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Tale of a Boon's Wife
A young Somali woman defies convention and clan to marry the man she loves, but must face the consequences.
Despite her family’s threat to disown her, Idil, a young Somali woman, rejects her high Bliss status to marry Sidow, a poor Boon man. Her decision transforms her life, forcing her to face harsh and sometimes even deadly consequences for her defiance of a strict tribal hierarchy. Set in the fifteen-year period before Somalia’s 1991 Civil War, Idil’s journey is almost too hard to bear at times. Her determination to follow her heart and to pursue love over family and convention is a story that has been told across time and across cultures.
Despite her family’s threat to disown her, Idil, a young Somali woman, rejects her high Bliss status to marry Sidow, a poor Boon man. Her decision transforms her life, forcing her to face harsh and sometimes even deadly consequences for her defiance of a strict tribal hierarchy. Set in the fifteen-year period before Somalia’s 1991 Civil War, Idil’s journey is almost too hard to bear at times. Her determination to follow her heart and to pursue love over family and convention is a story that has been told across time and across cultures.
325 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2017
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November 26, 2017
Tale of a Boon's Wife is unquestionably one of the best novel I've read this year. This book narrates the hardships of a young Somali girl Idil, from a Bliss tribe, who fallen in love with a Sidow, a Boon guy. The Boon tribe was a lower class tribe in Somalia because they were once slaves to the upper class tribes, such as the Bliss.
Due to the difference to the social class, apart from Idil's younger brother Emil, other members of her family strongly opposed her relationship to Sidow. They had no choice but to elope because her parents were planning to marry her to Jamac. From there on, several suffering were experienced by the couple: from drought, civil war, poverty, and death.
Women's hardships were clearly described in this novel; the quote in this book, "A man's dirt is his woman's wash, always," is the appropriate representation how women were viewed since then. Until now, some women still experiences this kind of treatment from their husband or partner, especially those who are older. Moreover, being a second class citizen/person of women in a Muslim country were also addressed in this remarkable novel.
I love how Idil showed courage particularly in the latter part of the book; I was extremely happy while reading the ending because Idil and her family will finally have a better life away from her father; her older brother Omar and her second wife Rhoda; and from her pursuer Jamac.
Due to the difference to the social class, apart from Idil's younger brother Emil, other members of her family strongly opposed her relationship to Sidow. They had no choice but to elope because her parents were planning to marry her to Jamac. From there on, several suffering were experienced by the couple: from drought, civil war, poverty, and death.
Women's hardships were clearly described in this novel; the quote in this book, "A man's dirt is his woman's wash, always," is the appropriate representation how women were viewed since then. Until now, some women still experiences this kind of treatment from their husband or partner, especially those who are older. Moreover, being a second class citizen/person of women in a Muslim country were also addressed in this remarkable novel.
I love how Idil showed courage particularly in the latter part of the book; I was extremely happy while reading the ending because Idil and her family will finally have a better life away from her father; her older brother Omar and her second wife Rhoda; and from her pursuer Jamac.
September 15, 2020
Set in Somalia just before the civil war, Tale of a Boon's Wife by Fartumo Kusow is the story Idil, the daughter of a general, who falls in love with Sidow, a man considered beneath her family’s social status. She defies her father’s threats and her mother’s pleas by eloping with him. This sets off a series of tragic events, including her displacement, the murder of her husband, her rape, and her betrayal by her brother and father. Idil endures each tragedy with stoic resolve and a determination to survive. She eventually finds refuge for herself and her family by emigrating from war-ravaged Somalia.
The backdrop for Idil’s story is the gradual buildup of the Somali civil war. Murder, rape, bribery, corruption, poverty, desperation, and tragedy are rampant. Young boys toting machine guns roam the streets. Family members disappear. Young women are kidnapped, raped, or forced into marriages with one militia leader or another.
Kusow tells a powerful story. Using unadorned, simple diction, she lets the details speak for themselves. She depicts Somali culture and tradition with its blend of Islam and its indigenous belief in the power of spells and magic. Through Idil and her experience, we witness the deleterious effects of a rigidly hierarchical caste-based system, gender stratification, the subjugation of women, brutality, and a never-ending lust for power that propels the country into even more civil unrest and violence.
Kusow demonstrates that when a country runs amok, the ramifications are experienced in every fiber of society. A traumatized population struggles to survive in the absence of the checks and balances of civil society. There is no rule of law, no recourse for justice, and what governance there is takes place at the end of a machine gun.
This is a haunting portrayal of Somali life leading up to the civil war. What emerges from the horror and the brutality is the resilience of the people, their determination to survive and to cling to the hope that the cycle of violence will end sooner rather than later.
Recommended.
My reviews are also available at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com
The backdrop for Idil’s story is the gradual buildup of the Somali civil war. Murder, rape, bribery, corruption, poverty, desperation, and tragedy are rampant. Young boys toting machine guns roam the streets. Family members disappear. Young women are kidnapped, raped, or forced into marriages with one militia leader or another.
Kusow tells a powerful story. Using unadorned, simple diction, she lets the details speak for themselves. She depicts Somali culture and tradition with its blend of Islam and its indigenous belief in the power of spells and magic. Through Idil and her experience, we witness the deleterious effects of a rigidly hierarchical caste-based system, gender stratification, the subjugation of women, brutality, and a never-ending lust for power that propels the country into even more civil unrest and violence.
Kusow demonstrates that when a country runs amok, the ramifications are experienced in every fiber of society. A traumatized population struggles to survive in the absence of the checks and balances of civil society. There is no rule of law, no recourse for justice, and what governance there is takes place at the end of a machine gun.
This is a haunting portrayal of Somali life leading up to the civil war. What emerges from the horror and the brutality is the resilience of the people, their determination to survive and to cling to the hope that the cycle of violence will end sooner rather than later.
Recommended.
