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Short Stories about Syrian Women #1
Syrian Brides
In the heart of Syria, where the ancient streets echo with modern whispers, a rebellion is brewing. But this uprising won’t be found on the front pages or the evening news. It’s in the hushed giggles and the bold belly laughs of the women who navigate - and master - the art of living in a patriarchal society.
Syrian Brides is a collection of stories that celebrate the indomitable spirit of Syrian women. These are tales of wit over brute strength, cunning over control, and humor as the ultimate weapon in the quiet battle of the sexes. Meet the clever wife who outsmarts her husband with a pinch of salt and a dash of theatrics, the shrewd beauty who turns a misunderstanding into a triumph, and the cunning young bride who unexpectedly finds peace in the midst of a raging feud.
Each story is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of women who, in the face of adversity, choose laughter as their rebellion. So, pull up a cushion, pour a cup of sweet tea, and prepare to be regaled by the audacious adventures of these fierce Syrian heroines. Their tales are not just stories; they are small victories, one laugh at a time.
Syrian Brides is a collection of stories that celebrate the indomitable spirit of Syrian women. These are tales of wit over brute strength, cunning over control, and humor as the ultimate weapon in the quiet battle of the sexes. Meet the clever wife who outsmarts her husband with a pinch of salt and a dash of theatrics, the shrewd beauty who turns a misunderstanding into a triumph, and the cunning young bride who unexpectedly finds peace in the midst of a raging feud.
Each story is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of women who, in the face of adversity, choose laughter as their rebellion. So, pull up a cushion, pour a cup of sweet tea, and prepare to be regaled by the audacious adventures of these fierce Syrian heroines. Their tales are not just stories; they are small victories, one laugh at a time.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
9 people are currently reading
1456 people want to read
About the author
Anna Halabi
11 books84 followersAnna Halabi was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. She emigrated to Europe in 1999 for her university studies. She currently lives with her family in Germany.
Syrian Brides is her debut as an author. The stories and characters in this collection were inspired by her personal experiences as well as her relatives, friends and TV shows.
Syrian Brides is her debut as an author. The stories and characters in this collection were inspired by her personal experiences as well as her relatives, friends and TV shows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
August 30, 2019
In ‘Syrian Brides’ author Anna Halabi brings us a fascinating collection of short stories that invite us into the intimacy of the homes of her characters, all of them married women or brides to be, living in Syria.
Some of the issues dealt with in this book will be familiar to married women the world over, including sadly, domestic violence, but taking this to another level, Halabi demonstrates the complete and utter control of another human being used by some of the husbands in these stories, and it will initiate disbelief and outrage to many of us brought up in the West and who take our freedom for granted.
However, it’s definitely not all gloom and doom, as there is much to smile about too, particularly the story where an abused wife tricks her husband by way of 7 fish and 7 watermelons, but I won’t give anything away other than to say that it was quite an ingenious little plot on the part of the author!
This is a delightful peek into the lives, culture and culinary skills of Syrian women, with many references to authentic Syrian dishes. It takes skill to create short stories, for there is never enough breadth to create character development. These stories however were like parables in style, with wise and perceptive characters, and Anna Halabi has done a great job of providing insight into a completely different culture and making me care about these women and their lives.
*Thank you to Anna Halabi for my copy of Syrian Brides. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Some of the issues dealt with in this book will be familiar to married women the world over, including sadly, domestic violence, but taking this to another level, Halabi demonstrates the complete and utter control of another human being used by some of the husbands in these stories, and it will initiate disbelief and outrage to many of us brought up in the West and who take our freedom for granted.
However, it’s definitely not all gloom and doom, as there is much to smile about too, particularly the story where an abused wife tricks her husband by way of 7 fish and 7 watermelons, but I won’t give anything away other than to say that it was quite an ingenious little plot on the part of the author!
This is a delightful peek into the lives, culture and culinary skills of Syrian women, with many references to authentic Syrian dishes. It takes skill to create short stories, for there is never enough breadth to create character development. These stories however were like parables in style, with wise and perceptive characters, and Anna Halabi has done a great job of providing insight into a completely different culture and making me care about these women and their lives.
*Thank you to Anna Halabi for my copy of Syrian Brides. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
July 4, 2019
Syrian Brides by Anna Halabi is a 2018 publication.
An eye -opening collection of short stories centered around Syrian brides or brides-to be. These stories range from charming to alarming giving readers a unique insight into the Syrian culture.
This book created a little buzz a few months back, piquing my curiosity. I’m always eager to learn more about different cultures, so I decided to check it out for myself.
I’m so glad I discovered this gem. These stories are full of whip smart dialogue, is very fresh and quite clever, and often ironic. The tone is often humorous, but these stories have a bite to them. The subject matter is not light, addressing domestic violence and repression and oppression. Yet, these women, for the most part, display fortitude, grace, wit, and strength. They are quite ingenious, given their circumstances, often finding ways to circumvent or lessen their burdens.
All these stories are good but, I don’t feel comfortable describing them in detail because it would most likely give something away.
The author wisely begins the collection with a delightful story which made me smile and was the perfect segue into what followed. The stories have a whimsical quality, but are serious and cautionary, as well, providing a great deal of food for thought. Some relay messages any culture can recognize and learn from, but, naturally, I did bristle at the offensive attitudes of the men in these stories.
Each of the eleven stories is strong, no ‘fillers’ or weaknesses. Naturally, I liked one or two more than the others, but even when I didn’t care for the outcome of a given story, I respected the lesson learned from it.
As we all work to better the lives of women, not just in our own country, but for women everywhere, this book left a deep impression on me. On one hand, I felt disheartened by the patriarchal dominance and oppression described within these stories, but on the other hand, I feel humbled and gained much insight through these stories.
The author has done a fantastic job, not only with the writing, but with the organization and order in which the stories were presented. I’m going to press the ‘recommend’ button for this one.
4.5 stars
An eye -opening collection of short stories centered around Syrian brides or brides-to be. These stories range from charming to alarming giving readers a unique insight into the Syrian culture.
This book created a little buzz a few months back, piquing my curiosity. I’m always eager to learn more about different cultures, so I decided to check it out for myself.
I’m so glad I discovered this gem. These stories are full of whip smart dialogue, is very fresh and quite clever, and often ironic. The tone is often humorous, but these stories have a bite to them. The subject matter is not light, addressing domestic violence and repression and oppression. Yet, these women, for the most part, display fortitude, grace, wit, and strength. They are quite ingenious, given their circumstances, often finding ways to circumvent or lessen their burdens.
All these stories are good but, I don’t feel comfortable describing them in detail because it would most likely give something away.
The author wisely begins the collection with a delightful story which made me smile and was the perfect segue into what followed. The stories have a whimsical quality, but are serious and cautionary, as well, providing a great deal of food for thought. Some relay messages any culture can recognize and learn from, but, naturally, I did bristle at the offensive attitudes of the men in these stories.
Each of the eleven stories is strong, no ‘fillers’ or weaknesses. Naturally, I liked one or two more than the others, but even when I didn’t care for the outcome of a given story, I respected the lesson learned from it.
As we all work to better the lives of women, not just in our own country, but for women everywhere, this book left a deep impression on me. On one hand, I felt disheartened by the patriarchal dominance and oppression described within these stories, but on the other hand, I feel humbled and gained much insight through these stories.
The author has done a fantastic job, not only with the writing, but with the organization and order in which the stories were presented. I’m going to press the ‘recommend’ button for this one.
4.5 stars
December 21, 2019
I am actually really impressed with this collection of short stories.
Every single story has its own heart, its own personality, its own reality - they took the shape of their own hero.
Some of the stories made me smile, others made me sad. Some actually were so unbelievably brutal that made me tear up.
It is a reality that happens beyond the words of those stories. A reality meant to be heard and acknowledged by everyone.
Thank you, Anna Halabi for providing me with a copy of your work!
Every single story has its own heart, its own personality, its own reality - they took the shape of their own hero.
