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賳爻丕亍 毓賱賶 丕噩賳丨丞 丕賱丨賱賲

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In 1940, harems still abounded in Fez, Morocco. They weren't the opulent, bejeweled harems of Scherezade, but the domestic sprawl of extended families encamped around a walled courtyard that marked the edges of women's lives. Though born into this tightly sheltered world, Fatimi Mernissi is constantly urged by her rebellious mother to spring beyond it. Worried that Mernissi is too shy and quiet, her mother tells her, "You must learn to scream and protest, just the way you learned to walk and talk." In Dreams of Trespass, an enjoyable weave of memory and fantasy, it is clear that Mernissi's fertile imagination let her slip back and forth through the gates that trapped her restive mother. She spins amiable, often improbable tales of the rigidly proper city harem in Fez and the contrasting freedoms of the country harem where her grandmother Yakima lives. There, one of Yakima's cowives rides like the wind, another swims like a fish, and Yakima relishes twitting the humorless first wife by naming a fat, waddling duck after her.

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First published January 1, 1994

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About the author

Fatema Mernissi

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AKA 賮丕胤賲丞 丕賱賲乇賳賷爻賷

Mernissi was born into a middle-class family. She received her primary education in a school established by the nationalist movement, and secondary level education in an all-girls school funded by the French protectorate. In 1957, she studied political science at the Sorbonne and at Brandeis University, where she earned her doctorate. She returned to work at the Mohammed V University and taught at the Facult茅 des Lettres between 1974 and 1981 on subjects such as methodology, family sociology and psycho-sociology. She has become noted internationally mainly as an Islamic feminist.

As an Islamic feminist, Mernissi was largely concerned with Islam and women's roles in it, analyzing the historical development of Islamic thought and its modern manifestation. Through a detailed investigation of the nature of the succession to Muhammad, she cast doubt on the validity of some of the hadith (sayings and traditions attributed to him), and therefore the subordination of women that she saw in Islam, but not necessarily in the Qur'an.

As a sociologist, Mernissi did fieldwork mainly in Morocco. On several occasions in the late 1970s and early 1980s she conducted interviews in order to map prevailing attitudes to women and work. She did sociological research for UNESCO and ILO as well as for the Moroccan authorities. In the late 1970s and in the 1980s Mernissi contributed articles to periodicals and other publications on women in Morocco and women and Islam from a contemporary as well as from a historical perspective.

In 2003, Mernissi was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award along with Susan Sontag.

Mernissi was a lecturer at the Mohammed V University of Rabat and a research scholar at the University Institute for Scientific Research, in the same city.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 646 reviews
Profile Image for Petra In Fiji just like my Caribbean island home.
2,456 reviews35.4k followers
May 6, 2015
Original review I bought this book as brand new. It looks brand new. It feels brand new. There is masses of underlining inside. The seller should be locked up and flogged on the soles of their feet.

'Proper' review (see comment 5) The book was pretty good, very informative about the goings on in a harem. The machinations and manipulations of the women to get what they want which they often do, except freedom. They are caged birds who sing on demand and are there to be petted and admired and fed delicacies, but not left to fly free. Although sometimes, in a guarded, sheltered, covered flock they might be allowed out for a visit here and there, but then brought back home and locked up again.

They deal with this by curtailing their dreams or else lying on the rooftop looking at the stars. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, 'some of us are living in the gutter but we are looking at the stars', well they are on the rooftops. Ironically, their country cousins, whom they visit irregularly, do not suffer the same strictures - women are out and about on the farm, riding horses and generally being allowed a life. The author hated leaving the country to return to the enclosed world of women in the city.

Nothing, but nothing, no matter what luxury, or what travail, can ever make up for freedom of choice. I wonder what the Queen's views are of on this as she has great work, a 24 carat gold cage and is often allowed out, but not alone, and is guarded once back home?
Profile Image for Rowena.
501 reviews2,713 followers
March 8, 2016
鈥淲hen you happen to be trapped powerless behind walls, stuck in a dead-end harem, you dream of escape. And magic flourishes when you spell out that dream and make the frontiers vanish. Dreams can change your life, and eventually the world. Liberation starts with images dancing in your little head, and you translate those images in words. And words cost nothing!鈥�- Fatima Mernissi,Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood

I just recently came across Moroccan feminist and sociologist Fatima Mernissi and was sorry to learn that she passed away late last year. I鈥檓 so grateful to her for this text, for hearing her story. Someone once told me we are always born into the right place at the right time and Mernissi definitely was. Born in Morocco in 1940 during the transition between tradition and modernity, she was a witness to the war and colonialism by the French. As a sociologist, most importantly a feminist, she is able to present her story in a coming of age story situated in history. I believe she was meant to write this story and she writes it well and so beautifully, even inserting funny yet profound childhood observations:

鈥淲e knew that the French were greedy and had come a long way to conquer our land, even though Allah had already given them a beautiful one, with bustling cities, thick forests, luscious green fields, and cows much bigger than ours that gave four times as much milk. But somehow the French needed to get home.鈥�

The concept of freedom, especially when it deals with women, is interesting to me because it means different things to different people. Is freedom about physical barriers? Do we have to construct our own freedom and how do we do so? Do we see freedom in the other? And even more interesting is to learn about feminists from non-Western countries and how other women practice feminism in cultures that might not even have that word in their vocabulary. I was quite struck by how feminism was done within the harem walls, in what people would say is a very unlikely place to practice feminism.

The harem was defined as the place where a man kept his family and sheltered them. It was both the place and the members. We are introduced to proxemics and boundaries within the harem, and we also learn more about the harem of Mernissi鈥檚 grandmother, Yasmina, in the countryside. The harem is a boundary for women and the boundary symbolizes something to overcome somehow in search of freedom. Some boundaries are invisible, others are concrete (or metallic) like the harem鈥檚 walls (or gate).

One of the ways feminism was practiced was through storytelling, often intergenerationally. In particular, Scheherezade seemed to be a very important literary figure in this world:

鈥淗owever, words would save the person who knew how to string them artfully together. That is what happened to Scheherezade, the author of the thousand and one tales. The King was about to chop off her head, but she was able to stop him at the last minute, just by using words. I was eager to find out how she had done it.鈥�

It was timely that I read this book just before reading Steinem鈥檚 鈥淢y Life on the Road.鈥� In a sense, their lives are opposites, one grew up on the road, one behind a wall. Mernissi talked about the importance for women to not be restricted in their movements and I think Steinem would agree:

鈥淚 knew that if you moved around, your mind worked faster, because you were constantly seeing new things that you had to respond to.鈥�

All in all, this account reiterates how powerful words are, how women do have that power to transform their own lives.

鈥渊辞耻 are going to transform this world, aren鈥檛 you? You are going to create a planet without walls and without frontiers where the gatekeepers have off every day of the year.鈥�
Profile Image for Tahani Shihab.
592 reviews1,138 followers
February 13, 2021
爻賷乇丞 匕丕鬲賷丞 賱賱賰丕鬲亘丞 毓賳 胤賮賵賱鬲賴丕 賵兀賴賱賴丕 賵丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱賲睾乇亘賷 丌賳匕丕賰. 毓賳 丕賱丨噩丕亘 賵丕賱爻賮賵乇貙 丕賱鬲毓賱賷賲 賵丕賱噩賴賱貙 賵爻賱胤丞 丕賱乇噩丕賱 毓賱賶 丕賱賳爻丕亍. 賵丕賱丿鬲賴丕 賵兀孬乇 鬲乇亘賷鬲賴丕 賮賷 鬲卮賰賷賱 卮禺氐賷鬲賴丕 丕賱賲鬲丨乇賾乇丞 丕賱賲孬賯賮丞.

兀賵乇丿鬲 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 兀爻賲丕亍 賰孬賷乇丞 賱乇丕卅丿丕鬲 賵賳丕卮胤丕鬲 賮賷 丕賱丨乇賰丞 丕賱賳爻賵賷丞 賱鬲丨乇賷乇 丕賱賲乇兀丞. 賵賲賯丕胤毓 毓賳 丨賷丕丞 賴丕乇賵賳 丕賱乇卮賷丿貙 卮賴乇夭丕丿 賵卮賴乇賷丕乇 賵賯賲乇 丕賱夭賲丕賳. 賵丨賷丕丞 賲睾賳賷丕鬲 賲賳賴賲 丕賱乇丕丨賱丞 兀爻賲賴丕賳 賵兀賲 賰賱孬賵賲. 賮兀爻賲賴丕賳 丕賱賲鬲賲乇丿丞 毓賱賶 鬲賯丕賱賷丿 丕賱兀賲乇丕亍 賵丕賱兀賲賷乇丕鬲 鬲購賲孬賾賱 丨購賱賲 賰賱 賮鬲丕丞 賮賷 匕丕賰 丕賱賵賯鬲貙 亘賷賳賲丕 丕賱乇丕丨賱丞 兀賲 賰賱孬賵賲 鬲賲孬賾賱 丕賱賳賲賵匕噩 丕賱匕賷 賷丨鬲乇賲賴 丕賱乇噩賱貙 賱賲丕 賮賷 卮禺氐賷鬲賴丕 賲賳 乇夭丕賳丞 賵乇噩丕丨丞 毓賯賱. 賵毓乇噩鬲 毓賱賶 匕賰乇 丕賱兀賵囟丕毓 丕賱丕賯鬲氐丕丿賷丞 賵丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賵丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 賮賷 丕賱賲睾乇亘.


丕賯鬲亘丕爻丕鬲


廿賳 亘毓囟 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 氐丕丿賯賹 賮毓賱丕賸貙 賵賱賰賳 賷噩亘 兀賱丕 賳亘賵丨 亘賴. 廿賳賾 賲丕 鬲亘賵丨丕賳 亘賴貙 賵賲丕 鬲賰鬲賲丕賳賴 爻乇賸賾丕貙 賱丕 毓賱丕賯丞 賱賴 亘丕賱氐丿賯 賵丕賱賰匕亘.

丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 賯丕丿乇丞 毓賱賶 廿賳賯丕匕賰賲貙 廿匕丕 兀鬲賯賳鬲賲 賮賻賳賻賾 賳爻噩賴丕 亘賲賴丕乇丞.

毓賱賷賰 賷丕 亘賳賷鬲賷 兀賳 鬲鬲毓賱賲賷 丕賱鬲卮賰賷賰 賮賷 賲毓丕賳賷 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲貙 廿匕丕 賰賳鬲 賱丕 鬲亘鬲睾賷賳 兀賳 鬲毓賷卮賷 睾亘賷賾丞.

賮賷 賰賱 賲乇丞 鬲賳賵賷賳 禺賵囟 賲睾丕賲乇丞 賲丕貙 毓賱賷賰 兀賳 鬲賮賰賾乇賷 亘丕賱乇爻賵賾貙 賮賱丕 兀賴賲賷丞 賱賱廿賯賱丕毓貙 賵毓賳丿賲丕 鬲乇睾亘賷賳 亘丕賱胤賷乇丕賳 毓賱賷賰 兀賳 鬲賮賰賾乇賷 兀賵賱丕賸 賰賷賮 賵兀賷賳 賷噩亘 兀賳 鬲乇爻賷.

丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 賰丕賱亘氐賱 賰賱賾賲丕 賳夭毓鬲賽 賯卮乇丞賸 亘乇夭鬲 賲毓丕賳賺 噩丿賷丿丞賹貙 賵毓賳丿賲丕 鬲亘丿卅賷賳 亘丕賰鬲卮丕賮 毓丿賾丞 賲毓丕賳賺貙 賷氐亘丨 賰賱賹賾 賲賳 丕賱禺胤兀 賵丕賱氐賵丕亘 毓丿賷賲 丕賱賲毓賳賶.

廿賳 賰賱賲丞 丨乇賷賲 賱賷爻鬲 爻賵賶 丕卮鬲賯丕賯 賱賰賱賲丞 丨乇丕賲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲毓賳賷 賲賲賳賵毓賸丕 賵賲丨乇賲賸丕貙 賵賴賷 賳賯賷囟 丨賱丕賱.

丕賱爻毓丕丿丞 賴賷 匕賱賰 丕賱鬲賵丕夭賳 亘賷賳 賲丕 鬲賲賳丨賷賳賴 賵賲丕 鬲兀禺匕賷賳賴.

毓賱賷賰 兀賳 鬲鬲賲乇賾丿賷 亘匕賰丕亍賺貙 賵兀賳 鬲鬲兀賲賾賱賷 丕賱賲賵賯賮 亘毓賳丕賷丞貙 賵兀賳 鬲丨賱賾賱賷 賰賱賾 卮賷亍. 鬲賲乇賾丿賷 毓賳丿賲丕 鬲賰賵賳賷賳 賵丕孬賯丞 賲賳 兀賳賾賰 鬲賲鬲賱賰賷賳 賮乇氐賸丕 賱賱賮賵夭.

賴賱 丕賱丨乇賷賲 亘賷鬲賹 賷毓賷卮 丕賱乇噩賱 賮賷賴 賲毓 夭賵噩丕鬲賺 毓丿賾丞責.

鬲匕賰賾乇賵丕 兀賳賾 兀丨丿賸丕 賱賲 賷鬲賲賰賳 賯胤賾 賭 賵丨鬲賶 賵賯鬲賳丕 丕賱丨丕囟乇 賭 賲賳 廿賷噩丕丿 丨賱賺賾 賱賲卮賰賱丞賺 丿賵賳 胤乇丨 丕賱兀爻卅賱丞.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
86 reviews9 followers
August 22, 2008
Despite its appearance on every reading list related to Morocco, I鈥檇 resisted reading Mernissi鈥檚 recent recounting of growing up in Fez in the 1940s and 鈥�50s. 鈥淎 harem girlhood?鈥� Exotic and titillating, I thought, but not likely a typical upbringing. Now that I鈥檝e read this fascinating memoir, I realize that the western stereotype of 鈥渉arem鈥� 鈥� dancing girls who take turns pleasing a wealthy sultan 鈥� hardly matches the reality. In fact, Mernissi notes, the everyday domestic harem involves housing the women in an extended family together, in seclusion from the world. Mernissi鈥檚 mother, a grandmother and an aunt found ways to subtly subvert their oppression, taking their cue from the women of Scheherazade鈥檚 鈥淎 Thousand and One Nights鈥� who 鈥渄id not try to convince society to free them 鈥� they went ahead and freed themselves.鈥� From throwing off the veil to creating opportunities for permission to venture beyond the front gate, their small subversions surely are the roots of the liberation Moroccan women enjoy today and are an important part of the country鈥檚 slow progression toward a more democratic and equitable society.
Profile Image for Quo.
330 reviews
May 10, 2020
Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood is a coming of age story, set in Morocco during WWII, an account of Yasmina's attempt to decipher the cloistered world within and the greater world beyond the family home in Fez. The book almost seems a cross between an autobiography and an ethnographic study of French Colonial Morocco, just as the stirrings of an independence movement are in the air. It can't really be compared to The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank but there are certain similarities in the manner in which it portrays a young girl at the onset of maturation, held captive at about the same time as the story set in Holland but fortunately with a much brighter outcome.



I read the very engaging work by Fatema Mernissi as a part of a program at my local library, via a National Library Foundation grant called "Muslim Journeys", a series of encounters that included discussions of five assigned books + lectures & films, each representing different Muslim countries. And while one has various notions of what life in a harem might entail, this tale is a warmly personal story detailing how a young girl deals with her very restrictive setting, while yearning to define her own reality in the midst of abundant social contradictions.

One example of contradictory manifestations comes with the realization that Princess Aisha, the teenage daughter of Morocco's King Mohammad V, is heard to give speeches in both Arabic & French and seen wearing both long caftans & short French dresses, with this combining of two worlds, two codes, two languages, two personalities seeming far more attractive than living in just one. In fact, this ability is spellbinding, like the sliding open of magic doors, enchanting the younger children, being encouraged by many more mature Moroccan women in Yasmina's circle but viewed as an exceedingly dangerous form of "trespassing" by her father & most men.



Moroccan men feel strongly that the "hudud", or boundaries, are sacred & meant to be observed as protective of Morocco's cultural identity & heritage and that if women began dressing provocatively, smoking cigarettes, running about with their hair uncovered & imitating Europeans, Moroccan culture would soon wither & disappear. However, when asked why young males went around wearing their hair like French soldiers & dressed like so many imitation Rudolf Valentino's, Yasmina's father was not able to answer that question.

There are many memorable characters within the book by Fatema Mernissi, including Chama, who possesses "charm books" filled with folk wisdom and who often stages complex plays for the women on the terrace of the house but who is dictatorial & prone to depression. The occasional visits to the "hamman" (bathhouse) and the terrace of their home are the only two areas where most women in Fez can feel truly free but Yasmina's time at her much less restrictive family home in the country is also a refuge for her, a time of feeling unfettered.

Throughout the book, there are countless images of flight and of developing wings and a character called Aunt Habiba, illiterate but robustly sensitive & loved by Yasmina (a stand-in for the author, Fatema), someone who while quiet, "held onto her wings, giving meaning to her life by dreaming about flight", something that encourages Yasmina. Imprisoned within the walls of the harem, the women went about dreaming of horizons without frontiers. Some women who view themselves as "modern" even embroider images of birdwings in flight, an image that is seen as very threatening for more traditional women.

In the view of Aunt Habiba:
When you happen to be trapped, powerless behind walls, stuck in a dead-end harem, you dream of escape. And magic happens when you spell out that dream & make the frontiers vanish. Dreams can change your life & eventually the world. Liberation starts with little images dancing in your head & you can translate those images into words & words cost nothing.
The beauty of Fatema Mernissi's novel is in its inspirational message, stressing the importance of having dreams, no matter who you are & what your situation might be.



This very enjoyable tale is accompanied by some very evocative black & white chapter-opening images by Ruth Ward. *I did have one area of uncertainty: having read that the author is fluent in Arabic & French, there was no mention of a translator for the English version of the book I read.
Profile Image for Jad .
36 reviews40 followers
June 1, 2012
丕賯乇兀 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞貙 孬賲 卮丕賴丿 賮賷賱賲 "毓氐賮賵乇 丕賱爻胤丨" 丕賱鬲賵賳爻賷
Profile Image for Repellent Boy.
599 reviews621 followers
October 22, 2021
A帽os 40, Marruecos, una ni帽a empieza a descubrir el mundo que le rodea, y muchas preguntas le vienen a la mente: 驴por qu茅 un hombre puede tener varias mujeres? 驴Por qu茅 las mujeres no puede dejar la casa en ning煤n momento? 驴Por qu茅 viven apresadas mientras los hombres tienen libertad para salir? Lo 煤nico que tiene claro es que ella no quiere tener la misma vida que el resto de las mujeres, ella quiere ser libre para vivir aventuras y descubrir todas esas cosas que le son vetadas.

En "Sue帽os en el umbral", F谩tima Mernissi va a hablarnos de sus recuerdos, de como fue crecer en un har茅n rodeada de sus familiares y con unas normas tan estrictas orientadas hacia las mujeres. Como estas no pod铆an salir de esas cuatros paredes y como el poquito de cielo que ve铆an desde el patio era la 煤nica v铆a para imaginar un mundo exterior al que no ten铆an derecho, solo por haber nacido mujeres. Estas tradiciones machistas aferradas a una religi贸n interpretada a conveniencia por los hombres entrar谩 en choque con las costumbres occidentales de los franceses que han acupado la Marruecos de aquella 茅poca, ayudando a estas mujeres a fantasear con un mundo distinto, a tener esperanza y a luchar para que la mujer poco a poco consiga la libertad que tanto anhela.