My reviews are also available at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com
October 31, 2018
A moving story of a young Somali woman who falls in love with a man forbidden to her by law, “Tale of a Boon’s Wife” tells of family, courage, tragedy and perseverance. Against the backdrop of civil war, the story outlines not only the prejudice within the Somali caste system, but also the subjugation of women throughout the country.
Idil, a member of the Bliss clan, is the daughter of a high-ranking official in the Somali military. The love of her life, Sidow, is a member of the Boon tribe, far below her in status and hierarchy. Even after the law forbidding discrimination is changed, Idil’s mother and corrupt father and brother forbid their marriage. What follows is a dramatic and complex story as Idil and Sidow refuse to bow to convention.
I found the details in this tale of Somalia fascinating and educational, from the description of wedding traditions, to the role of women as objects for men’s pleasure and use and to the horrors of civil unrest in the country. Idil’s strength is unwavering in the face of her father’s and brother’s despicable behavior and the torn loyalties of her mother.
Although this book outlined tragedy after tragedy, an element of hope was woven into even the darkest moments. I was thoroughly engaged with the characters of Idil and Sidow and found myself worried for their well-being throughout, while sincerely hoping that her brother and father would disappear from their lives.
A strong 4-star rating for this one. I thank NetGalley and Second Story Press for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Idil, a member of the Bliss clan, is the daughter of a high-ranking official in the Somali military. The love of her life, Sidow, is a member of the Boon tribe, far below her in status and hierarchy. Even after the law forbidding discrimination is changed, Idil’s mother and corrupt father and brother forbid their marriage. What follows is a dramatic and complex story as Idil and Sidow refuse to bow to convention.
I found the details in this tale of Somalia fascinating and educational, from the description of wedding traditions, to the role of women as objects for men’s pleasure and use and to the horrors of civil unrest in the country. Idil’s strength is unwavering in the face of her father’s and brother’s despicable behavior and the torn loyalties of her mother.
Although this book outlined tragedy after tragedy, an element of hope was woven into even the darkest moments. I was thoroughly engaged with the characters of Idil and Sidow and found myself worried for their well-being throughout, while sincerely hoping that her brother and father would disappear from their lives.
A strong 4-star rating for this one. I thank NetGalley and Second Story Press for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 31, 2017
Tale of a Boon's Wife is a masterful piece of storytelling encompassing family, loyalty, love, and tribal differences. Idil, from the Bliss tribe in Somalia, finds herself in love with a Boon boy and defies her culture and parents when she decides to run away and marry him. Through being disowned by her father, a civil war, homelessness, rape, and poverty she holds her family together by sheer grit, personal strength, and perseverance.
This is not just another story of boy meets girl, and so on, as the struggles and lawlessness within the country and the challenges that Idil faces are real and will touch the hearts of readers. This is a sad story full of pain and heartfelt emotion that will keep you reading and hoping for the best until the very end.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is not just another story of boy meets girl, and so on, as the struggles and lawlessness within the country and the challenges that Idil faces are real and will touch the hearts of readers. This is a sad story full of pain and heartfelt emotion that will keep you reading and hoping for the best until the very end.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 29, 2017
This is an emotion filled story of a woman's life as she goes from young girl to middle age in a land where females are subservient, and woman's rights all but non-existent. It struggles with tribal barriers, civil war, rape, and a multitude of dysfunctional family issues that challenge the heroine, Idil, from start to finish. One cannot help but weep for the discord Idil suffers and pray she can gain some level of redemption by the end. I would highly recommend this book.
August 27, 2017
A man's dirt is his woman's wash,always.
If a statement like that does not make you cringe, I wonder what your reaction would be to the many more utterances by characters in this book who dream of hope, but find themselves bound by their gender, religion, status and societal expectations.
Set fifteen years before the 1991 civil war in Somalia, the story is told from Idil's point of view. She's a young, bold woman who chooses love over class and social status. She get's married to Sidow, who is considered a Boon hence of a lower class. She is Bliss, and does not care much for her mother's warnings or even Sidow's mother's warnings about how wrong they are for each other.
Idil has two brothers; Omar is the eldest and his love for torturing and killing cats paints the picture of a dictator before he even turns nineteen. Elmi, the one with a heart full of love and compassion, who sees Idil's pain before she speaks of it.
The book starts with a girl's adoration and love for her family especially her Father, General Hussein Nuur, who is expected home after a long stay in Russia. His return soon unravels his infidelity and Idil, the only girl in the family, begins to question his actions and the consequent reaction to the acts by her mother. The more she asks the more her mother silences her, expecting her to accept and move on, but it is clear from the first page that Idil is not the kind to back down.
However, it is her tenacity that sees her through the challenges she faces in her married life. Like most books where women are oppressed, here Idil constantly asks why her mother and so many women around her choose to accept decisions made over their lives without their consent. It is more of wondering why they choose to fold their hands and accept to be treated as objects.
It is clear when Idil's mother seeks out Rhoda as a bride for her eldest son, Omar, yet he's already married to an Italian lady. Idil tells Rhoda the truth about her situation hoping that she would decide to call off the wedding, but comes to learn that her Father had traded with Rhoda's family too by offering her hand in marriage to Jamac, Rhoda's brother, in exchange.
It broke my heart when Idil, Sidow and their family were forced to leave Bledley and venture forth into Mogadishu because they can no longer depend on their farm to sustain them. I do not know what grief they felt at having to leave the one place they loved, not because they wanted to, but because they needed to do so just to survive. Reading the book after this became unbearable with the war and the family struggling to stay alive.
I love Fartumo's writing. Her tone takes whichever form it can to advance the plot and in all you cannot help but root for Idil to make it through. Her resilience is evident in her daughter, Amina, and it leaves you wishing for the best that no matter what happens Idil would never let society silence her daughter's voice.
What came across as quite odd, was that the people who deemed themselves worthy and of a higher class, Bliss, were wicked, selfish, violent and cared less about women. The Boons who were seen as unworthy on the other hand showed more compassion and understanding. Elmi said it better at some point when he was talking to Idil, There is always a huge gap between what people seem to be and what they really are.