Some of the stories made me smile, others made me sad. Some actually were so unbelievably brutal that made me tear up.
It is a reality that happens beyond the words of those stories. A reality meant to be heard and acknowledged by everyone.
Thank you, Anna Halabi for providing me with a copy of your work!
June 20, 2020
This is an interesting collection of short stories about married or soon-to-be married Syrian women. Each short story offers insight into Syrian Culture.
My attraction to this book was my Syrian ancestry (grandfather), and it was a big part of me growing up. The majority of the Syrian culture that I was exposed to in my life involved very large and loud family gatherings with delicious foods like kibbie (kibbeh), stuffed grape leaves, shish kebab, and of course, Syrian bread. So, the food references were very familiar to me, but sadly something else in common with these stories was the domestic violence my elders experienced. My Jid (great grandfather) had issues and I’d always wondered if it was something he was exposed to before he came to America. So a few of the stories caused me to reflect on that, and the humor was somewhat lost. It’s very hard to think of humans being treated so cruelly and then to be forced to live such dismal lives.
Overall, this is a unique collection of well-written stories. I chuckled at these clever women. “Nobody’s Bride” was probably my favorite one here. All the stories read like parables and a quote of wisdom is shared after each. I’ll definitely recommend this one.
I’d like to thank the author for sharing a copy of this book with me.
4****
My attraction to this book was my Syrian ancestry (grandfather), and it was a big part of me growing up. The majority of the Syrian culture that I was exposed to in my life involved very large and loud family gatherings with delicious foods like kibbie (kibbeh), stuffed grape leaves, shish kebab, and of course, Syrian bread. So, the food references were very familiar to me, but sadly something else in common with these stories was the domestic violence my elders experienced. My Jid (great grandfather) had issues and I’d always wondered if it was something he was exposed to before he came to America. So a few of the stories caused me to reflect on that, and the humor was somewhat lost. It’s very hard to think of humans being treated so cruelly and then to be forced to live such dismal lives.
Overall, this is a unique collection of well-written stories. I chuckled at these clever women. “Nobody’s Bride” was probably my favorite one here. All the stories read like parables and a quote of wisdom is shared after each. I’ll definitely recommend this one.
I’d like to thank the author for sharing a copy of this book with me.
4****
May 16, 2020
4 stars for a series of light enjoyable stories that deal with life in Syria through the eyes of various brides, some in search of a husband, some engaged, some recently married and more. These stories deal with issues found worldwide, but with a Syrian cultural perspective. Among other things, there is one wife's response to domestic violence which involves a miracle and watermelon. Each story has a proverb at the end of the story, as in:
"None but a noble man treats women in an honorable manner, and none but an ignorant treats women disgracefully.--Hadith"
I found the language to be very colorful, especially when one character is describing someone that they want to flatter, as in:
"How elegantly she walks, like an Arabian princess! Dance barefoot on my grave will you!"
Conversely, someone that a character does not like, as in a prosepctive bride that a mother decided was not suitable for her son:
"That one had a hunchback like a bear and she wobbled like a walrus."
The author has a dedication to "all the strong Syrian women, enduring battles-- at home and at war in their homeland."
This is the only reference to the Syrian civil war. The author bio states that she immigrated to Germany in 1999. The stories are based on her personal experiences and those of family and friends.
Thank You Anna Halabi for sending me this delightful eBook. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about Syrian culture and family life.
"None but a noble man treats women in an honorable manner, and none but an ignorant treats women disgracefully.--Hadith"
I found the language to be very colorful, especially when one character is describing someone that they want to flatter, as in:
"How elegantly she walks, like an Arabian princess! Dance barefoot on my grave will you!"
Conversely, someone that a character does not like, as in a prosepctive bride that a mother decided was not suitable for her son:
"That one had a hunchback like a bear and she wobbled like a walrus."
The author has a dedication to "all the strong Syrian women, enduring battles-- at home and at war in their homeland."
This is the only reference to the Syrian civil war. The author bio states that she immigrated to Germany in 1999. The stories are based on her personal experiences and those of family and friends.
Thank You Anna Halabi for sending me this delightful eBook. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about Syrian culture and family life.
April 9, 2020
3.29 "satirical yet wise reflections" stars !!
I was approached by the author last year to review her book of short stories. I gladly accepted and was immersed in some near perfect fable-like tales as well as others that were average to very good and only one that I thought was over-the-top.
Ms. Halabi gives us fourteen stories that end with a piece of everyday wisdom. She is able to impart with wit the paradoxes that exist in Syrian culure, gender and marital relations and the conflicts between material life in addition to holding onto a Muslim faith. In all these tales, people are trying to pull the wool over another's eyes. In some stories it is affectionately, in other maliciously and in the darkest of these almost violently.
In my usual way I will list the story, the rating and a brief comment or impression.
1. Nobody's Bride (3.5 stars) A foxy Syrian damsel outsmarts two letchey shopkeepers !
2. The Groom's Miracle (4.5 stars) An abused young wife full of justified rage takes clever revenge on her horribly narcissistic husband (Second favorite of bunch)
3. The Nostalgic Groom (4.5 stars) A wise second wife gives tribute to the first....friggin hilarious...favorite in bunch.
4. Examining the Bride (4 stars) Humorous dialogue between 2 female cousins and potential in-laws.
5. The Bride's Maid (4 stars) A self-centred woman meets her match in her new maid...melodramatic and delicious !
6. The Groom's excuse (2.5 stars) Silly little ditty about a henpecked husband and his wife's histrionics
7. Counterfeit Bride (3.5 stars) Lol...a groom finds his European looking wife to be...well you know :)
8. The Groom's Hand (3 stars) Domestic violence and an interesting take on gender relations
9. The greedy bride (2.5 stars) A blatant little tale
10. The bride's poison (2.5 stars) A superficial twit of a woman learns how to be kind
11. The Old Groom (4 stars) Two greedy women are outed !
12. The Bride's Gown (2 stars) Could have been more....ended up trite
13. Imperfect Groom (3 stars) A scary first date !
14. The Bride's Cake (2.5 stars) A wise judge tells a proud wife to bake a cake and see what happens...
I wish Ms. Halabi the best in her writing career !
I was approached by the author last year to review her book of short stories. I gladly accepted and was immersed in some near perfect fable-like tales as well as others that were average to very good and only one that I thought was over-the-top.
Ms. Halabi gives us fourteen stories that end with a piece of everyday wisdom. She is able to impart with wit the paradoxes that exist in Syrian culure, gender and marital relations and the conflicts between material life in addition to holding onto a Muslim faith. In all these tales, people are trying to pull the wool over another's eyes. In some stories it is affectionately, in other maliciously and in the darkest of these almost violently.
In my usual way I will list the story, the rating and a brief comment or impression.
1. Nobody's Bride (3.5 stars) A foxy Syrian damsel outsmarts two letchey shopkeepers !
2. The Groom's Miracle (4.5 stars) An abused young wife full of justified rage takes clever revenge on her horribly narcissistic husband (Second favorite of bunch)
3. The Nostalgic Groom (4.5 stars) A wise second wife gives tribute to the first....friggin hilarious...favorite in bunch.
4. Examining the Bride (4 stars) Humorous dialogue between 2 female cousins and potential in-laws.
5. The Bride's Maid (4 stars) A self-centred woman meets her match in her new maid...melodramatic and delicious !
6. The Groom's excuse (2.5 stars) Silly little ditty about a henpecked husband and his wife's histrionics
7. Counterfeit Bride (3.5 stars) Lol...a groom finds his European looking wife to be...well you know :)
8. The Groom's Hand (3 stars) Domestic violence and an interesting take on gender relations
9. The greedy bride (2.5 stars) A blatant little tale
10. The bride's poison (2.5 stars) A superficial twit of a woman learns how to be kind
11. The Old Groom (4 stars) Two greedy women are outed !
12. The Bride's Gown (2 stars) Could have been more....ended up trite
13. Imperfect Groom (3 stars) A scary first date !
14. The Bride's Cake (2.5 stars) A wise judge tells a proud wife to bake a cake and see what happens...
I wish Ms. Halabi the best in her writing career !