Me ha gustado especialmente la descripci贸n que F谩tima hace de todas estas mujeres fuertes de su vida: su madre, cuyo 煤nico deseo en la vida era darle una educaci贸n igualitaria a su hija, con la esperanza de que esta consiga la libertad que ella no pudo tener; su abuela Yasmina, atrapada en un har茅n como una de las muchas mujeres de un mismo hombre, pero que tiene la suficiente fuerza para ganar sus batallas y cierta independencia; sus primas Malika y Chama de quien F谩tima ir谩 aprendiendo poco a poco los cambios de esta nueva sociedad que se abr铆a camino en Marruecos y, por 煤ltimo, su t铆a Habiba, una viuda condenada a una peque帽a habitaci贸n que casi nunca abandonaba, pero que a trav茅s de sus fant谩sticos cuentos consegu铆a inspirar deseos de aventuras a las mujeres de la casa.

Un detalle muy bonito que tiene el libro es que hace un repaso por diferentes mujeres de la historia que marcaron un antes y un despu茅s en la cultura marroqu铆 y que dieron a las mujeres esperanzas. Un repaso desde la mism铆sima Shahrazad (Sherezade) a las actrices de moda de la 茅poca,mujeres valientes que se atrev铆an a reprensenter personajes femeninos que viv铆an aventuras y vidas muy diferentes a la realidad de estas mujeres.

En definitiva "Sue帽os en el umbral" es una historia bonita y dura, de esas que te ense帽an cosas y que te hacen comprender un poco m谩s el mundo que te rodea. Me hubiera gustado que no se centrara solo en la F谩tima ni帽a y poder descubrir como crece, cumple los sue帽os de libertad de su madre, hasta acabar siendo escritora. Pero bueno, eso podr铆a ser otra novela. Una lectura muy recomendable.
Profile Image for DoctorM.
838 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2010
A lovely book on multiple levels. Mernissi's account of a girlhood in an upper-middle class family in Fez in the 1940s is both a luminous and gently affectionate memoir and a penetrating look at the idea of the harem, of a separate women's world within the household. Mernissi is very clear: the harems of her youth were not the lascivious fantasy-lands of the Arabian Nights or Orientalist painting, but communal spaces where the women of the household lived behind a "sacred boundary", where they lived in a society of their own. Mernissi's mother was a nationalist and a believer in women's freedom, and gave her daughter the strength to become a leading Moroccan academic and advocate of women's rights. Mernissi herself paints out harem life in its good points (mutual support and communal strength) and its bad (isolation, lack of privacy, enforced seclusion from the world). She is also very clear on the differences between urban life in Fez and the relative independence enjoyed by women on the family's rural lands. Mernissi's mother and aunts learn about the world only through clandestine listening to the radio and rumours from Egypt and Turkey and the alien Christian world across the Mediterranean, and Mernissi's childhood was spent amidst women who believed in the promise that a new world was possible while worried about what a loss of tradition might entail. Mernissi emphasises throughout the book the idea of borders, of the artficial separations running through society--- and especially the idea that, for the harem women, it was an act of trespass, something forbidden, to go outside their family courtyards. Mernissi's climactic point is clear enough: the mark of weakness is to be penned within borders, to be forced to stay in a narrow, enclosed world. A lovely and surprisingly powerful book, and highly recommended.
Profile Image for dely.
473 reviews276 followers
January 17, 2019
English review below.

Bellissima e interessante autobiografia in cui l'autrice ci racconta della sua infanzia trascorsa in un harem marocchino durante gli anni 40. La voce narrante 猫 quella dell'autrice da bambina e anche le osservazioni e il linguaggio sono quelli di una bambina, ma ci貌 rende il tutto molto scorrevole, divertente, ricco di magia ma mai infantile o banale. Ricco di magia perch茅 si sa che i bambini osservano tutto con un'innata curiosit脿 e un pizzico di magia. A creare un'atmosfera magica ci sono anche le storie de che le donne dell'harem si raccontano per intrattenersi e trascorrere le serate. Il luogo per cantare, raccontarsi storie o recitare i racconti di Sherazad sognando una vita libera, era la terrazza. Ascoltando questi racconti anche il lettore si immerge nell'atmosfera magica che regnava sul terrazzo, sotto il cielo stellato e l'aria profumata da fiori esotici.
L'impronta femminista dell'autrice si sente tutta, soprattutto nei consigli che alcune donne dell'harem davano a Fatema per farle capire in che gabbia dorata vivevano. Le insegnavano l'importanza dei desideri e dei sogni perch茅 secondo loro era l'unico modo per ribellarsi e abbattere i muri (non solo fisici) che le imprigionavano: finch茅 si sogna una vita migliore, ci si impegna anche a realizzarla. Il libro 猫 ricco di citazioni molto belle da cui emerge la saggezza e il forte desiderio delle donne di una vita migliore e soprattutto senza costrizioni.
Il libro 猫 anche istruttivo perch茅 non soltanto ho imparato che un harem domestico non ha nulla a che vedere con gli harem imperiali a cui siamo soliti pensare, ma anche perch茅 l鈥檃utrice ci mostra le differenze tra vita rurale e vita cittadina in Marocco durante quegli anni. In campagna le donne erano pi霉 libere, potevano uscire di casa, nuotare nel fiume, andare a cavallo. Parla anche dei coloni francesi e dei primi nazionalisti marocchini che permettevano alle mogli di vestire all'occidentale, non indossare il velo e che hanno lottato per rendere l鈥檌struzione accessibile anche alle femmine. Altre parti interessanti sono state quelle dedicate all'hammam e alle schiave che arrivavano dall鈥橝frica nera, ma ho amato ogni singolo capitolo.
脠 un libro che consiglio a chiunque perch茅 猫 sia interessante che ben scritto. Nonostante sia un saggio, si legge quasi come un romanzo e avrei voluto fosse pi霉 lungo perch茅 mi piaceva seguire le donne dell'harem di casa Mernissi ascoltando le loro storie.

English
I鈥檝e read this book not only because in a group in which I'm a member Morocco has been chosen as country to be read for January, but also because this year I'll start a new challenge: to visit Africa through books, reading a book for every state.
I鈥檓 really glad I picked up this book because it has been a very pleasant surprise. The author tells us about her childhood during the 1940s in Morocco living in a domestic harem. A domestic harem is totally different from a royal harem we usually imagine. I didn鈥檛 know this so for me the book was also informative. The author also talks about the difference between life in the city and the countryside, where women had some more freedoms. She also tells us about French colonialism, and how the Moroccan nationalists left more freedoms to their wifes and daughters fighting also for female education.
In addition to being an interesting and informative book (non-fiction that reads nearly like fiction), it is also very well written and I liked the narrator that is the author as a child. The voice is that of a child and it is sometimes funny but never childish or trivial. It is also full of magic because we know that children look at everything with curiosity and a touch of magic. To add some magic to the story helped also the women of this domestic harem that met on the terrace of the house to talk and dream about freedom. Here they sang, told stories or performed the tales of . I liked that the book had this feminine feeling. I also liked the teachings these women gave to Fatema: to never stop dreaming because Dreams can change your life, and eventually the world. Liberation starts with images dancing in your little head, and you translate those images in words. And words cost nothing!
Profile Image for Rosanna .
483 reviews27 followers
Read
May 19, 2020
Pu貌 sapere, una bambina, cosa sia un harem?
La parola Harem 猫 leggera variante di Har脿m, il 'proibito', il 'vietato'. Ha a che fare con limiti e confini mentali soprattutto, non solo costituiti da mattoni pazientemente messi uno sull'altro.
Questa bambina vive all'interno di esso: mura alte e un unico portone, un guardiano e l'intero mondo fuori. E molti altri 'mondi interiori', dentro.
Ognuno di essi appartiene a ciascuna donna che l矛 con lei vive: la madre, la nonna, le zie, le cugine, le parenti vedove o ripudiate che nell'harem si rifugiano, trovandovi sostegno e protezione da parte dell'intera famiglia, purch茅 si adeguino ai ritmi del gruppo.
Ecco cosa NON 猫 un harem: un luogo dove esprimere la propria individualit脿, ma 猫 anche un posto dove quella stessa individualit脿 pu貌 comunque costruirsi tramite sogno e parole, lass霉, sulla terrazza.
La bambina allora cerca parole, le proprie e quelle altrui, pone domande...
"Un harem 猫 una casa dove un uomo vive con molte mogli?". Non solo.
"Un harem 猫 una cosa che hanno tutti gli uomini sposati?". Non solo.
"Forse che un uomo deve avere qualcosa di grosso sotto la jall脿biyya per poter mettere su un harem?". Non solo.
"Un harem pu貌 avere pi霉 di un padrone?". Non solo.
Che pu貌 saperne una dolce bambina di cos'猫 un harem, mentre lo osserva 'vivere' dall'alto di quella terrazza proibita?
Le donne sanno cos'猫, vivendosi dentro e fuori limiti e confini: realizzazione di se stesse o...morte.
La storia di Fatema finisce troppo presto, troncata di netto quasi alle soglie della sua adolescenza: no buono.
L'argomento 猫 affascinante, un libro solo non basta ad esaurirlo e lo so, ma...non 猫 bello rimanere prigioniere di quei muri!
Profile Image for Ameera Almousa.
70 reviews215 followers
July 15, 2011
賵賱丿鬲 賮丕胤賲丞 賮賷 丨乇賷賲 賮丕爻 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 丕賱賲睾乇亘賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賯毓 毓賱賶 亘毓丿 禺賲爻丞 丌賱丕賮 賰賱賲 睾乇亘 賲賰丞 賵兀賱賮 賰賱賲 噩賳賵亘 賲丿乇賷丿 ,廿丨丿賶 毓賵丕氐賲 丕賱賳氐丕乇賶 丕賱賯爻丕丞 ,賲卮丕賰賱鬲賴賲 賲毓 丕賱賳氐丕乇賶 賰賲丕 賷賯賵賱 賵丕賱丿賴丕 賵賰賲丕 賴賵 丕賱卮兀賳 賲毓 丕賱賳爻丕亍 丨賷賳 賱丕 鬲丨鬲乇賲 丕賱丨丿賵丿 ,賵賯丿 賵賱丿鬲 賮賷 賮鬲乇丞 賮賵囟賶 毓丕乇囟丞 廿匕 兀賳 丕賱賳爻丕亍 賵丕賱賳氐丕乇賶 賰丕賳賵 賷丨鬲噩賵賳 毓賱賶 丕賱丨丿賵丿 賵賷禺乇賯賵賳賴丕 亘丕爻鬲賲乇丕乇

