review: daughters of the nile by zahra barri
digital arc via netgalley.
Daughters of the Nile by Zahra Barri
Genre: Literary Fiction
Release Date: 3/12/24
About the book:
A bold multi-generational debut novel exploring themes of queerness, revolution and Islamic sisterhood.
Paris, 1940. The course of Fatiha Bin-Khalid’s life is changed forever when she befriends the Muslim feminist Doria Shafik. But after returning to Egypt and dedicating years to the fight for women’s rights, she struggles to reconcile her political ideals with the realities of motherhood.
Cairo, 1966. After being publicly shamed when her relationship with a bisexual boyfriend is revealed, Fatiha’s daughter is faced with an impossible decision. Should Yasminah accept a life she didn’t choose, or will she leave her home and country in pursuit of independence?
Bristol, 2011. British-born Nadia is battling with an identity crisis and a severe case of herpes. Feeling unfulfilled (and after a particularly disastrous one-night stand), she moves in with her old-fashioned Aunt Yasminah and realises that she must discover her purpose in the modern world before it’s too late.
Following the lives of three women from the Bin-Khalid family, Daughters of the Nile is an original and darkly funny novel that examines the enduring strength of female bonds. These women are no strangers to adversity, but they must learn from the past and relearn shame and shamelessness to radically change their futures.
Review
As soon as I read the description of this book, I was so excited. I’m Coptic-Egyptian, but really enjoyed learning more about Islamic-Egyptian culture. This is a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, and entirely unique read.
Barri has created an interesting and engaging reflection of the political landscape of Egypt over the last ~70 years. I simultaneously enjoyed this story and learned an incredible amount about Egyptian and Islamic history.
The characters in this book were complex and beautifully written, although I could have benefited from a little family tree diagram for my tired brain. The only issue I had with this book was that there was a section around the middle that I struggled to get through, as it included a lot of political discussion and information that when grouped together became quite overwhelming.
Overall, this book managed to span large concepts and ideologies including Islam, queer identity, race, and gender in a poignant and beautiful manner. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys queer stories, themes of feminism, or historical fiction. Make sure to check TWs before reading.
Rating: 4/5
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rach xx