I would like to read more of her works.
Thank you Second Story Press and NetGalley for approving my request to read this book. I heard about Fartumo from a friend long before I got to read this book. I am glad she wrote this story.
If a statement like that does not make you cringe, I wonder what your reaction would be to the many more utterances by characters in this book who dream of hope, but find themselves bound by their gender, religion, status and societal expectations.
Set fifteen years before the 1991 civil war in Somalia, the story is told from Idil's point of view. She's a young, bold woman who chooses love over class and social status. She get's married to Sidow, who is considered a Boon hence of a lower class. She is Bliss, and does not care much for her mother's warnings or even Sidow's mother's warnings about how wrong they are for each other.
Idil has two brothers; Omar is the eldest and his love for torturing and killing cats paints the picture of a dictator before he even turns nineteen. Elmi, the one with a heart full of love and compassion, who sees Idil's pain before she speaks of it.
The book starts with a girl's adoration and love for her family especially her Father, General Hussein Nuur, who is expected home after a long stay in Russia. His return soon unravels his infidelity and Idil, the only girl in the family, begins to question his actions and the consequent reaction to the acts by her mother. The more she asks the more her mother silences her, expecting her to accept and move on, but it is clear from the first page that Idil is not the kind to back down.
However, it is her tenacity that sees her through the challenges she faces in her married life. Like most books where women are oppressed, here Idil constantly asks why her mother and so many women around her choose to accept decisions made over their lives without their consent. It is more of wondering why they choose to fold their hands and accept to be treated as objects.
It is clear when Idil's mother seeks out Rhoda as a bride for her eldest son, Omar, yet he's already married to an Italian lady. Idil tells Rhoda the truth about her situation hoping that she would decide to call off the wedding, but comes to learn that her Father had traded with Rhoda's family too by offering her hand in marriage to Jamac, Rhoda's brother, in exchange.
It broke my heart when Idil, Sidow and their family were forced to leave Bledley and venture forth into Mogadishu because they can no longer depend on their farm to sustain them. I do not know what grief they felt at having to leave the one place they loved, not because they wanted to, but because they needed to do so just to survive. Reading the book after this became unbearable with the war and the family struggling to stay alive.
I love Fartumo's writing. Her tone takes whichever form it can to advance the plot and in all you cannot help but root for Idil to make it through. Her resilience is evident in her daughter, Amina, and it leaves you wishing for the best that no matter what happens Idil would never let society silence her daughter's voice.
What came across as quite odd, was that the people who deemed themselves worthy and of a higher class, Bliss, were wicked, selfish, violent and cared less about women. The Boons who were seen as unworthy on the other hand showed more compassion and understanding. Elmi said it better at some point when he was talking to Idil, There is always a huge gap between what people seem to be and what they really are.
I would like to read more of her works.
Thank you Second Story Press and NetGalley for approving my request to read this book. I heard about Fartumo from a friend long before I got to read this book. I am glad she wrote this story.
October 26, 2019
This novel was a fantastic read! I could not put it down! It reads very much like a autobiography, in fact, I had to remind myself that it was fiction. Nevertheless Kusow writes about the realities that certainly happened during the long Somalian civil war. I learned a lot about Somalian history. There is a lot of heartbreak and sadness in this book, but one never loses the sense of hope and trust in the resilience of the characters. Thank you Fartumo Kusow for transporting me into this world! I recommend this novel to everyone!
August 1, 2026
“A man’s dirt is his woman’s wash, always.”
I wish I knew how to review this book but I have yet to stop crying at the thought of it. A novel that holds so much weight and pain and yet I rather be saddened by it then to not have read it at all.
Once a girl and then, at some point, a “woman.” A title that comes with expectations before you are ever given the chance to discover who you are. Keep your husband happy. Make sure he never strays. If he does, somehow the blame still belongs to you. Tale of a Boon's Wife asks what it means to be born into a world that has already decided your worth before you can speak for yourself.
Set against the years leading up to the Somali Civil War, Idil's story is just as much about love as it is survival. Through her, we witness how women inherit the consequences of men's choices, while the Boon people inherit generations of discrimination simply because of who they are. Even after legislation declares the Boon and Bliss equal, equality on paper cannot erase what people have already chosen to believe. Kusow shows that prejudice does not disappear because a law says it should.
Sidow became the heartbeat of this novel for me. The cost of doing what was right left him watching his two brothers murdered and holding his dying father in his arms. Then, just when it feels like Idil and Sidow might finally have something of their own, life continues to strip it away. Loving one another was only the beginning. Staying together came at an unimaginable cost. "If we decide to be together, we will be destroyed."
What affected me most, however, was what this novel had to say about womanhood. There came a point where reading it made me sad to be a woman. To watch men take and take, even in the middle of war, was infuriating. How do you claim to love a woman while violating her body? How do you force motherhood onto someone whose body has already been taken from her? Is there room to love a child conceived through violence? What does healing even look like after that?
Yet, amidst so much loss, the women continue to endure. Some fail one another. Others become the mothers they never had. That contrast made Idil's journey all the more powerful because healing did not always come through blood, but through the women who chose to stand beside her.
Tale of a Boon's Wife is a story of love, caste, war, grief, and womanhood, but more than anything, it is a reminder that survival is not the same as living. Some people are forced to fight for both.
I wish I knew how to review this book but I have yet to stop crying at the thought of it. A novel that holds so much weight and pain and yet I rather be saddened by it then to not have read it at all.
Once a girl and then, at some point, a “woman.” A title that comes with expectations before you are ever given the chance to discover who you are. Keep your husband happy. Make sure he never strays. If he does, somehow the blame still belongs to you. Tale of a Boon's Wife asks what it means to be born into a world that has already decided your worth before you can speak for yourself.