毓賱賶 亘丕亘 丨乇賷賲賴丕 匕丕鬲賴 ,賰丕賳鬲 丕賱賳爻丕亍 賷購賴丕噩賲賳 " 兀丨賲丿" 丕賱亘賵丕亘 賵賷囟丕賷賯賳賴 亘丕爻鬲賲乇丕乇 賵賰丕賳鬲 丕賱噩賷賵卮 丕賱兀噩賳亘賷丞 鬲鬲賵丕賮賯 賲噩鬲丕夭丞 丨丿賵丿 丕賱卮賲丕賱

賷賯賵賱 賵丕賱丿賴丕 亘兀賳 丕賱賱賴 禺賱賯 丕賱兀乇囟 賵賲丕 毓賱賷賴丕 賮氐賱 亘賷賳 丕賱賳爻丕亍 賵丕賱乇噩丕賱 賵卮賯 亘丨乇丕 亘賰丕賲賱丞 亘賷賳 丕賱賳氐丕乇賶 賵丕賱賲爻賱賲賷賳 匕賱賰 兀賳 丕賱賳馗丕賲 賵丕賱丕賳爻噩丕賲 賱丕 賷鬲丨賯賯丕賳 廿賱丕 廿匕丕 丕丨鬲乇賲鬲 賰賱 賮卅丞 丨丿賵丿賴丕 賵賰賱 禺乇賯 亘丐丿賷 亘丕賱囟乇賵乇丞 廿賱賶 賮賵囟賶 賵丕賱卮賯丕亍 ,睾賷乇 兀賳 丕賱賳爻丕亍 賰賳 賲卮睾賵賱丕鬲 亘丕禺鬲乇丕賯 丕賱丨丿賵丿 賲賴賵賵爻丕鬲 亘丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱賲賵噩賵丿 禺丕乇噩 丕賱兀爻賵丕乇 賷鬲賵賴賳 兀賳賮爻賴賳 胤賷賱丞 丕賱賳賴丕乇 賲鬲噩賵賱丕鬲 賮賷 胤乇賯 禺賷丕賱賷丞 賵禺賱丕賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賮鬲乇丞 賰丕賳 丕賱賳氐丕乇賶 賷噩鬲丕夭賵賳 丕賱亘丨乇 鬲亘丕毓丕 夭丕乇毓賷賳 丕賱賲賵鬲 賵丕賱賮賵囟賶

睾丿鬲 賲賳 賷賵賲賴丕 賲購賳卮睾賱丞 亘丕賱亘丨孬 毓賳 丕賱丨丿賵丿 賵賯丿 丕爻鬲亘丿 亘賴丕 丕賱賯賱賯 丨賷賳 兀氐亘丨鬲 毓丕噩夭丞 毓賳 鬲亘賷賳 丕賱禺胤 丕賱賴賳丿賵爻賷 丕賱匕賷 賷賳馗賲 毓噩夭賴丕

毓丕卮鬲 胤賮賵賱丞 爻毓賷丿丞 賱兀賳 丕賱丨丿賵丿 賰丕賳鬲 賵丕囟丨丞 賵賰丕賳 兀賵賱賴丕 賴賷 丕賱毓鬲亘丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賮氐賱 丨噩乇丞 兀亘賷賴丕 賵兀賲賴丕 毓賳 賵爻胤 丕賱噩丿丕乇 ,賱賲 賷賰賳 賷爻賲丨 賱賴丕 亘廿噩鬲賷丕夭 鬲賱賰 丕賱毓鬲亘丞 賱賱毓亘 賮賷 賵爻胤 丕賱丿丕乇 禺賱丕賱 丕賱氐亘丕丨 賯亘賱 丕爻鬲賷賯丕馗 兀賲賴丕 ,兀賷 兀賳賴 賰丕賳 毓賱賷賴丕 兀賳 鬲毓亘 丿賵锟斤拷 囟噩賷噩 亘賷賳 丕賱爻丕丿爻丞 賵丕賱孬丕賲賳丞 氐亘丕丨丕賸 ,賰丕賳鬲 鬲噩賱爻 毓賱賶 毓鬲亘丞 丕賱乇禺丕賲 丕賱兀亘賷囟 丕賱亘丕乇丿 賵鬲賯丕賵賲 乇睾亘鬲賴丕 賮賷 丕賱丕賱鬲丨丕賯 亘兀亘賳丕亍 兀毓賲丕賲賴丕 丕賱兀賰亘乇 賲賳賴丕 賷賱毓亘賵賳 孬賲 鬲購賰賲賱 賯氐氐 丿丕禺賱 丨丿賵丿 丕賱丨乇賷賲 丕賱賲乇卅賷 賵丕賱賱丕賲乇卅賷 亘兀賲鬲夭丕噩 賯氐賴 乇丕卅毓丞 毓賳 賱爻丕賳 噩丿鬲賴丕 賵乇亘胤賴丕 亘賵丕賯毓 丕賱丨賱賲 丕賱丨乇賷賲賷

賵丕賱賵丕賯毓 廿賳 丕賱丨賱賲 賵丨丿賴 賲噩乇丿 賲賳 賯丿乇丞 丕賱鬲丨賯賯 賱丕 賷睾賷乇 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賵賱丕 賷禺鬲乇賯 丕賱兀爻賵丕乇 賵賱賰賳賴購 爻丕毓丿 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱丕丨鬲賮丕馗 亘賰乇丕賲鬲賴.
丕賱賰乇丕賲丞 賴賷 兀賳 鬲丨賱賲 丨賱賲丕賸 賯賵賷丕賸 賷賲賳丨賰 乇丐賷丞 賵毓丕賱賲丕 賷賰賵賳 賱賰 賮賷賴 賲賰丕賳,賵丨賷孬 鬲睾賷乇 賲卮丕乇賰鬲賰 ,賲賴賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 賲丨丿賵丿賷鬲賴丕 卮賷卅丕賸 賲丕 .
鬲賰賵賳賷賳 賮賷 丨乇賷賲 ,丨賷賳 賱丕 賷丨鬲丕噩 丕賱毓丕賱賲 廿賱賷賰.
鬲賰賵賳賷賳 賮賷 丨乇賷賲 , 丨賷賳 鬲賴賲賱 賲爻丕賴賲鬲賰 賵賱丕 兀丨丿 賷胤賱亘 賲賳賰 卮賷卅丕賸
鬲賰賵賳賷賳 賮賷 丨乇賷賲 , 丨賷賳 賷睾丿賵 賰賱 賲丕 鬲賯賵賲賷賳 亘賴 睾賷乇 匕賷 賮丕卅丿丞
鬲賰賵賳賷賳 賮賷 丨乇賷賲 , 丨賷賳 鬲丿賵乇 丕賱兀乇囟 賵兀賳鬲 睾丕乇賯丞 賮賷 丕賱丕丨鬲賯丕乇 賵丕賱賱丕賲亘丕賱丕丞
卮禺氐 賵丕丨丿 賷賲賱賰 爻賱胤丞 鬲睾賷賷乇 賴匕丕 丕賱賵囟毓 賵噩毓賱 丕賱兀乇囟 鬲丿賵乇 賮賷 丕賱賳賴锟斤拷 丕賱賲毓丕賰爻 賵賴匕丕 丕賱卮禺氐 賴賵 兀賳鬲賽.
廿匕丕 賯丕賵賲鬲賽 丕賱丕丨鬲賯丕乇 賵丨賱賲鬲賽 亘毓丕賱賲 賲禺丕賱賮 鬲鬲睾賷乇 賵噩賴丞 丕賱兀乇囟
賵賱賰賳 賲丕 毓賱賷賰 鬲噩賳亘賴 亘兀賷 孬賲賳 ,賵賴賵 兀賳 賷賲鬲丿 賴匕丕 丕賱丕丨鬲賯丕乇 丕賱匕賷 賷丨賷胤 亘賰 廿賱賶 丿丕禺賱賰 .!

賲購賱丕丨馗丞 *

賯丿 賱丕賷乇賵賯 匕賱賰 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賱睾賷乇 丕賱賳丕胤賯賷賳 亘廿丨爻丕爻 丕賱賳爻丕亍 .!
賵賱丕 丕賱賲丕乇賷賳 毓賱賶 禺乇賷胤丞 丕賱毓丕賱賲 亘廿賯氐丕亍 亘賱丕丿 丕賱賲睾乇亘 毓賳 丕賱賵噩賵丿.




:$ 賰鬲爻賰賳賵 丨賱賲賷 賰鬲爻賰賳賵 賯賱亘賷

Profile Image for Kavita.
835 reviews449 followers
April 28, 2020
A pointless book. I can't imagine why the author thought this would be of any use to anyone. It is supposed to be a fictional autobiography of the author's childhood in a Moroccan household, which practised seclusion of the women - hence the harem business. The book is unstructured and simply jumps from one topic to the other without any sort of coherence. One moment you would be reading about the French invasion and the next moment, it is all about charms and spells.

There was no discernible plot in the book. It was just a collection of random anecdotes, some of which were quite interesting, but led nowhere at all. It might have worked if the characters were developed a little, but no attention was paid to that. This was just a rant against Moroccan patriarchy. Quite understandable, but not something I wanted to read. It could have been so much more and so much better if the author had told an actual story - her actual story!