September 8, 2019
Anna Halabi uses humor in her short stories to expose harsh realities of the culture
in Syria.
Anna Halabi was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria.
She immigrated to Europe in 1999 for university studies. She currently lives with her family in Germany.
This is her debut... inspired by people the author knows.
My favorite tale was “Nobody’s Bride”.
A woman uses her beauty to allure a couple of businessmen for her thievery advantage. It was funny, fresh & clever with no political slant.
It was a story that could have taken place in any country.
Once the stories touched on heavier issues such as domestic violence - I couldn’t stop thinking about the devastating conditions in Syria.
All the humor went out the window for me.
I was just glad our author saw an opportunity to improve her own life.
She’s not living in Syria any longer.
Personally, I’m generally not a fan of tongue-in-cheek storytelling as a response to daily social crisis.
Innocent women are targeted - victims of violence in Syria every day.
It’s difficult to raise awareness about empowering women to combat sexual violence because even talking about it goes against the culture. The living hell conditions in Syria is just too sad and frustrating for me to be the right audience for the humor Anna writes —
Yet....
I applaud Anna for underlining the resilience of Syrian women —
Many people have loved these stories ( fishy-watermelons, etc)....
Anna has a flair for writing ....
( great dialogue conversations), but I’m not over-zealous to read about humorous stories in Syria.
in Syria.
Anna Halabi was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria.
She immigrated to Europe in 1999 for university studies. She currently lives with her family in Germany.
This is her debut... inspired by people the author knows.
My favorite tale was “Nobody’s Bride”.
A woman uses her beauty to allure a couple of businessmen for her thievery advantage. It was funny, fresh & clever with no political slant.
It was a story that could have taken place in any country.
Once the stories touched on heavier issues such as domestic violence - I couldn’t stop thinking about the devastating conditions in Syria.
All the humor went out the window for me.
I was just glad our author saw an opportunity to improve her own life.
She’s not living in Syria any longer.
Personally, I’m generally not a fan of tongue-in-cheek storytelling as a response to daily social crisis.
Innocent women are targeted - victims of violence in Syria every day.
It’s difficult to raise awareness about empowering women to combat sexual violence because even talking about it goes against the culture. The living hell conditions in Syria is just too sad and frustrating for me to be the right audience for the humor Anna writes —
Yet....
I applaud Anna for underlining the resilience of Syrian women —
Many people have loved these stories ( fishy-watermelons, etc)....
Anna has a flair for writing ....
( great dialogue conversations), but I’m not over-zealous to read about humorous stories in Syria.
May 25, 2020
A collection of fifteen shorts, this books has it all. Love, betrayal, violence, culuture, mouth-watering cuisine, stunning visuals. The stories elaborate of brides of brides-to-be and the plight in survining day-to-day in male-dominated society. However, Anna Hallibi's well-disguised sense of humour makes this such a breeazy read, you'd be wondering why isn't there more?
Stuffed Kibbeh
My favorite stories were of the nostalgic groom and his witty wife and also of the groom's miracle and how he got served for his wrongdoings to his wife. It was a thoroughly entertaining read, albeit also very thought-provoking. I also enjoyed the culture behind groom/bride-hunting in the area as humorously portrayed in several stories.
Much gratitude to the writer for providing me with a free copy for this review. My prayers are with the suffering souls of Syria. May they attain peace at the end of this turmoil.
Stuffed Kibbeh
My favorite stories were of the nostalgic groom and his witty wife and also of the groom's miracle and how he got served for his wrongdoings to his wife. It was a thoroughly entertaining read, albeit also very thought-provoking. I also enjoyed the culture behind groom/bride-hunting in the area as humorously portrayed in several stories.
Much gratitude to the writer for providing me with a free copy for this review. My prayers are with the suffering souls of Syria. May they attain peace at the end of this turmoil.
August 7, 2020
** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Anna!! I’m really sorry it took me so long to get to your collection; I had a lot of fun reading it though! ;-)**
This was a really interesting collection of short stories about Syrian women that are either getting married or have already been married for a while and even though I didn’t understand all of them it was great to get such a good glimpse at Syrian culture. I think to read those stories helped me to understand it a little bit better and I really liked how different all those stories were. One thing that ran like a golden thread through all of those tales was the fact that Syrian women apparently are very subtle, creative and perceptive when it comes to achieve their goals. They were all clever and no matter in which kind of situation they were, they always knew how to deal with it.
Sometimes my heart broke for those women and I just wanted to give them a good hug, at other times I had a smile on my face and couldn’t help but laugh about their smartness.
This collection does a marvellous job at showing that not everything is black or white and that there are many different shades of grey to every culture and its people. The respect and love some of those husbands and men showed their wives was beautiful to witness and made the stories that dealt with domestic violence even more grave and intense. As someone who comes from Europe I had trouble to understand the patriarchal structure and society of Syria though. So I guess that might be the reason why I sometimes wasn’t able to relate to some of the stories. I’m always ready to learn about other cultures though and I think to read this book really helped me to do just that!
All told I think Anna Halabi captured the different nuances of Syrian culture really well and it was a pleasure to read those short stories. If you want to get a wide-ranging and unbiased look at Syrian culture this might be the right book for you! =)
_________________________
It might have taken me an entire year to get here but I finally got to your book, Anna! =)
I’m sorry it took me so long but the backlog of my review copies and ARCs is kinda huge. *facepalm*
I’m totally ready to tackle “Syrian Brides” now though!
I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures and a collection of short stories about Syrian women that are about to be married or already married sounds really interesting.
I have absolutely no idea what those stories will be about but I’m ready to find out. =)
This was a really interesting collection of short stories about Syrian women that are either getting married or have already been married for a while and even though I didn’t understand all of them it was great to get such a good glimpse at Syrian culture. I think to read those stories helped me to understand it a little bit better and I really liked how different all those stories were. One thing that ran like a golden thread through all of those tales was the fact that Syrian women apparently are very subtle, creative and perceptive when it comes to achieve their goals. They were all clever and no matter in which kind of situation they were, they always knew how to deal with it.
Sometimes my heart broke for those women and I just wanted to give them a good hug, at other times I had a smile on my face and couldn’t help but laugh about their smartness.
This collection does a marvellous job at showing that not everything is black or white and that there are many different shades of grey to every culture and its people. The respect and love some of those husbands and men showed their wives was beautiful to witness and made the stories that dealt with domestic violence even more grave and intense. As someone who comes from Europe I had trouble to understand the patriarchal structure and society of Syria though. So I guess that might be the reason why I sometimes wasn’t able to relate to some of the stories. I’m always ready to learn about other cultures though and I think to read this book really helped me to do just that!
All told I think Anna Halabi captured the different nuances of Syrian culture really well and it was a pleasure to read those short stories. If you want to get a wide-ranging and unbiased look at Syrian culture this might be the right book for you! =)
_________________________
It might have taken me an entire year to get here but I finally got to your book, Anna! =)
I’m sorry it took me so long but the backlog of my review copies and ARCs is kinda huge. *facepalm*
I’m totally ready to tackle “Syrian Brides” now though!
I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures and a collection of short stories about Syrian women that are about to be married or already married sounds really interesting.
I have absolutely no idea what those stories will be about but I’m ready to find out. =)
June 18, 2019
Between 3 and 4 stars, closer to the 4
The author sent me this book in exchange for a honest review.
This is a collection of short stories about Syrian women and their relationship with their husbands.