Set against the years leading up to the Somali Civil War, Idil's story is just as much about love as it is survival. Through her, we witness how women inherit the consequences of men's choices, while the Boon people inherit generations of discrimination simply because of who they are. Even after legislation declares the Boon and Bliss equal, equality on paper cannot erase what people have already chosen to believe. Kusow shows that prejudice does not disappear because a law says it should.
Sidow became the heartbeat of this novel for me. The cost of doing what was right left him watching his two brothers murdered and holding his dying father in his arms. Then, just when it feels like Idil and Sidow might finally have something of their own, life continues to strip it away. Loving one another was only the beginning. Staying together came at an unimaginable cost. "If we decide to be together, we will be destroyed."
What affected me most, however, was what this novel had to say about womanhood. There came a point where reading it made me sad to be a woman. To watch men take and take, even in the middle of war, was infuriating. How do you claim to love a woman while violating her body? How do you force motherhood onto someone whose body has already been taken from her? Is there room to love a child conceived through violence? What does healing even look like after that?
Yet, amidst so much loss, the women continue to endure. Some fail one another. Others become the mothers they never had. That contrast made Idil's journey all the more powerful because healing did not always come through blood, but through the women who chose to stand beside her.
Tale of a Boon's Wife is a story of love, caste, war, grief, and womanhood, but more than anything, it is a reminder that survival is not the same as living. Some people are forced to fight for both.
October 26, 2017
Tale of a Boon's wife is a wonderfully told story about tribal differences/hatred, forbidden love, Civil war, rape, poverty, homelessness, and family betrayal all set in the cultures of the Somalian way of live. Idil, who is disowned by her father seems to go from heartbreak to heartbreak. But through her strength, courage, and sheer determination manages to hold her family together.
A Tale of a Boon's Wife takes the reader on a journey of love, hope, and courage.
I would highly recommend everyone to read this book!
Thank you @Second Story Press and @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Tale of a boon's wife.
A Tale of a Boon's Wife takes the reader on a journey of love, hope, and courage.
I would highly recommend everyone to read this book!
Thank you @Second Story Press and @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Tale of a boon's wife.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2017
Idil, a young girl in Somalia, is the daughter of a general and whose family is of the dominant Bliss tribe. Her older brother is a sadistic creep and her younger brother has a heart as big as her own. Her mother does what is expected of her, repeating all the toxic masculinity brainwashing that goes on in patriarchal cultures everywhere.
Oh, this is a beautifully written and terrifying book!
Because of her general father’s numerous affairs, the last one ending in violence, they are moved closer to the capitol. Thus Idil meets Sidow, and their friendship is fast and immediate. For both her and her younger brother, Sidow is a healing balm when they can get away from their toxic household. Sidow is sweet, smart and talented, but he’s also of the Boon tribe, who are, historically, of a lower social order to the Bliss.
In a country already torn apart by civil war, the love that grows between Sidow and Idil is strong, strong enough for Idil to defy her parents and marry her soul’s mate, creating their own small resistance in the face of destructive traditions that would tear them apart.
There is so much more going on than in this brief summary. The author’s graceful and eloquent yet earthy language creates an immediacy and emotional immersion into Idil’s world, her mind and heart. Heartbreaking, though Idil remains strong and true as her mother, her family, her home, and country break apart.
Highly recommended. I’ll be looking for more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Second Story Press :D
Oh, this is a beautifully written and terrifying book!
Because of her general father’s numerous affairs, the last one ending in violence, they are moved closer to the capitol. Thus Idil meets Sidow, and their friendship is fast and immediate. For both her and her younger brother, Sidow is a healing balm when they can get away from their toxic household. Sidow is sweet, smart and talented, but he’s also of the Boon tribe, who are, historically, of a lower social order to the Bliss.
In a country already torn apart by civil war, the love that grows between Sidow and Idil is strong, strong enough for Idil to defy her parents and marry her soul’s mate, creating their own small resistance in the face of destructive traditions that would tear them apart.
There is so much more going on than in this brief summary. The author’s graceful and eloquent yet earthy language creates an immediacy and emotional immersion into Idil’s world, her mind and heart. Heartbreaking, though Idil remains strong and true as her mother, her family, her home, and country break apart.
Highly recommended. I’ll be looking for more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Second Story Press :D
October 17, 2017
First published on my blog: Nonstop Reader
Tale of a Boon's Wife released on 10th October 2017, is by Fartumo Kusow from Second Story Press. Most of the press and reviews I've seen on this book touch on its value as a window into another culture and encouraging message of teaching and multiculturalism. While most of the audience for this book are westerners who have never been touched by civil war and murder and strife in their own homes and backyards, I agree... I would say however, that the viscerality and immediacy of this book come more from the very shared humanness we have with the characters.
For me, the power of this book comes from the compulsion to set ourselves into Idil's situation and imagine how we personally would react in the societal constraints and against the almost impossible odds she faced. Her bravery and honesty would have broken anyone else. I truly admired her decency and struggle. It was a very difficult book for me to read. I had to stop at several points, but felt truly compelled forward in the hope that Idil and her family would find peace.
The book is full of triggers, animal abuse, rape, murder, indecency, corruption, overwhelming poverty and sadness. So often, we who live in comfortable relatively safe places in the world feel ourselves shielded from 'those other places'. We surround ourselves with carefully moderated, relatively sanitized news coverage on the pain and suffering which happens on so much of the planet. This book tore away my complacency at least temporarily. It is a deeply profoundly moving book and I won't be able to forget it anytime soon.
In many ways it reminded me of The Good Earth. It's beautifully written and important. It's difficult to write deeply about this book without spoilers, but I would encourage everyone to read it. Wonderful book, superlatively written.
Five stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
Tale of a Boon's Wife released on 10th October 2017, is by Fartumo Kusow from Second Story Press. Most of the press and reviews I've seen on this book touch on its value as a window into another culture and encouraging message of teaching and multiculturalism. While most of the audience for this book are westerners who have never been touched by civil war and murder and strife in their own homes and backyards, I agree... I would say however, that the viscerality and immediacy of this book come more from the very shared humanness we have with the characters.