A pet hate of mine is using childish voices to keep the quality of writing down. I dislike lengthy childish ruminations of life and issues and I do NOT think they add anything innovative to the discussion. It was quite annoying to read about dumb theories like the French going to wars because the taste of tea drunk with milk is horrible, or that Americans used short forms for everything because they wanted to go back to chewing gum. Perhaps this was meant to be funny but to me, it was just irritating. I don't want to read about dumb girl theories. I was genuinely interested in reading about a woman's journey from seclusion to feminism, but Mernissi really failed in this.

Even worse were the endless discussions about what a harem was. And the stupid theories about the world war. And boring discussions about the difference between boys and girls. Do I really look like I care? I wanted a plot, a story, great characters, a journey from A to B, not meaningless discussions by stupid children, half ranting, half political essay.

The ending was abrupt and ended with the protagonist suddenly realising that she was different from a male cousin. Congratulations. This was what I got after skimming through endless pages of traditional Moroccan beauty treatments!

One word - Boring.
Profile Image for Fatima Zahraa.
146 reviews66 followers
April 4, 2018
-鬲賲賾鬲-
賰賳鬲 兀鬲爻丕卅賱 賵兀賳丕 兀賯乇兀 賴匕賴 丕賱爻賷乇丞 丕賱匕丕鬲賷丞 賱賱賰丕鬲亘丞 賮丕胤賲丞 丕賱賲乇賳賷爻賷 -乇丨賲賴丕 丕賱賱賴- 賴賱 賮毓賱丕 賰丕賳鬲 丨賷丕丞 噩丿丕鬲賳丕 賵 兀噩丿丕丿賳丕 亘賴匕賴 丕賱丿乇噩丞 賲賳 丕賱亘爻丕胤丞 責!
噩毓賱鬲賳賷 兀毓賷卮 賮丕胤賲丞 丕賱賲乇賳賷爻賷 毓丕賱賲丕 賱賲 兀賰賳 賱兀爻賲毓 毓賳賴 廿賱丕 賮賷 丕賱兀賮賱丕賲 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷丞 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 .. 鬲丨賰賷 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 賴賳丕 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賲匕賰乇丕鬲 丨賷丕丞 -丕賱丨乇賷賲- 賰賷賮 賰丕賳鬲 兀賷丕賲 丕賱丕爻鬲毓賲丕乇 賵 賰賷賮 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱賳爻丕亍 鬲賯囟賷 兀賵賯丕鬲賴賳 亘毓賷丿丕 毓賳 賰賱賾 賴匕丕 丕賱鬲乇賮 丕賱匕賷 賳毓賷卮賴 丕賱丌賳 .
丕賳鬲賯賱鬲 亘禺賮賾丞 賵 爻賴賵賱丞 賲賳 丕賱兀爻胤丨 賱賵爻胤 丕賱丿丕乇 賵 賲賳 亘賷賵鬲 丕賱亘丕丿賷丞 賵 賲夭丕乇毓賴丕 廿賱賶 丕賱賰購鬲賾丕亘... 賵賷毓賵丿 丕賱賮囟賱 賮賷 匕賱賰 賱丿賯賾丞 賵氐賮 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 賱賴匕賴 丕賱兀賲丕賰賳 賵 胤乇賷賯鬲賴丕 賮賷 廿賷氐丕賱 噩賲丕賱賴丕 賱賳丕 . :)
兀毓鬲賯丿 兀賳賴 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 兀賵 賴匕賴 丕賱賲匕賰乇丕鬲 鬲賵噩丿 鬲賮丕氐賷賱 賰孬賷乇丞 賵 賲爻賲賷丕鬲 賱兀卮賷丕亍 賰孬賷乇丞 爻賷賰賵賳 氐毓亘丕 兀賳 賷賮賴賲賴丕 賲噩賲賱 丕賱賯乇丕亍 賱兀賳賴丕 禺丕氐丞 亘丕賱賲睾丕乇亘丞 .

兀丨亘亘鬲 賰孬賷乇丕 噩丿鬲賴丕 丕賱賷丕爻賲賷賳 賵 賯賵賾丞 卮禺氐賷鬲賴丕 賵 毓賳丕丿賴丕 賵 乇丕賯鬲 賱賷 丕賱丨乇賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賰賳賾 賷毓卮賳賴丕 賳爻丕亍 丕賱亘丕丿賷丞 亘丕賱賲賯丕乇賳丞 賲毓 丨賷丕丞 賳爻丕亍 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 .

兀賵賾賱 賯乇丕亍丞 賱 賮丕胤賲丞 丕賱賲乇賳賷爻賷 乇丨賲賴丕 丕賱賱賴 賵 兀鬲賲賳賶 兀賳 賱丕 鬲賰賵賳 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞.
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Profile Image for Christine.
7,109 reviews551 followers
December 28, 2015
I read this after reading - which expands on the differences shown here.

This is actually a wonderful book about Mernissi's childhood in a harem and a comparison of that harem with that of her grandmother. Instead of telling, Mernissi shows you the different lives of the women in each harem, and deepens the understanding or view of it.

You find yourself caught in the struggles of the women - in particular Chama and Mernissi's own mother.

And the ending phrase, is something everyone can get behind.
Profile Image for Salma.
404 reviews1,238 followers
December 22, 2009
賷丿賵乇 丨賵賱 丕賱丨乇賷賲 丕賱賲睾乇亘賷 丕賱匕賷 賳卮兀鬲 賮賷賴 賮賷 丕賱兀乇亘毓賷賳賷丕鬲 賲賳 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱賲丕囟賷 賲賳 賵噩賴丞 賳馗乇 胤賮賱丞 賮賷 丕賱爻丕亘毓丞 賲賳 毓賲乇賴丕 賵 毓賳 丕賱毓夭賱 賵 丕賱賰亘鬲 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 賷賲丕乇爻 毓賱賶 丕賱賳爻丕亍 賮賷賴貙 賲賲丕 噩毓賱 兀賲賴丕 匕丕鬲 賲乇丞 鬲囟乇亘賴丕 丨賷賳 乇兀鬲賴丕 賵囟毓鬲 丨噩丕亘丕 賵 賴賷 氐睾賷乇丞貙 賲丨匕乇丞 廿賷丕賴丕 兀賳 鬲賯鬲乇賮 丕賱丨噩丕亘 賲乇丞 孬丕賳賷丞 賵 兀賳 毓賱賷賴丕 兀賱丕 鬲賰賵賳 賲丨亘賵爻丞 賲孬賱賴丕 賵 兀賳 鬲鬲丨乇乇 賲賳 丕賱丨乇賷賲!!!

賵 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賳 卮兀賳賴 兀賳 賷噩毓賱 丕賱賲乇亍 賷賮賴賲 爻亘亘 賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 賮丕胤賲丞 丕賱賲毓丕丿賷丞 賱賱丨噩丕亘... 賮丕賱爻亘亘 賷賰賲賳 賮賷 賳卮兀鬲賴丕...

賱賰賳賴丕 賱賱兀爻賮 賯丿 賵賯毓鬲 賮賷 賰鬲丕亘賴丕 賴匕丕 亘丕賱鬲賰乇丕乇 丨丿 丕賱賲賱賱 賵 亘丿丕 兀爻賱賵亘賴 亘丕賴鬲丕 賵 賴賵 賷鬲丨丿孬 亘賱爻丕賳 胤賮賱丞 賮賷 丕賱爻丕亘毓丞...

Profile Image for Nawal.
64 reviews272 followers
September 10, 2016
Un livre int茅ressant, bien loin de ce que nous pouvons imaginer d'un vrai harem, sans fioriture ni drame. Dans ce beau r茅cit enchanteur de mille et une nuits 脿 la marocaine, Fatima Mernissi nous fait voyager dans un vrai harem de F猫s, au cours des ann茅es 40, tout en essayant d'attribuer une d茅finition au mot harem.

La petite Fatima de 9 ans nous raconte "tout en posant des questions assez simples mais vraiment cocasses" la vie quotidienne de femmes 茅touff茅es dans un carcan de traditions obsol猫tes. Elle aborde la vie politique et sociale qui r茅gnait 脿 cette 茅poque, Les nationalistes qui combattaient l鈥檕ccupation Fran莽aise, l鈥檈sclavage, la polygamie et r茅clamation de la modernit茅.

Dans son conte, elle parle aussi du Coran et de la religion et raconte comment on lui demandait de se contenter d鈥檃pprendre les versets sacr茅s sans se poser de questions; car personne ne va lui demander un jour son opinion!

Le r茅cit est 茅crit dans un style fluide et pictural avec une profonde analyse psycho-sociologique. Les traits de plusieurs caract猫res sont tr猫s attachants. Maintenant, en guise de conclusion, un jugement de valeur qu鈥� autorise ma qualit茅 de lectrice:

Fatima Mernissi aurait pu se suffire 脿 raconter la vie telle qu鈥檈lle la voyait et de laisser un peu au lecteur l鈥檌ntelligence de s鈥檈n impr茅gner 脿 sa mani猫re.