Some of the stories simply give the reader an impression how life in Aleppo could look like (the stories are set in a time before the war), some stories are just funny and entertaining, but all of them include an unxpected twist. You find here every kind of woman from the skillful thief and swindler, using the system to her advantage, to the opressed and abused young wife who finds a way to liberate herself to the young wife who eventually starts loving her fomerly detested mother-in-law.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It made me smile and even laugh out loud. Some of the stories made me even quite angry. But the most important impact these stories had on me, was to see how restricted women in very patriarchalic societies sometimes live. And still they find a way to cope with it.
For someone without much of an idea about how life in Syria looked like for a woman, these stories were very educational and interesting. Also the writing was smooth and very pleasant to read.
The author sent me this book in exchange for a honest review.
This is a collection of short stories about Syrian women and their relationship with their husbands.
Some of the stories simply give the reader an impression how life in Aleppo could look like (the stories are set in a time before the war), some stories are just funny and entertaining, but all of them include an unxpected twist. You find here every kind of woman from the skillful thief and swindler, using the system to her advantage, to the opressed and abused young wife who finds a way to liberate herself to the young wife who eventually starts loving her fomerly detested mother-in-law.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It made me smile and even laugh out loud. Some of the stories made me even quite angry. But the most important impact these stories had on me, was to see how restricted women in very patriarchalic societies sometimes live. And still they find a way to cope with it.
For someone without much of an idea about how life in Syria looked like for a woman, these stories were very educational and interesting. Also the writing was smooth and very pleasant to read.
July 12, 2023
3 1/2.
February 17, 2020
"For all the strong Syrian women, enduring battles- at home and at war in their homeland".
Syrian Brides by Anna Halabi
This book is utterly delightful.
As others have said, this is a full length book with a collection of short stories about Syrian Brides. The stories..all of them..are exceptional. You can read this at your leisure or more likely gobble it up in one sitting.
The stories vary greatly. Some are biting, some are poignant, some are just plain hysterical but what all of them have in common are that they are all powerful. And so well written.
There is not one story I did not appreciate. A few frustrated me because I wanted more! This happens to me so often with short stories. I just want them to be longer!
This is particularly true in my personal favorite..The Bride's maid.
Purely Hilarious..The Counterfeit Bride..
That could easily be a full length book. In fact all of them could.
Irony plays a huge role in this book in many of the stories..so if you are one for irony as I am it is all over the pages here and you will have a field day reading these stories.
In addition, they give me insight into another culture and how they live and that is always a great thing.
I would recommend this book highly and thank you Sandra as I found it through you.
Syrian Brides by Anna Halabi
This book is utterly delightful.
As others have said, this is a full length book with a collection of short stories about Syrian Brides. The stories..all of them..are exceptional. You can read this at your leisure or more likely gobble it up in one sitting.
The stories vary greatly. Some are biting, some are poignant, some are just plain hysterical but what all of them have in common are that they are all powerful. And so well written.
There is not one story I did not appreciate. A few frustrated me because I wanted more! This happens to me so often with short stories. I just want them to be longer!
This is particularly true in my personal favorite..The Bride's maid.
Purely Hilarious..The Counterfeit Bride..
That could easily be a full length book. In fact all of them could.
Irony plays a huge role in this book in many of the stories..so if you are one for irony as I am it is all over the pages here and you will have a field day reading these stories.
In addition, they give me insight into another culture and how they live and that is always a great thing.
I would recommend this book highly and thank you Sandra as I found it through you.
October 29, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to Anna Halabi for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Anna Halabi recently contacted me, asking if I would read and review her collection of short stories set in her homeland of Syria. Creating a collection on the theme of love and marriage, Halabi has pulled together fourteen tales that depict Syrian life and values. Some are amusing, like the young bride who tries to cash in on a rich, elderly husband, while others show a deeper sense of angst in the household, such as the woman who is forced to play mind games with a greedy and disrespectful husband. The reader travels through these pieces, each of which can stand on their own, while learning a little more about the regional culture and the nuances of love than transcend race, religion, or socio-economic situation. Halabi comes at the theme from a number of angles, each of which differs from the others, while weaving in a proverb that precedes each story. This approach is not only entertaining, but helps the reader to see the goal of the story and what message the author might be trying to portray. Marriage need not be perfect, but it also need not be entirely serious, as Halabi seeks to explain to the reader who makes their way through the entire collection. Recommended to those who love short stories to pass the time, as well as the reader whose interest in other cultures is piqued by reading.
While the world has been hearing so much about Syria, little can be called uplifting or highly promising. That being said, Halabi, who left the country for Europe two decades ago, brings a lighter spin on the region with this collection. While I am no expert, I felt a better understanding of Syrian culture and views on marriage, love, and the connection to Allah when reading these fourteen stories. Halabi chooses a vast array of characters to tell the story of Syria and its views, some of whom are less than grounded in stern values, while others hold what the Western World might call ‘traditional views’. The stories are well-written and keep the reader guessing as to how they will tie-in to the proverbs offered before each. There is also a highly entertaining factor in that some have twists I did not see coming, while others delivered the precise punch to the gut one might expect. Halabi fills each story with regional slang and items—worry not, there are endnotes to explain them—which adds another layer of authenticity to the pieces. I almost felt as though I were a fly on the wall at times, as the banter and dialogue was seamless and appeared to come from actual events. While some may feel the stories offer too much in regards to strict Islamic adherence, I feel this added to the experience, by contrasting with much of what I am used to in my own personal and romantic relationships. Halabi has created an easy to comprehend and quick to devour collection, perfect for an afternoon in the sun, or around a crackling fire... or anywhere else the reader chooses to relax. A must-read for those who want a break from the everyday fluff that fills bookshelves.
Kudos, Madam Halabi, for delivering a winner with these pieces. I hope you have more to offer, as I was delighted with reading these short stories.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Anna Halabi recently contacted me, asking if I would read and review her collection of short stories set in her homeland of Syria. Creating a collection on the theme of love and marriage, Halabi has pulled together fourteen tales that depict Syrian life and values. Some are amusing, like the young bride who tries to cash in on a rich, elderly husband, while others show a deeper sense of angst in the household, such as the woman who is forced to play mind games with a greedy and disrespectful husband. The reader travels through these pieces, each of which can stand on their own, while learning a little more about the regional culture and the nuances of love than transcend race, religion, or socio-economic situation. Halabi comes at the theme from a number of angles, each of which differs from the others, while weaving in a proverb that precedes each story. This approach is not only entertaining, but helps the reader to see the goal of the story and what message the author might be trying to portray. Marriage need not be perfect, but it also need not be entirely serious, as Halabi seeks to explain to the reader who makes their way through the entire collection. Recommended to those who love short stories to pass the time, as well as the reader whose interest in other cultures is piqued by reading.
While the world has been hearing so much about Syria, little can be called uplifting or highly promising. That being said, Halabi, who left the country for Europe two decades ago, brings a lighter spin on the region with this collection. While I am no expert, I felt a better understanding of Syrian culture and views on marriage, love, and the connection to Allah when reading these fourteen stories. Halabi chooses a vast array of characters to tell the story of Syria and its views, some of whom are less than grounded in stern values, while others hold what the Western World might call ‘traditional views’. The stories are well-written and keep the reader guessing as to how they will tie-in to the proverbs offered before each. There is also a highly entertaining factor in that some have twists I did not see coming, while others delivered the precise punch to the gut one might expect. Halabi fills each story with regional slang and items—worry not, there are endnotes to explain them—which adds another layer of authenticity to the pieces. I almost felt as though I were a fly on the wall at times, as the banter and dialogue was seamless and appeared to come from actual events. While some may feel the stories offer too much in regards to strict Islamic adherence, I feel this added to the experience, by contrasting with much of what I am used to in my own personal and romantic relationships. Halabi has created an easy to comprehend and quick to devour collection, perfect for an afternoon in the sun, or around a crackling fire... or anywhere else the reader chooses to relax. A must-read for those who want a break from the everyday fluff that fills bookshelves.