For me, the power of this book comes from the compulsion to set ourselves into Idil's situation and imagine how we personally would react in the societal constraints and against the almost impossible odds she faced. Her bravery and honesty would have broken anyone else. I truly admired her decency and struggle. It was a very difficult book for me to read. I had to stop at several points, but felt truly compelled forward in the hope that Idil and her family would find peace.
The book is full of triggers, animal abuse, rape, murder, indecency, corruption, overwhelming poverty and sadness. So often, we who live in comfortable relatively safe places in the world feel ourselves shielded from 'those other places'. We surround ourselves with carefully moderated, relatively sanitized news coverage on the pain and suffering which happens on so much of the planet. This book tore away my complacency at least temporarily. It is a deeply profoundly moving book and I won't be able to forget it anytime soon.
In many ways it reminded me of The Good Earth. It's beautifully written and important. It's difficult to write deeply about this book without spoilers, but I would encourage everyone to read it. Wonderful book, superlatively written.
Five stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
February 1, 2021
3.5 Idil is a young Somalian woman who refuses to accept the constraints society tries to force on her for being a woman and for being a member of what is considered the superior ethnic tribe. She is a woman who knows her own mind and will not be silenced, even by force. Idil's parents are members of the elite and symbols of the system Idil refuses to accept; her battle begins with them at home as a teenager, but does not end there. This was a gripping story, the language was simple and easy to read, a little on the nose at times but I was engrossed nonetheless.
October 3, 2017
This is the story of Idil and Sidow's love for each other and the repercussions that followed because of it. Idil is from the Bliss tribe in Somalia and Sidow from the Boon tribe, who were thought of as inferior by her tribe.
Having met at school, the two could not be more different in their upbringing, she from a well to do military family and he the son of a farmer.
Idil watches her parents marriage and is determined not to follow in their footsteps, and despite their demands that she marry whom they choose, she and Sidow, fight to be together.
This story is very emotional, as we see how women are treated and how the caste system demeans a persons worth.
Idils father and elder brother will do anything to make life miserable for Idil and Sidow, but she does have an ally in her younger brother.
Idil's mother, with her misguided advice and demands, is not a great roll model for her daughter, but she always feels she is doing what is best for her.
This story is very well written and was very educational for me to see the civil unrest play out in the country. The descriptions of the female roll and what tradition are expected in a marriage.
I very much look forward to another book by this author.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Second Story Press for the ARC.
Having met at school, the two could not be more different in their upbringing, she from a well to do military family and he the son of a farmer.
Idil watches her parents marriage and is determined not to follow in their footsteps, and despite their demands that she marry whom they choose, she and Sidow, fight to be together.
This story is very emotional, as we see how women are treated and how the caste system demeans a persons worth.
Idils father and elder brother will do anything to make life miserable for Idil and Sidow, but she does have an ally in her younger brother.
Idil's mother, with her misguided advice and demands, is not a great roll model for her daughter, but she always feels she is doing what is best for her.
This story is very well written and was very educational for me to see the civil unrest play out in the country. The descriptions of the female roll and what tradition are expected in a marriage.
I very much look forward to another book by this author.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Second Story Press for the ARC.
October 10, 2017
Some stories make you appreciate life better. To understand the way most societies are so similar in actions and elections to events I absolutely liked the character of Idil's mother both as a wife and mother. Her untiring ways to keep her daughter safe from herself and world were almost heart breaking. And so was her end. I felt deeply for Idil as she suffered from one blow to another but also appreciated the practical and loving approach of her mother in law. This is a hard book to read but so much emotional connects it makes with you .
Thanks Natgellay for the ARC.
Thanks Natgellay for the ARC.
August 22, 2017
Such extraordinary writing! This novel impressed me with its strong character development and insightful prose, as it delved into complex issues of family, love, and loyalty, with unbridled depth.
January 2, 2026
My second pick to read around the world this year for Somalia.
I thought the writing of this was a lot more engaging than my first pick of the year. Idil took more agency of her life, where she could, though over and over tragedy struck as others exerted their power of her life. Her and her husband had a very Romeo and Juliet vibe, with social class getting in their way with family as the enforcers.
I thought the writing of this was a lot more engaging than my first pick of the year. Idil took more agency of her life, where she could, though over and over tragedy struck as others exerted their power of her life. Her and her husband had a very Romeo and Juliet vibe, with social class getting in their way with family as the enforcers.
October 30, 2017
Thank you Netgally for this ARC.
This was an amazing tale of family, love, perseverance and loyalty. The writing was beautiful. I have never cried at a book and i didn't, but i was really close. The progression of the book was easy. The story of 2 people falling in love and trying to live their lives together. Their struggles and persistence was inspiring.
I really liked this book.
This was an amazing tale of family, love, perseverance and loyalty. The writing was beautiful. I have never cried at a book and i didn't, but i was really close. The progression of the book was easy. The story of 2 people falling in love and trying to live their lives together. Their struggles and persistence was inspiring.
I really liked this book.
October 4, 2017
A poignant tale of Idil, a daughter of a high-ranking official in the Somali army. Ignoring the conventional attitude of her family and society, she follows her heart and falls in love with Sidow, a member of a lower caste.
Despite the ordeals that she suffers, Idil is a survivor. Idil becomes a strong-willed woman, intent on keeping her family safe, against hardship, threats and disapproval from all sides.
The characters in the novel are believable, and the plot development is realistic.
Despite the ordeals that she suffers, Idil is a survivor. Idil becomes a strong-willed woman, intent on keeping her family safe, against hardship, threats and disapproval from all sides.
The characters in the novel are believable, and the plot development is realistic.
September 26, 2017
I was immediately drawn into this story about Idil, a young Somali girl from the Bliss tribe and her controversial relationship with Sidow, a boy from the Boon tribe. The author was so descriptive I could easily picture everything that was happening. I felt not only entertained but educated with this novel!