Profile Image for 爻丕乇丞 丿乇賵賷卮.
Author听7 books5,612 followers
December 11, 2015
兀丨亘亘鬲賴丕 噩丿賸丕貙 兀丨亘亘鬲 丕賱氐賵乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 賳賯賱鬲賴丕 毓賳 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱賲睾乇亘賷 丌賳匕丕賰 亘鬲賱賰 丕賱亘爻丕胤丞 賵丕賱賵囟賵丨.
兀丨亘亘鬲 賮丕胤賲丞 丕賱胤賮賱丞 賵丨爻丿鬲賴丕 毓賱賶 賴匕丕 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱孬乇賷 亘丕賱鬲賳賵毓 丕賱匕賷 毓丕卮鬲賴.
兀丨亘亘鬲 賳氐丕卅丨 兀賲賴丕 兀賳 賱丕 鬲毓乇賮 丕賱鬲毓丕爻丞 兀亘丿賸丕 賵賱丕 鬲毓乇賮 賲賳 丕賱丨賷丕丞 廿賱丕 丕賱爻毓丕丿丞 賵丕賱丕賳胤賱丕賯 賵丕賱亘賴噩丞 賵丕賱賮乇丨.
兀丨亘亘鬲 卮丕賲丞貙 賵丕賱毓賲丞 丨亘賷亘丞貙 賵丕賱賷丕爻賲賷賳 賵卮毓乇鬲 賵賰兀賳賳賷 乇兀賷鬲賴賲 賷賵賲賸丕.
卮毓乇鬲 亘丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱丨爻乇丞 毓賱賶 匕賱賰 丕賱鬲乇丕亘胤 丕賱匕賷 賱賲 賷毓丿 賯丕卅賲賸丕貙 賵毓賱賶 胤乇賯 廿賲鬲丕毓 丕賱賳賮爻 賵丕賱丌禺乇賷賳 亘兀賳賮爻賴賲 亘丿賱丕賸 賲賳 丕賱丕賱鬲賮丕賮 丨賵賱 丕賱鬲賱賮丕夭 兀賵 丕賱賰賲亘賷賵鬲乇 賵丕賱丕賰鬲賮丕亍 亘鬲賱賯賷 丕賱賲鬲毓丞 賲賳 丌禺乇賷賳 亘丿賱丕賸 賲賳 兀賳 賳賰賵賳 噩夭亍賸丕 賲賳賴丕 賲毓噩賵賳賷賳 亘賴丕.
丨爻乇丞 兀禺乇賶 乇丕賵丿鬲賳賷 亘丕賱賲賯丕乇賳丞 亘兀賵囟丕毓 丕賱賲乇兀丞 丕賱賲氐乇賷丞 丌賳匕丕賰 賵賰賷賮 賰丕賳鬲 卮毓賱丞 賵丨賱賲賸丕 賱賱賳爻丕亍 賮賷 噩賲賷毓 兀賳丨丕亍 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱毓乇亘賷 賵賲丕 賵氐賱鬲 廿賱賷賴 丕賱丌賳.
賳爻賷鬲 兀賳 兀囟賷賮 兀賳 賴匕賴 兀賲鬲毓 爻賷乇丞 匕丕鬲賷丞 賯乇兀鬲賴丕 毓賱賶 丕賱廿胤賱丕賯.
Profile Image for Aziza.
35 reviews3 followers
February 2, 2014
I must admit that I am more of a fan of Fatima Mernissi herself than her books. The Morrocan feminist is an icon in her own country. Born in a 1940, she did indeed grow up in a harem and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Political Science, teach sociology at Mohammed V University in Rabat, do research for UNESCO, and publish a handful of books and a multitude of articles. What is not to like? It is safe to say that she is the doyenne of scholarly research addressing the validity (or lack thereof) of the hadith regarding the subjugation of women. In addition, she looks like an elegant and wise grandmother, who is said to have a great sense of humor and lecture in Darrija, the local Moroccan dialect instead of MSA (Modern Standard Arabic, which is preferred by most intellectuals). In short, she is the kind of person many women (including me) would like to have tea with because she is an inspiration.

Her semi-autobiographical Dreams of Trespass is probably her best-known book in the USA due to its easy-going, humorous tone and insights into a culture the average Western reader knows little about. It is a description of harem life through the eyes of a nine-year-old girl also called Fatima, who is as playful and fun as she is questioning and probing. The precocious, smart girl grows up within the safe boundaries of her family home where her paternal grandmother Lala reigns supreme, while her maternal grandmother who lives out in the country is a free spirit allowed to roam the countryside on her own. Despite having various fellow co-wives, the latter seems happier than the domineering Lala.

Their grand-daughter questions the Hudud or frontiers that separate women from men, Christians from Muslims, the French from the Moroccans, and most of all what is considered Halal (pure) from Haram (forbidden or sinful). The very word 鈥渉arem鈥� is a variation of the word 鈥渉aram鈥�-That which needs to be protected at all costs. Sitting on the roof, Fatima often observes the contrasts between the world within and outside the confines of the harem. Her playful nature, games, and imagination are a way to deal with the restrictions imposed on her 鈥� An escape her mother, who seems to suffer most from being confined, no longer finds enough. From her highly sheltered world dominated mostly by men, Fatima struggles to find a balance between remaining loyal to her family and roots, while growing up into a modern, independent woman. The beauty of Moroccan architecture and the inventiveness and love among the women and children counter-balance the reality of living in virtual imprisonment, yet tellingly Mernissi seems to urge mostly her female readers for social change. A worthy message that no doubt has inspired many a modern Muslim woman, but lacking a real plot, not satisfactory as a literary novel.

Profile Image for Asma.
21 reviews9 followers
October 13, 2012
丕賱賵賯賵毓 賮賷 丕賱鬲賳丕賯囟 賷毓賳賷 兀賳賰賲 毓賳丿賲丕 鬲胤乇丨賵賳 爻丐丕賱丕賸 鬲賰賵賳 賱丿賷賰賲 廿噩丕亘丕鬲 賰孬賷乇丞 噩丿丕, 賵匕賱賰 賱賳 賷丐丿賷 廿賱丕賾 賱鬲賮丕賯賲 鬲卮賵賾卮賰賲 賵賯丕賱鬲 兀賷囟丕賸 丕賱毓賲丞 : 賵丨賷賳 賷賯毓 丕賱賲乇亍 賮賷 鬲賳丕賯囟, 賱丕 賷卮毓乇 亘兀賳賾賴 匕賰賷購賾.. 廿賱丕賾 兀賳賰賲 廿賳 兀乇丿鬲賲 兀賳 鬲氐亘丨賵丕 乇丕卮丿賷賳, 賮毓賱賷賰賲 兀賳 鬲鬲毓賱賲賵丕 賰賷賮 鬲鬲毓丕賲賱賵賳 賲毓 丕賱鬲賳丕賯囟 賵 賱賰賳 賰賷賮 責

氐賽丨賳丕 噩賲賷毓賳丕 賲鬲賵爻賾賱賷賳 賱賴丕 兀賱丕 鬲鬲乇賰賳丕 賲毓賱賾賯賷賳 毓賳丿 賴匕賴 丕賱賳賯胤丞, 賮賯丕賱鬲 賱賳丕 : 廿賳賾 丕賱賲乇丨賱丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賴賷 丕賱鬲夭賵賾丿 亘丕賱氐亘乇

賮丕賱氐亘乇 賴賷 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 丕賱賵丨賷丿丞 賱鬲噩丕賵夭 鬲賳丕賯囟 賲丕, 賵賷賳亘睾賷 賱賰賲 兀賳 鬲鬲賯賭亘賱賵丕 兀賳賰賲 賮賷 賵賯鬲賺 賲賳 丕賱兀賵賯丕鬲 賰購賱賲丕 丨丕賵賱鬲賲 丕賱廿丨丕胤丞 亘爻丐丕賱賰賲 賵 丕爻鬲賷毓丕亘賴, 鬲噩賱賾賶 賱賰賲 亘氐賵乇丞賺 兀賯賱購 賵囟賵丨丕賸 賲賳 丕賱爻丕亘賯 , 賱兀賳 丕賱廿噩丕亘丕鬲 鬲鬲乇丕賰亘 亘毓囟賴丕 賮賵賯 亘毓囟 , 賵鬲鬲卮丕亘賰 賱賷氐亘丨 賰賱賸賾 賲賳賴丕 賮賷 丕鬲賾噩丕賴, 賱賰賳 匕賱賰 賱賷爻 亘賲爻賾賵睾 賱賴噩乇 兀睾賱賶 賴亘丞 賲賳丨賴丕 丕賱賱賴 賱賱亘卮乇 兀賱丕 賵 賴賷 丕賱毓賯賱 *

賵 鬲囟賷賮 丕賱毓賲丞 丨亘賷亘丞: 鬲匕賰乇賵丕 兀賳 兀丨丿丕賸 賱賲 賷鬲賲賰賳 賯胤 賵丨鬲賶 賵賯鬲賳丕 丕賱丨丕囟乇 賲賳 廿賷噩丕丿 丨賱 賱賲卮賰賱丞賽 丿賵賳 胤乇丨 丕賱兀爻卅賱丞


賱賯丿 鬲丨丿賾孬鬲 丕賱毓賲賾丞 丨亘賷亘丞 兀賷囟丕賸 毓賳 丕賱夭賲丕賳 賵 丕賱賲賰丕賳, 賵毓賳 賰賷賮賷丞 鬲睾賷乇 丕賱兀丨丕乇賷賲 賲賳 賲賰丕賳賺 廿賱賶 兀禺乇 .. 賲賳 丕賱賲睾乇亘 廿賱賶 廿賳丿賵賳賷爻賷丕 賵 賲賳 毓氐賭乇賺 廿賱賶 兀禺乇

賮毓賱賶 爻亘賷賱 丕賱賲孬丕賱 丨乇賷賲 丕賱禺賱賷賮丞 丕賱毓亘丕爻賷 賴丕乇賵賳 丕賱乇卮賷丿 禺賱丕賱 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱鬲丕爻毓 賮賷 亘睾丿丕丿 賱丕 賷賲鬲 亘氐賱丞賺 廿賱賶 丨乇賷賲賳丕, 廿匕 廿賳 噩賵丕乇賷賴 賰賳賾 卮丕亘丕鬲 賽賲鬲毓賱賲丕鬲 丨賮馗賳 賰鬲亘 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 賵 丕賱禺胤胤 丕賱丨乇亘賷丞 賵 丕賱賮賯賴 , 賰賷 賷鬲賲賰賳 賲賳 鬲爻賱賷鬲賴 賵 丕賱鬲乇賵賷丨 毓賳 亘賵爻丕胤丞 毓賱賲賴賳
賰賲丕 乇噩丕賱 匕賱賰 丕賱毓氐乇 賱丕 賷丨亘賵賳 氐丨亘丞 丕賱賳爻賵丞 丕賱兀賲賾賷賾丕鬲 賵 睾賷乇 丕賱賲鬲毓賱賲丕鬲
賵 賱賳 賷賰賵賳 賱丿賷賰賲 兀賷賻賾丞 賮乇氐丞賺 賱噩匕亘 兀賳鬲亘丕賴 丕賱禺賱賷賮丞 兀賳 賱賲 鬲亘賴乇賵賴 亘賲毓丕乇賮賰賲 賮賷 丕賱噩睾乇丕賮賷丕 賵 毓賱賲 丕賱兀賳爻丕亘 賵 丕賱賯囟丕亍 賵毓丕丿丕鬲 丕賱亘賱丿丕賳 丕賱兀噩賳亘賷丞 賵 兀毓乇丕賮賴丕, 賵睾賷乇 匕賱賰 賲賳 丕賱毓賱賵賲 !