Kudos, Madam Halabi, for delivering a winner with these pieces. I hope you have more to offer, as I was delighted with reading these short stories.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
December 6, 2019
3.5⭐
This collection started with the weakest of Ms Halabi's short stories - Nobody's Bride- which if I was rating individually I would have at 2⭐ and was followed by the strongest - The Groom's Miracle. I really didn't predict where this slyly funny short story was going and for me it was an easy 5⭐.
Most of the other short stories would have come in at about 3 or 3.5⭐ (except for The Old Groom - that was predictable & silly. And I found The Counterfeit Bride 4⭐ worth of funny!)As another reviewer has pointed out, the tone is a lot like fables we read at school. They are good moral stories,but there is a certain "samey" tone to Ms Halabi's work. I would recommend spacing the reads out.
This does sound quite critical,but i am envious of Anna Halabi's ability to write in a language that is not her mother tongue. And the cover of my edition is gorgeous!
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author and she was happy for me to share my honest opinion of it.
This collection started with the weakest of Ms Halabi's short stories - Nobody's Bride- which if I was rating individually I would have at 2⭐ and was followed by the strongest - The Groom's Miracle. I really didn't predict where this slyly funny short story was going and for me it was an easy 5⭐.
Most of the other short stories would have come in at about 3 or 3.5⭐ (except for The Old Groom - that was predictable & silly. And I found The Counterfeit Bride 4⭐ worth of funny!)As another reviewer has pointed out, the tone is a lot like fables we read at school. They are good moral stories,but there is a certain "samey" tone to Ms Halabi's work. I would recommend spacing the reads out.
This does sound quite critical,but i am envious of Anna Halabi's ability to write in a language that is not her mother tongue. And the cover of my edition is gorgeous!
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author and she was happy for me to share my honest opinion of it.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
April 22, 2021
This is a fascinating collection of short stories that are easy to read, and provide a cultural education of this society with patriarchal dominance and oppression. There are no filler stories all are worthy of a place in this book. Lots of wonderful descriptions, that invite you into the intimacy of the homes of the various characters, all of them married women or brides to be, living in Syria. I loved the opportunity to see through the eyes of another, into a different world. Beautifully written with breath taking characters
There is much to smile about in this collection of short stories (Parables?). One of my favourites is the story where an abused wife tricks her husband by way of 7 fish and 7 watermelons, I won’t say any more at the risk of giving away any spoilers. Let’s just say it was quite an ingenious little plot.
A very different genre to my usual. An interesting and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
There is much to smile about in this collection of short stories (Parables?). One of my favourites is the story where an abused wife tricks her husband by way of 7 fish and 7 watermelons, I won’t say any more at the risk of giving away any spoilers. Let’s just say it was quite an ingenious little plot.
A very different genre to my usual. An interesting and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
August 7, 2019
This book was given to me in exchange for a honest book review.
.
My thoughts:
These were short stories, but done in more of a style of a parable and not every story has its niceties, some have the woman being battered and slapped at, but I feel this is necessary in this type of story telling to see how strong these woman are to get beyond it all.... some are actually quite hilarious and I had quite a few LOL moments, and some I just adored the ingenious of the author and her creativity.... what comes to mind is the watermelon and fish incident.
.
There is also another side to these stories, I found. I was drawn into the story of how Syrians live, the custom and the culture. The author herself writes in such a friendly tone, that you right away feel quite comfortable in reading. I also liked the fact that, there were footnotes on the pages, so I could refer to the bits and pieces of the cultural words. It gave me more of an understanding of Syrian culture and lifestyle. This book was quite an educational tool for me, not only did I learn more about the different foods, but I searched on Google maps to see where Syria is, I found it really facinating.
.
This book comes highly recommended by me, I'm giving it 5 stars. I do think the mature person would find this more of a treasure to read, where most would understand the situations these females would be in. For me it was an understanding of the situations and I empathised with the woman characters.... so in saying that, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about Syria, the life, the food, their customs, etc. To anyone who likes short stories. To anyone who likes females as strong characters and anyone who has an understanding of what male domination is all about.
.
I would like to sincerely thank Anna Halabi, for letting me read her book free of charge.
.
My thoughts:
These were short stories, but done in more of a style of a parable and not every story has its niceties, some have the woman being battered and slapped at, but I feel this is necessary in this type of story telling to see how strong these woman are to get beyond it all.... some are actually quite hilarious and I had quite a few LOL moments, and some I just adored the ingenious of the author and her creativity.... what comes to mind is the watermelon and fish incident.
.
There is also another side to these stories, I found. I was drawn into the story of how Syrians live, the custom and the culture. The author herself writes in such a friendly tone, that you right away feel quite comfortable in reading. I also liked the fact that, there were footnotes on the pages, so I could refer to the bits and pieces of the cultural words. It gave me more of an understanding of Syrian culture and lifestyle. This book was quite an educational tool for me, not only did I learn more about the different foods, but I searched on Google maps to see where Syria is, I found it really facinating.
.
This book comes highly recommended by me, I'm giving it 5 stars. I do think the mature person would find this more of a treasure to read, where most would understand the situations these females would be in. For me it was an understanding of the situations and I empathised with the woman characters.... so in saying that, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about Syria, the life, the food, their customs, etc. To anyone who likes short stories. To anyone who likes females as strong characters and anyone who has an understanding of what male domination is all about.
.
I would like to sincerely thank Anna Halabi, for letting me read her book free of charge.
June 17, 2020
I loved the stories in this book! They made me laugh and cry... and feel nostalgic and dream of my homeland. Lovely, well-written stories about empowered and creative women!
December 5, 2019
4.5 STARS ★★★★✬
⤐ Overall.
This and many other proverbs are excellently narrated in diverse and touching stories that depict the lives of Syrian women. With collections of short stories you never quite know what you're in for but having read the many approving reviews full of praise I guessed I was in for an educational and enjoyable ride. I was not wrong.
In her many stories, Anna expertly manages to convey lessons to the reader, not only about life in Syria but also life in general. I read between one and three stories a day which was just the perfect pace to go. Since I usually don't pick up short stories, I highly doubted just zooming through them all would benefit my reading experience. Accompanying the many women (and men) performing their daily tasks, negotiating with discussion partners and tricking their opponents was a memorable experience that I can recommend to anyone who enjoys reads that are set outside the white, eurocentric point of view.
Characters. Obviously, there was a great diversity due to the many characters we meet in this little book. To some we can relate, others we hate. There are those we pity and those we envy. Put together, this proved to be emotionally engaging and sobering both at the same time.
World(-building). If the picture in your head falls into place easily, you know the author's doing a good job. It was mainly the dialogues that drove the plots and they were easy to follow and full of humour, sarcasm and wit. I loved it.
The arch of suspense. Almost all of the stories were captivating and exciting. I didn't enjoy one or two of them because they were boring and the ending was obvious.
_____________________
writing quality + easy of reading = 5*
pace = 4*
plot/story in general = 5*
plot development = 4*
characters = 4*
enjoyability = 4*
insightfulness = 5*
_____________________
Many thanks to the author Anna Halabi, who provided me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
This book is for… short-story enthusiasts (or all who want to become one) that would like to gain perspective on the lives of Syrian women and some daily struggles we can all relate to (monstersmothers in law, for instance).
⤐ Overall.
‘If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow.’
This and many other proverbs are excellently narrated in diverse and touching stories that depict the lives of Syrian women. With collections of short stories you never quite know what you're in for but having read the many approving reviews full of praise I guessed I was in for an educational and enjoyable ride. I was not wrong.
In her many stories, Anna expertly manages to convey lessons to the reader, not only about life in Syria but also life in general. I read between one and three stories a day which was just the perfect pace to go. Since I usually don't pick up short stories, I highly doubted just zooming through them all would benefit my reading experience. Accompanying the many women (and men) performing their daily tasks, negotiating with discussion partners and tricking their opponents was a memorable experience that I can recommend to anyone who enjoys reads that are set outside the white, eurocentric point of view.