Idil's father, a high ranking officer in the military, is transferred to another city due to his infidelities with other women living on the base. Having to move the whole family has upset Idil, an eighth grader, and the friendships she had cultivated at her old school. Her first day at the new school she befriends Sidow, a boy who offered friendship. Idil and Sidow became great friends, though once her mother met Sidow she learned that he was a Boon, a tribe thought to be of very low class and intelligence. Idil's family forbade her from seeing Sidow. This pushed her closer to him and a deeper relationship developed.
The book takes you through the years of their friendship and all the trials and suffering that came along. I loved the writing and was sad when it ended. A truly great book.
Idil's father, a high ranking officer in the military, is transferred to another city due to his infidelities with other women living on the base. Having to move the whole family has upset Idil, an eighth grader, and the friendships she had cultivated at her old school. Her first day at the new school she befriends Sidow, a boy who offered friendship. Idil and Sidow became great friends, though once her mother met Sidow she learned that he was a Boon, a tribe thought to be of very low class and intelligence. Idil's family forbade her from seeing Sidow. This pushed her closer to him and a deeper relationship developed.
The book takes you through the years of their friendship and all the trials and suffering that came along. I loved the writing and was sad when it ended. A truly great book.
November 5, 2017
In Tale of a Boon's Wife, Fartumo Kusow leads readers on a journey to test the theory that forbidden love last the longest, yet hurts the deepest. The story takes place in the 1980's in Somalia amid political and civil unrest. The protagonist, Idil, is the privileged daughter of a military general. At an early age, Idil vows to marry for love and avoid the humiliation and degradations suffered by her mother at the hands of her philandering, domineering, and cruel father. Readers will cheer as young Idil follows her heart, but will find themselves holding their breath as the story unfolds to discover the price she will have to pay. Idil's journey is unforgettable and deeply moving.
I am grateful to Second Story Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Tale of a Boon's Wife provided to me in exchange for an honest review. I am also grateful to Fartumo Kusow for sharing such an intimidate glimpse into aspects of the Somalian culture.
I am grateful to Second Story Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Tale of a Boon's Wife provided to me in exchange for an honest review. I am also grateful to Fartumo Kusow for sharing such an intimidate glimpse into aspects of the Somalian culture.
October 10, 2017
*I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review*
I love reading books about people who are different from me and this book certainly fits that bill. I enjoyed reading the story of Idil and Sidow and how they came together and how Idil has to survive once she is alone again. My heart broke many times while reading this book and I felt a part of the world that the book created. I learned a lot about people and a culture who I am interested in learning more about.
I love reading books about people who are different from me and this book certainly fits that bill. I enjoyed reading the story of Idil and Sidow and how they came together and how Idil has to survive once she is alone again. My heart broke many times while reading this book and I felt a part of the world that the book created. I learned a lot about people and a culture who I am interested in learning more about.
October 20, 2017
WOW, I love this book. I appreciate Netgallery and Second Story Press for giving me the opportunity to preview such a moving story of a strong, young lady who struggles to live HER life amidst the inter-tribal discrimination and political turmoils in Somalia. An overall great, quick read.
As a debut, this is a strong and solid first attempt but there are still rooms for improvement. I like the fact the author incorporates a bit of suspense (i.e. who's the one to cause the mayhem to the loving family) to a simple narration of the journey of the protagonist, a "higher" class lady married to a boon who is from the "lower" class. Her decision of following her heart brings her joy, tears, bitterness, anger as well as innumerable life struggles. The author has the gift of putting together a beautiful, moving story with a tight plot. The only thing is the story is not outstanding enough to attract vast attention because of the abundance of similar stories available.
I truly think this book deserves the attention of readers who value good writing and wanting to learn something about Somalian's traditions. I look forward to the next book by the author because I seriously think she has the gift of telling stories, not just any ordinary stories but some powerful ones. Again, I am glad I have stumbled upon the title by chance.
As a debut, this is a strong and solid first attempt but there are still rooms for improvement. I like the fact the author incorporates a bit of suspense (i.e. who's the one to cause the mayhem to the loving family) to a simple narration of the journey of the protagonist, a "higher" class lady married to a boon who is from the "lower" class. Her decision of following her heart brings her joy, tears, bitterness, anger as well as innumerable life struggles. The author has the gift of putting together a beautiful, moving story with a tight plot. The only thing is the story is not outstanding enough to attract vast attention because of the abundance of similar stories available.
I truly think this book deserves the attention of readers who value good writing and wanting to learn something about Somalian's traditions. I look forward to the next book by the author because I seriously think she has the gift of telling stories, not just any ordinary stories but some powerful ones. Again, I am glad I have stumbled upon the title by chance.
April 20, 2018
Can I start by thanking the author for this book, it's difficult to find historic fiction stories about Somalia . and every additional book is welcomed.
This is the story of Idil loving then marrying someone perceived as lower tribe than her and the consequence of that with the somali civil war in full swing .
I loved Idil mum more than even the main character (Idil), she tried to protect and help her daughter and family all the way thought . Tribe is big deal in Somali married and it can effect your children and life . hopefully this is changing now a days.
I absolutely disliked idil at the beginning when she was teenager , the way she was ungrateful to her parents mainly her mum , (like she tried to interfere in omar marriage match).
I know she was in her teenage years, but I liked Elmi more ( he was more compassionate) . But at the end , I started to sympathies and even care for her deeply .
The description of Somali civil war was horrific, I heard a lot of stories about people forgetting there humanity and behaving like animals, it shocked me and angered me. How a country became like this, how our own people destroyed their country.
After big incident to Idil in the middle , I couldn’t believe what happened next, there is no way a father can agree or leave that to happen without punishment. It was harrowing!!
I absolutely loved reading this book, it’s a book I am keeping for my children to read when they older, I hope to find others Somali novels out there. and of course as good as this.
I hope Ms Fartumo write more books in the future.
Netgalley giveaway.
This is the story of Idil loving then marrying someone perceived as lower tribe than her and the consequence of that with the somali civil war in full swing .