賱賯丿 賰丕賳 丕賱禺賱賷賮丞 賲賴賵賵爻丕賸 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賲賵丕囟賷毓 賵 賰丕賳 賷賲囟賷 賮賷 賲賳丕賯卮鬲賴丕 噩賱賾 賵賯鬲賴 丕賱賲賲鬲丿賾 亘賷賳 噩賴丕丿賷賳

鬲囟賷賮 丕賱毓賲丞 丨亘賷亘丞 : 賲賴賲丕 賷賰賳 賲賳 兀賲乇賺 賮賷 毓氐乇賳丕 丕賱丨丕囟乇 賮廿賳賾 丕賱兀丨丕乇賷賲 鬲毓噩 亘丕賱賳爻丕亍 丕賱兀賲賷丕鬲 賲賲丕 賷丿賱 毓賱賶 鬲毓匕乇 丕亘鬲毓丕丿賳丕 毓賳 丕賱毓乇賮 賵 丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿, 亘賱 兀賳賴賲 賲賴夭賵賲賵賳 賵 賲爻丨賵賯賵賳 兀賲丕賲 噩丨丕賮賱 丕賱噩賷賵卮 丕賱丕爻鬲毓賲丕乇賷丞 賮賷 丕賱毓氐乇 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳鬲 賮賷賴 丕賱噩賵丕乇賷 賲鬲毓賱賲丕鬲 賲賳 丕賱胤乇丕夭 丕賱兀賵賱

賰丕賳 丕賱毓乇亘 賷鬲乇亘賾毓賵賳 毓賱賶 賯賲丞 丕賱毓丕賱賲, 兀賲丕 丕賱兀賳 賮廿賳 丕賱乇噩丕賱 賰賲丕 丕賱賳爻丕亍 賷鬲丿丨乇噩賵賳 賳丨賵 賴丕賵賷丞賺 賱丕 賯乇丕乇 賱賴丕 , 賱賰賳賾 鬲毓胤卮賳丕 賱賱毓賱賲 賴賵 廿卮丕乇丞 廿賱賶 兀賳賳丕 毓賱賶 賵卮賰 丕賱丕賳亘毓丕孬 賵 丕賱禺丕氐 賲賳 匕賱賾 丕賱丕爻鬲毓賲丕乇
Profile Image for Khulood Shkokani.
15 reviews374 followers
August 2, 2016
丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱賵丨賷丿 丕賱賲鬲兀賰丿丞 賲賳賴 亘毓丿 廿賳賴丕亍 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賴賵 兀賳賴 爻賷賰賵賳 賲賳 兀賵丕卅賱 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱鬲賷 爻兀賴丿賷賴丕 賱廿亘賳鬲賷 賷賵賲丕 賲丕.
賵賰賲丕 丨賱賲鬲 賮丕胤賲丞 "亘賷賵賲 賳禺賱賯 賮賷賴 毓丕賱賲丕 禺丕賱賷丕 賲賳 丕賱噩丿乇丕賳 賵丕賱噩賳賵丿貙 丨乇丕爻賴 賮賷 廿噩丕夭丞 胤賵丕賱 丕賷丕賲 丕賱爻賳丞" 爻賳丨賱賲 賳丨賳 亘匕賱賰貙 賵爻賳丨丕賵賱 兀賳 賳卮賷丿 賴匕丕 丕賱毓丕賱賲貙 賵賱賵 賰丕賳 毓丕賱賲丕 氐睾賷乇丕 亘丨賷胤 賮賷賳丕 亘丿丕卅乇丞 禺丕氐丞 賵囟賷賯丞.
賮丕胤賲丞 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丨賱賲鬲 賰兀丨賱丕賲賳丕貙 賵鬲賰賱賲鬲 亘賰賱 賲丕 賷噩賵亘 亘禺丕胤乇賳丕貙 賵賰賱 賲丕 賳禺丕賮 賲賳 兀賳 賳賵丕噩賴賴.
賱丕 賷賲賰賳賰 丕賳 鬲賯乇兀 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丿賵賳 兀賳 鬲禺賱賯 賲賳 賳賮爻賰 卮禺氐丕 丌禺乇貙 亘兀丨賱丕賲 兀賰孬乇 賯賵丞 賵賲鬲丕賳丞.
Profile Image for C茅sar Lasso.
354 reviews111 followers
March 21, 2015
Unas memorias literarias de la infancia de Fatema Mernissi en uno de los 煤ltimos harenes tradicionales de Fez, all谩 por los a帽os 40 y 50 del siglo pasado. Hay mucho de recreaci贸n literaria, filos贸fica y antropol贸gica, por lo que no sabemos bien cu谩nto fue real.

Cuando lo le铆, disfrut茅 much铆simo con las alegor铆as que contiene el libro y las referencias a la Sherezade de las Mil y una noches. Y al terminar la lectura, sent铆 admiraci贸n por la autora: 驴fue analfabeta hasta la adolescencia y luego se convirti贸 en una gran escritora y eminente soci贸loga feminista? 驴Fue monoling眉e de 谩rabe dialectal hasta la juventud y ahora escribe principalmente en franc茅s y tambi茅n en 谩rabe cl谩sico? 驴Escribi贸 este Sue帽os en el umbral en ingl茅s o lo escribi贸 en franc茅s y su traducci贸n inglesa fue la primera en ser publicada?

Tengo pendiente la lectura de m谩s obras de esta autora. Pero, desde luego, Sue帽os en el umbral fue un buen comienzo.
Profile Image for Sara.
76 reviews28 followers
April 5, 2017

"卮禺氐 賵丕丨丿 賷賲賱賰 爻賱胤丞 鬲睾賷賷乇 賴匕丕 丕賱賵囟毓 賵噩毓賱 丕賱兀乇囟 鬲丿賵乇 賮賷 丕賱賳賴乇 丕賱賲毓丕賰爻 賵賴匕丕 丕賱卮禺氐 賴賵 兀賳鬲賽.廿匕丕 賯丕賵賲鬲賽 丕賱丕丨鬲賯丕乇 賵丨賱賲鬲賽 亘毓丕賱賲 賲禺丕賱賮 鬲鬲睾賷乇 賵噩賴丞 丕賱兀乇囟 賵賱賰賳 賲丕 毓賱賷賰 鬲噩賳亘賴 亘兀賷 孬賲賳 貙賵賴賵 兀賳 賱丕 賷賲鬲丿 賴匕丕 丕賱丕丨鬲賯丕乇 丕賱匕賷 賷丨賷胤 亘賰 廿賱賶 丿丕禺賱賰 .!"
鬲丨賰賷 賱賳丕 賮丕胤賲丞 毓賳 胤賮賵賱鬲賴丕 賵 毓賷卮賴丕 賮賷 賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱丨乇賷賲 丕賱賲睾乇亘賷 貙賴賷 丕賱胤賮賱丞 丕賱卮睾賵賮丞 丕賱賮囟賵賱賷丞 鬲賰卮賮 丕賱爻鬲丕乇 賱賳丕 毓賳 賲丕賵乇丕亍 噩丿乇丕賳 丕賱丨乇賷賲 丨賷孬 丕賱乇鬲丕亘丞 賵 丕賱鬲卮亘孬 亘丕賱賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓賷丞 丕賱氐丕乇賲丞. 賮賷 亘賷鬲 賰亘賷乇 賷噩賲毓 丕賱噩丿丕鬲 賵 丕賱毓賲丕鬲 賵 丕賱夭賵噩丕鬲 賵 丕賱亘賳丕鬲 賲賳 賲禺鬲賱賮 丕賱胤亘賯丕鬲 貙 賲賳賴賳 丕賱鬲賯賱賷丿賷丕鬲 賵 賲賳賴賳 丕賱賱賵丕鬲賷 丨丕賵賱賳 丕賱鬲丨乇乇 賵 丕賱鬲賲賱氐 賲賳 賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱丨乇賷賲 禺賱爻丞賸 兀賵 毓賱賳賸丕. 兀丨亘亘鬲 亘卮丿丞 卮禺氐賷丞 卮丕賲丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賰爻乇 丕賱丨丿賵丿 賵 鬲賮乇囟購 賲丕 賷購賳爻丕亘 馗乇賵賮 毓氐乇賴丕.
68 reviews2 followers
March 18, 2019
Wonderful memories about a young Moroccan girl鈥檚 childhood in the late 1940鈥檚-1950鈥檚. The traditions of Morocco begin to chafe against increasing Western influences. The author tells of how the competing factions of her extended family make decisions and shows how 3 generations of women鈥檚 lives have changed.
Profile Image for 兀爻賷賱.
470 reviews296 followers
October 20, 2014

賰孬乇丞 丕賱賱鬲 賵丕賱毓噩賳 賱丕賷氐丕賱 丕賱丕賮賰丕乇 賵丕賱鬲氐賵乇丕鬲 賲乇賴賯丞
丨丕賵賱鬲 丕賳 丕丿禺賱 賲毓賴丕 毓丕賱賲 賳爻丕亍 丕賱丨乇賷賲 賵丕丨賱丕賲賴賳 賵爻噩賳賴賳
賱賰賳 賳賮爻賷 兀亘鬲 匕賱賰 賵禺丕氐丞 丕賱鬲賰乇丕乇
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
736 reviews29.2k followers
August 19, 2011
A Moroccan Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Well, not quite. But there is something of the wistfulness of Francie in Fatima Mernissi, a young girl growing up within the confines of a harem in Fez. The idea of a harem in the 1940s is somewhat different than the stereotype, and the definition of the word is something that Mernissi goes into in great detail. Let's just say that there are no eunuchs waving palm fronds or scenes from The History of the World, Part I, or Scheherazade. Although, the tales of Scheherazade do feature prominently in the female culture of the harem.

