the Egyptian dating and marriage scene as she
views it spares no one, least of all herself. This book
takes us into an incisive, heart-wrenching examination of
the tight rope Egyptian women must daintily and carefully
tread if they wish to "win" a husband. In her circumstances
she knows the games that must be played to "win" at
this artful game ; yet they eat at her soul. Marwa has a
burning passion that can't be tempered and she is compelled
to speak out on the limitations she feels her society
has imposed on women.
At times
the book is a savvy "Sex and the City" type column
writing that addresses different hot topics. These include
the avid interest that her fellow countrymen and women have
with their fascination of the Arab world watching Egyptian
serial soap operas. The author, Marwa Rakha addresses
fascinating insights for Westerners into the Egyptian psyche
on dating/marriage issues; ranging from the basic man and
woman on the street opinions, to societal class distinctions
and snobbery. This includes the taboo topics of prostitution
and the complex survival decisions some women, sadly, must
make.
Bravely
baring her soul and laying her innermost fears on the altar
of Truth as she sees it, the author gives us a rare glimpse
into the inner workings of Love and Romance, Egyptian Style.
Beneath
the biting words, there is always a sense of humor and a
fond affection and deep love that binds her to her family,
even though they must surely despair of this outspoken daughter
and her future happiness. It was beautiful how she
wrote regarding her father’s driving her around all night
when she could not sleep, plagued by inner demons.
For my
part, I saw many parallels for American, Western women and
the age old "war between the sexes" in this string
of tales carefully beaded together. She also includes a some
what tongue-in-cheek, special "Warning! Danger!" for
Western women on the charm and allure of the charismatic
Egyptian man when he is focused on winning a wife. Perhaps
the religion, the language, the country, the cultures are
different; yet there are always Women's Issues which transcend
international borders and tie us together. Not all, but most
women want a happy family and a good husband, while simultaneously
facing similar challenges in other countries as well, in
meeting that goal. No matter what corner of the globe
we live in, the smarter and more out-spoken the woman
in question, the more difficult that goal can be to achieve.
This book
offers a profound insight in an unusual, blog format
for anyone wanting to learn about the Egyptian society dating
scene from a different dimensional perspective. It's one
of those rare works that can make you laugh and cry simultaneously.
Marwa,
my wish and prayer for you is that God may send you the strong,
secure man who will not be intimidated by the deep, burning
and beautiful soul that you are.
Have
a comment? Send us a
letter!
Check the "Letters to the Editor" for
other possible viewpoints!
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for more?
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