I loved Idil mum more than even the main character (Idil), she tried to protect and help her daughter and family all the way thought . Tribe is big deal in Somali married and it can effect your children and life . hopefully this is changing now a days.
I absolutely disliked idil at the beginning when she was teenager , the way she was ungrateful to her parents mainly her mum , (like she tried to interfere in omar marriage match).
I know she was in her teenage years, but I liked Elmi more ( he was more compassionate) . But at the end , I started to sympathies and even care for her deeply .
The description of Somali civil war was horrific, I heard a lot of stories about people forgetting there humanity and behaving like animals, it shocked me and angered me. How a country became like this, how our own people destroyed their country.
After big incident to Idil in the middle , I couldn’t believe what happened next, there is no way a father can agree or leave that to happen without punishment. It was harrowing!!
I absolutely loved reading this book, it’s a book I am keeping for my children to read when they older, I hope to find others Somali novels out there. and of course as good as this.
I hope Ms Fartumo write more books in the future.
Netgalley giveaway.
September 7, 2017
The author, who also escaped Somalia during the civil war, writes about a woman who marries for love, and outside her tribe. Similar to how the Indian's had/have a cast system, where you were supposed to marry at your level or above, and never marry an untouchable, so too in Somalia, apparently, to marry a Boon was the worst offense, as they had once been slaves of the upper tribes.
Idil wants to marry for love, despite it meaning that she will lose everything. Not quite a Romeo and Juliet story, but one that shows how rank, especially during a civil war, can mean the matter of life and death.
Very realistic story. Very sad, but I love how determined Idil is. Although when she is fighting with her parents about wanting to marry for love, in the beginning, I thought she was a broken record. Later, that broken record was her loyalty.
Learned a lot, by reading this book. I had to keep looking up information on the civil war in Somalia, and the history.
Plus I stayed up late to finish this book. Truly amazing story. Yes, there were bits that lagged, but not enough to move my rating down
Thanks to Netgalley and Second Story books for making this book available for an honest review.
Idil wants to marry for love, despite it meaning that she will lose everything. Not quite a Romeo and Juliet story, but one that shows how rank, especially during a civil war, can mean the matter of life and death.
Very realistic story. Very sad, but I love how determined Idil is. Although when she is fighting with her parents about wanting to marry for love, in the beginning, I thought she was a broken record. Later, that broken record was her loyalty.
Learned a lot, by reading this book. I had to keep looking up information on the civil war in Somalia, and the history.
Plus I stayed up late to finish this book. Truly amazing story. Yes, there were bits that lagged, but not enough to move my rating down
Thanks to Netgalley and Second Story books for making this book available for an honest review.
October 27, 2017
Check out my book blog for more book reviews and other bookish posts!
I received an ARC of Tale of a Boon’s Wife from NetGalley. I decided to request this book, because I was in the mood for adult fiction, and this historical fiction novel sounded like it would be right up my alley.
This book is #ownvoices for Somalian representation.
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This book… It made me angry, it made me sad, it made me happy, it made me hopeful, and not only that. As you can tell, it was a book that made me feel a lot. At times, I forgot that I was reading about fictional characters. That’s how real the book felt. It was an emotional and harsh read.
One of the central themes is cheating. And it’s heartbreaking and infuriating to read about it. Many characters weigh in on this theme, and offer their opinions to each other, and so often, as in real life, it is the wife and the mistress who are blamed for the husband’s cheating. This is called out frequently by the main character. However, it is so ingrained in society, that she herself starts to feel insecure about it. Cheating is portrayed not only as an event that affects the wife, the mistress, and the husband, but as an event that changes other people (e.g. children, friends) and influences their respective futures as well.
Several issues are mentioned during the course of this book, and they come together in an intricate web. Fartumo Kusow shows how subjects such as power, poverty, classism, tribal conflicts, and sexism affect each other and how they can change the direction a person’s life was going.
It’s a story about love, and while it also has a romance and platonic family love, I would argue that the main love theme is that of self-love. Time and time again, Idil does what she can for others, however she also tries to make herself happy. This is what made the ending even sweeter, as she decides to put herself first. It’s a beautiful and emotional ending. Some may consider the ending to be unrealistic, but it is a possible ending, and one that has a right to be read by a reader.
Ableist terms are used by some of the characters.
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Tale of a Boon’s Wife is a must-read. It’s extremely well-written and shows how different issues can be connected with each other in indirect and direct ways. It was an excellent book.
Trigger warnings: rape, sexism, violence, miscarriage, antagonism against another tribe, attempted forced child marriage.
I received an ARC of Tale of a Boon’s Wife from NetGalley. I decided to request this book, because I was in the mood for adult fiction, and this historical fiction novel sounded like it would be right up my alley.
This book is #ownvoices for Somalian representation.
__
This book… It made me angry, it made me sad, it made me happy, it made me hopeful, and not only that. As you can tell, it was a book that made me feel a lot. At times, I forgot that I was reading about fictional characters. That’s how real the book felt. It was an emotional and harsh read.
One of the central themes is cheating. And it’s heartbreaking and infuriating to read about it. Many characters weigh in on this theme, and offer their opinions to each other, and so often, as in real life, it is the wife and the mistress who are blamed for the husband’s cheating. This is called out frequently by the main character. However, it is so ingrained in society, that she herself starts to feel insecure about it. Cheating is portrayed not only as an event that affects the wife, the mistress, and the husband, but as an event that changes other people (e.g. children, friends) and influences their respective futures as well.
Several issues are mentioned during the course of this book, and they come together in an intricate web. Fartumo Kusow shows how subjects such as power, poverty, classism, tribal conflicts, and sexism affect each other and how they can change the direction a person’s life was going.
It’s a story about love, and while it also has a romance and platonic family love, I would argue that the main love theme is that of self-love. Time and time again, Idil does what she can for others, however she also tries to make herself happy. This is what made the ending even sweeter, as she decides to put herself first. It’s a beautiful and emotional ending. Some may consider the ending to be unrealistic, but it is a possible ending, and one that has a right to be read by a reader.