I loved this book. It's absolutely fascinating. I love how Mernissi mixes her own lively childhood experiences of hiding in olive jars, trips to the hammam, homemade beauty treatments, her extended family's love of storytelling, the role of slaves in their home, and then contrasts it with the frustration her mother feels from living in a traditional household and being illiterate. The role of women during this time period sounds like a real challenge.

There are also some great observations about the American soldiers who arrived in Morocco during WWII. Apparently, they went right for the ladies.

A few quotes that I found striking:
"Once I asked Mina why she danced so smoothly while most of the wother women made abrupt, jerky movements, and she said that many of the women confused liberation with agitation. 'Some ladies are angry with their lives,' she said 'and so even their dance becomes an expression of that.' Angry women are hostages of their anger. They cannot escape it and set themselves free, which is indeed a sad fate. The worst of prisons is a self-created one." p.162

"'Mothers should tell little girls and boys about the importance of dreams,' Aunt Habiba said. 'They give a sense direction. It is not enough to reject this courtyard--you need to have a vision of the meadows with which you want to replace it.' But how, I asked Aunt Habiba, could you distinguish among all the wishes, all the cravings which besieged you, and find the one on which you ought to focus, the important dream that gave you vision? She said that little children had to be patient, the key dream would emerge and bloom within, and then, from the intense pleasure it gave you, you would know that that it was the genuine little treasure which would give you direction and light." p. 214

"Maturity is when you start feeling the motion of zaman (time) as if it is a sensuous caress." p.216
Profile Image for SilviaG.
411 reviews
December 16, 2021
Este libro est谩 formado por un conjunto de relatos con los que la autora, desde su voz de ni帽a, nos da a conocer su vida y experiencias de infancia dentro de un harem familiar de la ciudad de Fez.

Todo acontece durante los a帽os 40 del pasado siglo. La ciudad est谩 bajo el protectorado de las fuerzas francesas. Y las costumbres ancestrales de los habitantes contrastan con las nuevas formas de vida y pensamiento que llegan desde Europa.

La vida de F谩tima transcurre entre los juegos y confidencias con su primo Samir, los cuentos de su t铆a Habiba, las visitas al hamman o a la casa de sus abuelos maternos.

Pero la vida dentro del harem es un microcosmos en si mismo. Por una parte, est谩 la postura de la matriarca de la familia (la abuela paterna Lalla Mani) y de la mujer de su tio, fieles defensoras de las costumbres y la reclusi贸n de las mujeres dentro de las paredes de la casa familiar. Y por otro, la lucha de la madre y la prima de F谩tima por conseguir m谩s libertades y poder disfrutar de las mismas oportunidades que los hombres.

Una radiograf铆a desde dentro de la sociedad marroqu铆 de principios del siglo XX.
Profile Image for Nan.
11 reviews
May 30, 2011
We were traveling to Fez so I thought I should read a bit about the life of woman in Fez. The book was an easy read and had many historic facts that helped me understand what a "modern" day harem is all about--this is not easily answered you find out. It weaves old Moroccan tails with current changes which was so entertaining. After I finished it, I suggested my husband read it even though it is somewhat a woman's story. To my surprise he finished it quickly and enjoyed it also. In Fez, we had a guide who walked us thru the Medina, turns out he is the son of the author Fatema's cousin and currently lives in the very Riad (house) that the book describes -- small world!
Profile Image for GHADEER.
115 reviews33 followers
September 20, 2010
賰鬲丕亘 賲賲鬲毓 噩丿丕 亘賱睾丞 睾丕賷丞 賮賷 丕賱噩賲丕賱 賲鬲賵爻胤丞 賲丕亘賷賳 丕賱爻賴賵賱丞 賵丕賱鬲睾賱睾賱 賮賷 丕賱毓賲賯 禺賷賱 賱賷 丕孬賳丕亍 賯乇丕卅鬲賴 兀賳賷 丕卮丕賴丿 丕賱賯賮丕胤賷賳 丕賱賲睾乇亘賷丞 賵丕賱亘賷賵鬲 丕賱賲夭賷賳丞 .. 胤亘毓丕 賷丨賰賷 毓賳 賮鬲乇丞 賲丕賯亘賱 丕賱鬲丨乇賷乇 賮賷 丕賱賲睾乇亘 賵兀爻鬲胤丕毓鬲 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賳 鬲賳鬲賯賱 賲賳 丕賱賵氐賮 丕賱丨丕賱賲 賱賱賵氐賮 丕賱爻丕禺乇 亘賰賱 爻賱丕爻丞 ... 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 賯氐氐 賯氐賷乇丞 匕丕鬲 賲賵丕囟賷毓 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賱賰賳賴丕 鬲賲賷夭鬲 亘丕賱睾賵氐 丿丕禺賱 賳爻丕亍 賰鬲丕亘賴丕 賵賲丨丕賵賱丞 丕賱鬲毓亘賷乇 丕賱亘爻賷胤 毓賳 丕賯氐賶 兀丨賱丕賲賴賳
丕賰孬乇 賲丕噩匕亘賳賷 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賴賵 丕賱鬲卮丕亘賴 賮賷 丕賱鬲卮賰賷賱 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓賷 亘賷賳賳丕 賵亘賷賳 丕賱丨丕氐賱 賮賷 丕賱賲睾乇亘 丌賳匕丕賰 ... 賵卮毓乇鬲 賰孬賷乇丕 丕賳 丕賱賳爻丕亍 丨賵賱 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賵毓賱賶 丕禺鬲賱丕賮 賲爻鬲賵賷丕鬲賴賳 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 賷丨賲賱賳 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 匕丕鬲賴
Profile Image for Mercedes Fern谩ndez Varea.
264 reviews100 followers
November 28, 2021
Rese帽a en un minuto

En este mes tan raro, en que he tenido que devolver a la biblioteca el 煤ltimo libro de Javier Mar铆as, el cuarto de la serie de Almudena Grandes (DEP), deLillo y La piel de Sergio del Molino por incapacidad de lectura..., aunque fuera a trompicones no he querido perderme ese viaje por el mundo, Marruecos en este caso, la 煤nica lectura conjunta en que actualmente participo.

Curiosamente este libro lo hab铆a tenido en m铆 biblioteca de Alejandr铆a desaparecida e incluso tuve la duda de si lo hab铆a le铆do y no lo hab铆a apuntado en mis listados.

Tras su lectura tengo claro que jam谩s lo llegu茅 a leer porque no habr铆a podido olvidar este libro, que llega a transmitir tantas cosas y de un modo tan bello, como un cuento de las Mil y una Noches, sobre lo que supone la falta de libertad.

El 煤ltimo p谩rrafo con el que se cierra el libro..., brutal...
Profile Image for DubaiReader.
782 reviews25 followers
August 11, 2016
Semi-autobiographical.

This was a book I'd been meaning to read ever since I visited Morocco two years ago, so I was very happy that my English/Arabic book group chose to read it for this month's discussion.
Although it appears to be a memoir, the author's web site refers to it as a work of fiction and Wikipedia notes that this fact appears in the French (and Arabic) version, but not in the English one.

There are various sorts of harem around the world and the author describes two distinct types in her narrative. There is the rural farm where the author's mother was raised, which allows the women to leave the compound to shop, farm and ride horses, while the closed and gated harem in the city of Fez requires the women to have permission to exit and the gate is zealously guarded by a gatekeeper.
The author was raised in Fez, where the weekly trip to the hamam or local baths at the end of the street was pretty much the only reason allowed for exit.
One exceptional outing described in the book was a visit to the local cinema, where a morally acceptable film was showing. The women wore veils and sat together in a long row. Tickets were then purchased for the row in front and behind so no-one else could sit there and be unacceptably close.

In this closed environment the women entertained themselves with story-telling and plays. The divorced aunt, Habiba and Fatima's older cousin, Chama, were the leaders in these exploits. I got the impression that these happened fairly frequently and could often become somewhat uproarious.
The other source of entertainment was the weekly beauty session preceding the visit to the hamam. Various potions would be concocted with recipes handed down through generations and zealously guarded. Face masks, hair treatments and henna were all applied and not removed until they reached the baths.

I found all the descriptions of this enclosed life decidedly claustrophobic. Meal times were shared, bathing, entertainment and cooking were all communal. There was very little time that could be spent on one's own. There was reference to depression amongst some of the women too. But there were positive aspects as well; support was always available at times of need and the children were raised in an environment where there was constantly someone around for advice or assistance. Siblings and cousins all lived together, playing all sorts of games and getting into various scrapes.

Supposedly narrated by Fatima as an eight year old child, some aspects of this book seemed a bit too academic, but the overall picture was well described. The author left us with a detailed feel for the characters and the life they lived in that place and time.
Set in the early forties, this way of life is no longer the norm in Morocco. The protagonists foretold of a time when women would have freedom of choice, to be educated and perform a useful function in a more liberal society.

I found this a bit of a slow read and put it down part way through to read something lighter, hence the three stars. Interesting but not a page-turner.
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