Characters. Obviously, there was a great diversity due to the many characters we meet in this little book. To some we can relate, others we hate. There are those we pity and those we envy. Put together, this proved to be emotionally engaging and sobering both at the same time.
World(-building). If the picture in your head falls into place easily, you know the author's doing a good job. It was mainly the dialogues that drove the plots and they were easy to follow and full of humour, sarcasm and wit. I loved it.
The arch of suspense. Almost all of the stories were captivating and exciting. I didn't enjoy one or two of them because they were boring and the ending was obvious.
_____________________
writing quality + easy of reading = 5*
pace = 4*
plot/story in general = 5*
plot development = 4*
characters = 4*
enjoyability = 4*
insightfulness = 5*
_____________________
Many thanks to the author Anna Halabi, who provided me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Disclaimer: I have received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Syrian Brides is a collection of short stories centred around married life in Syria (before the war). In quick, skilful strokes Halabi sketches out the intricacies of marriage for men and women, young and old. There is the story of the woman who cheekily takes in two gullible store owners and manages to get away with a hundred thousand liras worth of jewellery. The woman who uses cunning to cure her husband of his fondness for his late wife. The unreflective young wife who schemes to kill her insufferable mother-in-law only to find that a little flattery goes a long way. Most worryingly, the woman who endures severe abuse by her husband, yet finds a way to get him detained for mental disorder.
The strong point of the book is the liveliness with which the characters are sketched. Although the stories are very short, the reader gets a very clear sense of who these people are and how they relate to each other. Social issues are touched on without being forced upon you; it is clear, for instance, that this is not an equal society for men and women. Quite often, women cannot ask directly for what they want/need, but have to initiate an elaborate negotiation based on insinuation, flattery and ego-boosting to get their husband to agree, for example, to hire domestic help. This indirectness punctuates all relationships in the book, including relationships between women. A woman who goes out on a social visit will be complimented upon, offered tea or coffee, but the ensuing discussion will be a navigation in rocky waters where one never says directly what one thinks. I have to say I found this social etiquette disconcerting; if there is no frankness between couples or friends, how can one lead a life of authenticity?
One the minus side, I found some of the female characters in the book quite shallow. For example, there is the woman who colours her hair, wears eye contacts and has a job done to her nose to satisfy her husband’s requirements for Western-type female beauty. Yet, when the husband finds out her blue eyes and blonde hair are not real, she can’t see what the problem is. Some of the stories reminded me of Aesop’s fables where each story has to have a moral. This is accentuated by the presence of a brief saying at the end of each story. Unfortunately, I struggled to understand how some of these sayings related to the story, and wondered whether Halabi was perpetuating traditional views about gender roles or trying to debunk them. In one of the stories a wealthy 97-year-old man agrees to marry a 20-year-old who convinces him she has no interest in his money. The man uses a trick to verify the young woman’s intentions and drives her out of the house in rage. But the story goes no deeper than that; who’s more to blame here, the young woman who tried to dupe a foolish wealthy man or the man for believing a 20-year-old could develop a romantic interest in him?
Overall, I thought that this was a good first collection. I would like to see Halabi develop her writing style and themes in her new work. I’m aware that a second book has come out and I am going to check it out. I also think that she needs to deepen her engagement, sharpen her social gaze and perhaps extend her pool of characters. It’s a good time for Syrian writing (even though this is unfortunately premised on an extremely damaging and traumatic civil war), and I would like to see Halabi grow and succeed.
Disclaimer: I have received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Syrian Brides is a collection of short stories centred around married life in Syria (before the war). In quick, skilful strokes Halabi sketches out the intricacies of marriage for men and women, young and old. There is the story of the woman who cheekily takes in two gullible store owners and manages to get away with a hundred thousand liras worth of jewellery. The woman who uses cunning to cure her husband of his fondness for his late wife. The unreflective young wife who schemes to kill her insufferable mother-in-law only to find that a little flattery goes a long way. Most worryingly, the woman who endures severe abuse by her husband, yet finds a way to get him detained for mental disorder.
The strong point of the book is the liveliness with which the characters are sketched. Although the stories are very short, the reader gets a very clear sense of who these people are and how they relate to each other. Social issues are touched on without being forced upon you; it is clear, for instance, that this is not an equal society for men and women. Quite often, women cannot ask directly for what they want/need, but have to initiate an elaborate negotiation based on insinuation, flattery and ego-boosting to get their husband to agree, for example, to hire domestic help. This indirectness punctuates all relationships in the book, including relationships between women. A woman who goes out on a social visit will be complimented upon, offered tea or coffee, but the ensuing discussion will be a navigation in rocky waters where one never says directly what one thinks. I have to say I found this social etiquette disconcerting; if there is no frankness between couples or friends, how can one lead a life of authenticity?
One the minus side, I found some of the female characters in the book quite shallow. For example, there is the woman who colours her hair, wears eye contacts and has a job done to her nose to satisfy her husband’s requirements for Western-type female beauty. Yet, when the husband finds out her blue eyes and blonde hair are not real, she can’t see what the problem is. Some of the stories reminded me of Aesop’s fables where each story has to have a moral. This is accentuated by the presence of a brief saying at the end of each story. Unfortunately, I struggled to understand how some of these sayings related to the story, and wondered whether Halabi was perpetuating traditional views about gender roles or trying to debunk them. In one of the stories a wealthy 97-year-old man agrees to marry a 20-year-old who convinces him she has no interest in his money. The man uses a trick to verify the young woman’s intentions and drives her out of the house in rage. But the story goes no deeper than that; who’s more to blame here, the young woman who tried to dupe a foolish wealthy man or the man for believing a 20-year-old could develop a romantic interest in him?
Overall, I thought that this was a good first collection. I would like to see Halabi develop her writing style and themes in her new work. I’m aware that a second book has come out and I am going to check it out. I also think that she needs to deepen her engagement, sharpen her social gaze and perhaps extend her pool of characters. It’s a good time for Syrian writing (even though this is unfortunately premised on an extremely damaging and traumatic civil war), and I would like to see Halabi grow and succeed.
April 9, 2020
What a delightful and entertaining book "Syrian Brides" was for me. Loosely based on the author's or friends' experiences, this book was a collection of short stories. Some were amusing, some enlightening, and some just outright made you mad. This author, Anna, is witty, cleaver, and for lack of a better word, innocent. I just hope living in the West doesn't tarnish her, Allah be praised, inner beauty and soul.
The author sent me this book for an honest review.
"Her face wrinkled like a raisin in dismay." That was just one of the metaphors that stuck in my mind. Several comical ones were descriptions characters gave when describing each other.
Yes, I enjoyed the stories, and I learned a lot about Syrian and Muslim beliefs, values, morals, and culture. Family ties are strong, though females are expected to be subservient to their husbands, not matter how much of a dick they are. Beating a wife seems to be accepted by some, even if Allah forbids it. Women have to cover up least they tempt a man. In other words, she is a whore if she dresses that shows any leg or skin, but the guy can't help it (and is excused) if he wants to chase her like a buck chasing a doe. Strong feelings about religion dominate Muslim life. It seems they 'praise Allah' every so often in a conversation. When I stated it above it was, I hope, as a nice gesture to Anna. In the story, however, you can have a guy hit his wife, call her a whore, and use that phrase in the same breath. Any Muslim who does that is no better than those Pharisees and Scribes whom Jesus pointed out as hypocrites.
Most stories centered around brides before or shortly after marriage. It is funny that the male characters wanted beautiful wives (you can have four). Blond hair, blue eyed women were fashionable. Just don't bring your silly western habits and ideas of equality. The women wanted rich husbands. Professional matchmakers are hired to do this. I knew one young lady here in America who was either Muslim or Hindu. Her family had money. The matchmaker found candidates that were acceptable to mom and dad. She at least got to chose from photographs and was going to meet him at the wedding. He would then go back to school and she would come back to work. Like the song, "What's love got to do with it?"
Overall, I really enjoyed the stories and I am so glad that I got to read them. I would highly recommend Anna's book to any reading my review.