Ableist terms are used by some of the characters.
__
Tale of a Boon’s Wife is a must-read. It’s extremely well-written and shows how different issues can be connected with each other in indirect and direct ways. It was an excellent book.
Trigger warnings: rape, sexism, violence, miscarriage, antagonism against another tribe, attempted forced child marriage.
September 1, 2025
“ a man’s dirt is his woman’s wash,always”
In my pursuit of learning more about my home country, I’ve found myself falling deeper in love with my people and their bravery in the face of hardship such as SA, sexism, physical abuse. Idil’s story, like the stories of so many Somali women, touched my heart so profoundly and I couldn’t help but see myself in them?
At its core, it is the tale of forbidden love between Sidow “a boon” and Idil “a bliss” which serves as an eerie parody of the qabiil system in Somalia. My whole life, I’ve been told to marry someone “well deserving,”” the right clan” as though this system matters more than living one’s truth. Idil’s journey is inspiring and powerful as she struggles between family and familiarity vs love and loyalty, navigating a world where her love is devalued by the arbitrary boundaries of clan. Truthfully, this novel inspires me to be who I want to be and stop hiding behind a “veil of shame “.
Another aspect of the book that struck me deeply was the theme of duty and the expectation to honour one’s family. This is something I have heard all my life, yet the constant refrain that a woman’s role is to fulfil her duty and serve others felt especially poignant. In a male-dominated society, it often comes down to the excuse that “he’s a man, so that makes it okay”,a mindset that hits painfully close to home.
The book also reflects the discrimination faced by the “boon” in Somalia, which I find particularly heartbreaking. For a people who claim to be Muslim, it is shameful and ironic that we fail to live by God’s commandments. And yet, I end this review with hope that one day we will recognize the errors of our ways, and embrace change.
Somalia ha noolaato—long live Somalia 🇸🇴
In my pursuit of learning more about my home country, I’ve found myself falling deeper in love with my people and their bravery in the face of hardship such as SA, sexism, physical abuse. Idil’s story, like the stories of so many Somali women, touched my heart so profoundly and I couldn’t help but see myself in them?
At its core, it is the tale of forbidden love between Sidow “a boon” and Idil “a bliss” which serves as an eerie parody of the qabiil system in Somalia. My whole life, I’ve been told to marry someone “well deserving,”” the right clan” as though this system matters more than living one’s truth. Idil’s journey is inspiring and powerful as she struggles between family and familiarity vs love and loyalty, navigating a world where her love is devalued by the arbitrary boundaries of clan. Truthfully, this novel inspires me to be who I want to be and stop hiding behind a “veil of shame “.
Another aspect of the book that struck me deeply was the theme of duty and the expectation to honour one’s family. This is something I have heard all my life, yet the constant refrain that a woman’s role is to fulfil her duty and serve others felt especially poignant. In a male-dominated society, it often comes down to the excuse that “he’s a man, so that makes it okay”,a mindset that hits painfully close to home.
The book also reflects the discrimination faced by the “boon” in Somalia, which I find particularly heartbreaking. For a people who claim to be Muslim, it is shameful and ironic that we fail to live by God’s commandments. And yet, I end this review with hope that one day we will recognize the errors of our ways, and embrace change.
Somalia ha noolaato—long live Somalia 🇸🇴
October 10, 2017
This story follows the life of Idil, a Somali young girl that was born in a Bliss family. Her father was an army General, which gave the family more luxury than the rest of the people of their community.
The story moves in two directions, the first is for Idil to understand her position as a woman. They don't have the right for free will, speak their minds, take decisions for their own, fight for what they believe is right. And Idil doesn't want to accept that because she has two brothers and the inequality between them is something she doesn't understand that combined with the life full of suffering that her mother has.
The other direction is that Idil has to fight for a forbidden love due cultural and economical differences. She falls in love with a Boon, a slave, but their love is stronger than any rule or obligation.
Is a cruel and sad story but there where times when I stop to consider that most of the things that Idil had to suffer many women do suffer, in real life.
My rating is 3.5/5, this because there where times that I got bored or it was to much suffering for one person.
The story moves in two directions, the first is for Idil to understand her position as a woman. They don't have the right for free will, speak their minds, take decisions for their own, fight for what they believe is right. And Idil doesn't want to accept that because she has two brothers and the inequality between them is something she doesn't understand that combined with the life full of suffering that her mother has.
The other direction is that Idil has to fight for a forbidden love due cultural and economical differences. She falls in love with a Boon, a slave, but their love is stronger than any rule or obligation.
Is a cruel and sad story but there where times when I stop to consider that most of the things that Idil had to suffer many women do suffer, in real life.
My rating is 3.5/5, this because there where times that I got bored or it was to much suffering for one person.
November 11, 2017
I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This starts out as a classic story of forbidden love but turns into so much more! Idil is an awesome main character; strong-willed females are my favorites. I love that the author is from Somali so she used her own experiences to paint a picture of the country: a super vivid picture that drew me right in.
This book has been released and if you (like me) know nothing about Somali and its civil war this is a great book to pick up. It was a quick and easy read, though there was some serious subject matter (there's war so unfortunately there's violence and rape).
This starts out as a classic story of forbidden love but turns into so much more! Idil is an awesome main character; strong-willed females are my favorites. I love that the author is from Somali so she used her own experiences to paint a picture of the country: a super vivid picture that drew me right in.
This book has been released and if you (like me) know nothing about Somali and its civil war this is a great book to pick up. It was a quick and easy read, though there was some serious subject matter (there's war so unfortunately there's violence and rape).
July 11, 2018
This is a really unique historical fiction about the civil war in Somalia and its effects on one family. It's comparable to "Disoriental" in that it gives readers an inside view of a national conflict. It's heartbreaking and frustrating, but really well constructed.
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