The author sent me this book for an honest review.
"Her face wrinkled like a raisin in dismay." That was just one of the metaphors that stuck in my mind. Several comical ones were descriptions characters gave when describing each other.
Yes, I enjoyed the stories, and I learned a lot about Syrian and Muslim beliefs, values, morals, and culture. Family ties are strong, though females are expected to be subservient to their husbands, not matter how much of a dick they are. Beating a wife seems to be accepted by some, even if Allah forbids it. Women have to cover up least they tempt a man. In other words, she is a whore if she dresses that shows any leg or skin, but the guy can't help it (and is excused) if he wants to chase her like a buck chasing a doe. Strong feelings about religion dominate Muslim life. It seems they 'praise Allah' every so often in a conversation. When I stated it above it was, I hope, as a nice gesture to Anna. In the story, however, you can have a guy hit his wife, call her a whore, and use that phrase in the same breath. Any Muslim who does that is no better than those Pharisees and Scribes whom Jesus pointed out as hypocrites.
Most stories centered around brides before or shortly after marriage. It is funny that the male characters wanted beautiful wives (you can have four). Blond hair, blue eyed women were fashionable. Just don't bring your silly western habits and ideas of equality. The women wanted rich husbands. Professional matchmakers are hired to do this. I knew one young lady here in America who was either Muslim or Hindu. Her family had money. The matchmaker found candidates that were acceptable to mom and dad. She at least got to chose from photographs and was going to meet him at the wedding. He would then go back to school and she would come back to work. Like the song, "What's love got to do with it?"
Overall, I really enjoyed the stories and I am so glad that I got to read them. I would highly recommend Anna's book to any reading my review.
June 21, 2020
Humorous to horrifying, this is a page-turner. I'm not a big short story fan overall, but these vignettes read like satisfying Aesop's Fables, with many all-too familiar scenarios that draw you in and leave you with the perfectly placed endings.
February 11, 2019
Syrian Brides is a collection of short stories about the everyday life of women in Syria.
I really enjoyed "Nobody’s Bride". It was hilarious story about a woman tricking two business men. In fact, each one of the stories has hints of comedy, revealing the culture and social manners of Syrian men and women.
All of these stories are short and many read like they were told at a hairdresser's salon or at a tea party.
I highly recommend it! It's definitely five stars from me!
I really enjoyed "Nobody’s Bride". It was hilarious story about a woman tricking two business men. In fact, each one of the stories has hints of comedy, revealing the culture and social manners of Syrian men and women.
All of these stories are short and many read like they were told at a hairdresser's salon or at a tea party.
I highly recommend it! It's definitely five stars from me!
August 17, 2019
This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷
Book provided by the author in exchange of an honest review!
🌟 So this is an anthology of stories about brides and newly married women. I am not the biggest fan of short stories as I feel like always lack the proper story development. The good thing about this book that is I did not feel that, I was not confused, I could relate more to the characters and maybe that stems from my background as an Arabic guy!
🌟 Those stories kind of reminded me of the short stories we had in our school Arabic books, they are meant to be taken lightly, not too serious and sometimes there is a moral behind the story. My problem is that I am a hard to please guy and that growing up I was never a fan of those stories so you will probably like this more than I do and nothing is personal!
🌟 What came to my attention is that some of those stories felt unreal to me although the author's note says they are stories of people she does know so you really never know! Like the story were the wife told her husband to hit her and prior to that the way he described what he did felt unrealistic to me, see this quote and tell me if men talk like this:
“I made mloukhieh[71] and rice. Your favorite,” he said nervously, trying to fill the silence. “The laundry is ironed and folded. I helped the boys wash up and tucked them into bed. They finished all their homework, ate their dinner and watched TV for only half an hour. Not a minute more. I promise.”
🌟 I don't want to discuss each story by itself but some stories were better than the others! One story showed some racism not from the author but from the characters which is realistic specially to servants in the Arab world but I wish it was handled a bit more carefully and the closure was better in that story!
🌟 Summary: So this is a collection of short stories about Brides and it is just that, not less and not more! I think they should be taken lightly and not over-analyzed. If you are curious about marriage in the Arab world then this is a recommended read. I also liked that the Arabic worlds were used only were necessary and were an alternative wouldn't have conveyed the same meaning.
you can get more books from here: Book Depository
Book provided by the author in exchange of an honest review!
🌟 So this is an anthology of stories about brides and newly married women. I am not the biggest fan of short stories as I feel like always lack the proper story development. The good thing about this book that is I did not feel that, I was not confused, I could relate more to the characters and maybe that stems from my background as an Arabic guy!
🌟 Those stories kind of reminded me of the short stories we had in our school Arabic books, they are meant to be taken lightly, not too serious and sometimes there is a moral behind the story. My problem is that I am a hard to please guy and that growing up I was never a fan of those stories so you will probably like this more than I do and nothing is personal!
🌟 What came to my attention is that some of those stories felt unreal to me although the author's note says they are stories of people she does know so you really never know! Like the story were the wife told her husband to hit her and prior to that the way he described what he did felt unrealistic to me, see this quote and tell me if men talk like this:
“I made mloukhieh[71] and rice. Your favorite,” he said nervously, trying to fill the silence. “The laundry is ironed and folded. I helped the boys wash up and tucked them into bed. They finished all their homework, ate their dinner and watched TV for only half an hour. Not a minute more. I promise.”
🌟 I don't want to discuss each story by itself but some stories were better than the others! One story showed some racism not from the author but from the characters which is realistic specially to servants in the Arab world but I wish it was handled a bit more carefully and the closure was better in that story!
🌟 Summary: So this is a collection of short stories about Brides and it is just that, not less and not more! I think they should be taken lightly and not over-analyzed. If you are curious about marriage in the Arab world then this is a recommended read. I also liked that the Arabic worlds were used only were necessary and were an alternative wouldn't have conveyed the same meaning.
you can get more books from here: Book Depository
December 18, 2019
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Genre:
Contemporary + Cultural + Short Stories
I usually do not tend to enjoy short stories and that is mainly due because the words become limited to give a good description of the settings or the characters. Most of the time short stories make me feel underwhelmed and want more. Fortunately, that was not the case with Syrian Brides! Yes, I wanted more too but the case here is similar to when you eat something sweet and you want more!
This book and those stories just took me to the beautiful culture of Syria. How people behave there, the way they live, communicate with each other and their food! If you are going to read this book be sure that your mouth will water. Like how food and dishes are an important part of the Syrian culture they are a big part of the stories in this book too! With the first story in the book starting with the mention of maamoul!
Again usually with short stories books as a reader, I tend to like some of the stories more than the others. Surprisingly, I loved them all in Syrian Brides. They were like different types of sweets that I enjoyed having each. Every story had a different taste and maintained its own identity
Being set in Syria one has to expect that all the stories have the Syrian humor. Yes, there are certain universal life lessons from each one of them and some even go on to talk about domestic violence and the relationship between the house members like between the bride and the mother in law but there is also that Syrian humorous way of looking at life that I think every reader will enjoy to read and experience.
If you are looking to read short stories I highly recommend picking up Syrian Brides. Very nicely written, lots of humor and lessons and excellent to know and understand the beautiful Syrian culture. I am giving it a strong 4.0 stars out of 5.0. Highly enjoyable!
Many thanks to the author Anna Halabi for providing me with a free digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
August 3, 2020
I LOVE THIS BOOK! It was hilarious! A set of short stories about strong and smart women tricking their men! They show what life in Syria was like before the war broke out. The sarcastic tone highlights the cliches about Arabs and Syrians. Amazing!
April 28, 2020
I'm a hard sell on short story collections purely because I love a book the size of a brick with a ton of character development which results in my not bonding with short stories so well. I'm also a harder sell on books like this, I've been flip flopping around the Middle East for so long it takes a lot for a book like this to catch my attention when the world around me is so vivid.
The first story had me laughing my head off for so many reasons. It's really short as most in this book are and it's just genius. The way the author has used the least amount of words needed for full impact is not a Middle Eastern skill (we talk A LOT in this part of the world and it can take us a while to get to the point) so I wasn't surprised to read that although she is Syrian she now lives in Germany which you can tell by her short, sharp and with a point sentences.
Theres a lot of humour here tied in with the moral of the stories. I felt that there was a fairly good range of women represented rather than just the typical downtrodden Middle Eastern women that gets carted into every plot line.
A decent coffee break read.
The first story had me laughing my head off for so many reasons. It's really short as most in this book are and it's just genius. The way the author has used the least amount of words needed for full impact is not a Middle Eastern skill (we talk A LOT in this part of the world and it can take us a while to get to the point) so I wasn't surprised to read that although she is Syrian she now lives in Germany which you can tell by her short, sharp and with a point sentences.
Theres a lot of humour here tied in with the moral of the stories. I felt that there was a fairly good range of women represented rather than just the typical downtrodden Middle Eastern women that gets carted into every plot line.
A decent coffee break read.
February 19, 2019
Eleven brilliant short stories which revolve around Syrian culture, customs and religion. Serious themes containing elements of humour reminded me of cautionary folk tales or fables. They draw from the way of life for many Syrians, but like parables, they contain universal truths. The stories emphasized the oppression of women by brutal or callous men. Some family disharmony and beliefs were painful to contemplate but contained sly humour. I liked the stories best where clever women secretly took revenge on their men. My favourite was The Groom’s Miracle. I enjoyed how the writing followed the rhythm of the Syrian speech patterns and their expressions, and that unfamiliar words were translated for the reader.
I felt that the author has more wonderful stories to tell, and hopes that she continues writing.
I felt that the author has more wonderful stories to tell, and hopes that she continues writing.
April 15, 2020
A great collection of short stories, every one of which you feel deeply, with their different emotions and events of women in Syria. Brides, soon-to be brides, their relationships with love, heartbreak and horror..Some live incredible lives, others find sadness and fear, but each story affected me in some way.
Each story has it's own voice, not one should be missed, as we come to know life in Syria. Harsh, romantic, funny and some hauntingly beautiful.I received a copy of this book from the author, and thank her for such an emotional look into a life I had no knowledge of. I truly appreciate her writing style, and recommend it to be read by All. At least one story will say something to you, for women Everywhere are not that different.
A 5 STAR collection that will make you laugh, cry, fear and struggle as you are taken through situations you probably have never experienced in your own life...
Each story has it's own voice, not one should be missed, as we come to know life in Syria. Harsh, romantic, funny and some hauntingly beautiful.I received a copy of this book from the author, and thank her for such an emotional look into a life I had no knowledge of. I truly appreciate her writing style, and recommend it to be read by All. At least one story will say something to you, for women Everywhere are not that different.
A 5 STAR collection that will make you laugh, cry, fear and struggle as you are taken through situations you probably have never experienced in your own life...
June 12, 2020
This book is a pearl! It is an impressive collection of short stories that give us an intimate look into the lives of the strong women in Syria.
Ms Halabi did an amazing job when it comes to the character development despite the brevity of her narratives. They are intense, comical and relatable.
Every story's plot has an unexpected twist or a lesson to be learned. Most were funny, some rather tragic.
My favorite would be "Nobody's Bride". I only understood what was going on at the very end and I burst out laughing. Just delicious, that story!
Ms Halabi did an amazing job when it comes to the character development despite the brevity of her narratives. They are intense, comical and relatable.
Every story's plot has an unexpected twist or a lesson to be learned. Most were funny, some rather tragic.
My favorite would be "Nobody's Bride". I only understood what was going on at the very end and I burst out laughing. Just delicious, that story!
April 6, 2021
EXCERPT: 'How much do I owe you for the ma'amoul?' she asked.
'No, nothing at all. The first order is on the house for new customers. It is tradition in my shop. So that we can have the pleasure of welcoming you here again. Ahlan wa Scanlan,' he said and smiled at her like a teenager with a crush.
The boy at the oven snorted loudly and smirked. His boss shot him a warning glare that sent him back to the counter in the back, where he slouched over the balls of dough and started kneading briskly.
'No, I can't possibly accept your generous offer, Abu Issam,' the young woman protested. 'Please let me pay for the ma'amoul. After all, we're neighbours, not strangers.'
ABOUT 'SYRIAN BRIDES': This collection of short stories offers insight into the lives of Syrian women, both the married and the brides-to-be. It reveals the warmth and humor as well as the oppression in the Syrian society. The stories make the reader laugh while addressing serious issues such as domestic violence.
Um Hussam can't find a suitable bride for her son, testing each candidate's sight, hearing and reading skills, occasionally cobbing a feel. Jamila's husband Hassan can't forget his deceased wife, until she makes sure he never mentions her again. Rami can't help but wonder whether his new bride is a natural beauty or a talented surgeon's masterpiece. Khadija's maid stabs her in the back while Rana's husband Muafak can't find the right excuse to avoid a fight.
MY THOUGHTS: I think that I am quite alone in my opinion of Syrian Brides. I struggled. I found this collection of short stories to be neither delightful, nor humorous. I wanted to give up, close the cover and move onto something else. But I persevered, hoping to find what so many other readers found to enjoy. I failed.
The ideas for the stories were mostly good, some very clever. But I struggled with the repetitive speech of the characters. I admire the intent of the author, and I can think of several of my friends who would enjoy this, but I am sorry, it's just not for me.
⭐⭐
#Syrian Brides
THE AUTHOR: Anna Halabi was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. She emigrated to Europe in 1999 for her university studies. She currently lives with her family in Germany.
Syrian Brides is her debut as an author. The stories and characters in this collection were inspired by her personal experiences as well as her relatives, friends and TV shows.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to author Anna Halabi for providing me with a digital copy of Syrian Brides for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'No, nothing at all. The first order is on the house for new customers. It is tradition in my shop. So that we can have the pleasure of welcoming you here again. Ahlan wa Scanlan,' he said and smiled at her like a teenager with a crush.
The boy at the oven snorted loudly and smirked. His boss shot him a warning glare that sent him back to the counter in the back, where he slouched over the balls of dough and started kneading briskly.
'No, I can't possibly accept your generous offer, Abu Issam,' the young woman protested. 'Please let me pay for the ma'amoul. After all, we're neighbours, not strangers.'
ABOUT 'SYRIAN BRIDES': This collection of short stories offers insight into the lives of Syrian women, both the married and the brides-to-be. It reveals the warmth and humor as well as the oppression in the Syrian society. The stories make the reader laugh while addressing serious issues such as domestic violence.
Um Hussam can't find a suitable bride for her son, testing each candidate's sight, hearing and reading skills, occasionally cobbing a feel. Jamila's husband Hassan can't forget his deceased wife, until she makes sure he never mentions her again. Rami can't help but wonder whether his new bride is a natural beauty or a talented surgeon's masterpiece. Khadija's maid stabs her in the back while Rana's husband Muafak can't find the right excuse to avoid a fight.
MY THOUGHTS: I think that I am quite alone in my opinion of Syrian Brides. I struggled. I found this collection of short stories to be neither delightful, nor humorous. I wanted to give up, close the cover and move onto something else. But I persevered, hoping to find what so many other readers found to enjoy. I failed.
The ideas for the stories were mostly good, some very clever. But I struggled with the repetitive speech of the characters. I admire the intent of the author, and I can think of several of my friends who would enjoy this, but I am sorry, it's just not for me.
⭐⭐
#Syrian Brides
THE AUTHOR: Anna Halabi was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. She emigrated to Europe in 1999 for her university studies. She currently lives with her family in Germany.
Syrian Brides is her debut as an author. The stories and characters in this collection were inspired by her personal experiences as well as her relatives, friends and TV shows.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to author Anna Halabi for providing me with a digital copy of Syrian Brides for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
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