What do you think?
Rate this book
Sweet Dates in Basra
“In this story of love and search for identity, Jessica Jiji succeeds fully in capturing passions, depth of feeling, and strong relationships beyond ethnic and religious differences.”
—Naim Kattan, author of Farewell Babylon
Jessica Jiji’s Sweet Dates in Basra is a compelling, poignant, and unforgettable tale of friendship and family, set in Iraq during the second world war. A dramatic departure from Jiji’s previous novel, Diamonds Take Forever, Sweet Dates in Basra brilliantly captures the atmosphere of a volatile Middle East during the previous century and pays tribute to the lost traditions of a once-idyllic world.
—Naim Kattan, author of Farewell Babylon
Jessica Jiji’s Sweet Dates in Basra is a compelling, poignant, and unforgettable tale of friendship and family, set in Iraq during the second world war. A dramatic departure from Jiji’s previous novel, Diamonds Take Forever, Sweet Dates in Basra brilliantly captures the atmosphere of a volatile Middle East during the previous century and pays tribute to the lost traditions of a once-idyllic world.
347 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2010
26 people are currently reading
891 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Jiji
5 books12 followersI. Love. Readers! You are part of an awesome tribe. And I am one of you. My mother always told me we could travel far with books. Long before there were virtual tours and Google Earth, she introduced me to books that transported me across seas and centuries. One of my favorites is “The Alexandria Quartet,” a set of four linked novels set in Egypt. If you haven’t read them, that’s at least one recommendation I can offer by way of thanks for visiting this website.
Like parents everywhere, my father used to tell me bedtime stories. Being Iraqi, he made up tales about a brave girl named Cassima. Instead of starting with “Once Upon a Time…” he would open with the line, “I was a cook for the Queen of Iraq…” The cook was never much good at fighting off bandits or protecting the palace but Cassima would swoop in and save the day. I was mesmerized.
Somewhere between being raised on the power of reading and those imaginative tales, I started writing. As a die-hard fan of rom-coms, I try to capture the heartache and the happiness, the meaning and the madness of life. Sometimes, I cross continents and decades to write about the Arabic culture I was raised to revere. Other times, I stick with here and now, where contemporary love meets timeless desire . Either way, it’s a journey we’re on together.
To readers everywhere, I offer my gratitude, solidarity and allegiance. You rock.
Like parents everywhere, my father used to tell me bedtime stories. Being Iraqi, he made up tales about a brave girl named Cassima. Instead of starting with “Once Upon a Time…” he would open with the line, “I was a cook for the Queen of Iraq…” The cook was never much good at fighting off bandits or protecting the palace but Cassima would swoop in and save the day. I was mesmerized.
Somewhere between being raised on the power of reading and those imaginative tales, I started writing. As a die-hard fan of rom-coms, I try to capture the heartache and the happiness, the meaning and the madness of life. Sometimes, I cross continents and decades to write about the Arabic culture I was raised to revere. Other times, I stick with here and now, where contemporary love meets timeless desire . Either way, it’s a journey we’re on together.
To readers everywhere, I offer my gratitude, solidarity and allegiance. You rock.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
March 19, 2019
Awkward writing and clunky dialog but still...an interesting story of Iraq in the 1940s based on the author's own family history. For more on the Jewish community in Iraq see this archive: https://www.ija.archives.gov/exhibit-...
April 15, 2010
Ah, perfection. Ms. Jiji has just about written the perfect book in my opinion. An engaging story, deftly written, in a country and culture far different from my own. So when turning the last page, I've been entertained; moved far afield from my present life; learned something about the world; learned something about another culture and people; and been given the gift of increased empathy and compassion where little previously existed.
Set in Iraq in the 1940's, this book has it all. Two young boys, almost like brothers, one Muslim and one Jewish. A British occupation. An impending Nazi occupation. An illicit love. Danger. It's just awesome. One thing I loved - and I don't think this is fiction, Ms. Jiji is herself Iraqi - was the relationship between religions. The Iraqi's didn't hate the British because they were Christian; they hated them because they were IMPERIALISTS. Today, we consider the clash of religion to be the Middle East's problem...and of course, some of it is. But I love the way she shows that it wasn't always necessarily so. These families with opposing religions would have killed for each other. They were countryment .
Don't look for a happy ending, though. This is 1940's Iraq -- if you want a pretty ending, all tied up in a bow, move along. Ms. Jiji is into declaring reality - and what a beauty it is. I hope to see a LOT more of her.
Set in Iraq in the 1940's, this book has it all. Two young boys, almost like brothers, one Muslim and one Jewish. A British occupation. An impending Nazi occupation. An illicit love. Danger. It's just awesome. One thing I loved - and I don't think this is fiction, Ms. Jiji is herself Iraqi - was the relationship between religions. The Iraqi's didn't hate the British because they were Christian; they hated them because they were IMPERIALISTS. Today, we consider the clash of religion to be the Middle East's problem...and of course, some of it is. But I love the way she shows that it wasn't always necessarily so. These families with opposing religions would have killed for each other. They were countryment .
Don't look for a happy ending, though. This is 1940's Iraq -- if you want a pretty ending, all tied up in a bow, move along. Ms. Jiji is into declaring reality - and what a beauty it is. I hope to see a LOT more of her.
February 15, 2025
(If you see some random books popping up in the future, it’s because I’m getting through the books on my shelf I’ve collected so I feel better about buying more books lol) anywayyy… books like these are cool because you get to immerse yourself in cultures you know relatively little about. That being said… nothing really happened?
July 1, 2010
Sweet Dates in Basra by Jessica Jiji takes you back in time to 1940s Iraq, at the height of World War II. We meet Kathmiya Mahmoud, a young Muslim girl from the marshes of Iraq, longs to be married. Marriage could lift her out of the poverty she has known since childhood. Despite her beauty, no one wants to marry Kathmiya, leading her to believe that she is cursed in some way. Her older sister Fatimah is allowed to get married, leading to internal jealous for Kathmiya. Her parents, Ali and Jamila, believe Kathmiya is destined to the life she is already living -- as a maid in Basra.
In Basra, Kathmiya is just another servant. A servant whom no one pays attention to except when they want their tea served. Only one person, Shafiq, a Jewish boy, takes the time out to notice Kathmiya. "That boy who had asked if she was okay was the only person in Basra to really look at Kathmiya, to see beyond whether or not she could iron shirts. Her longing, she told herself, was for the forbidden friendship that scared Jamila into violence but just for the simple chance to have a conversation." Anything beyond a few words between Kathmiya could be dangerous. She comes from another culture -- Midaan -- and a relationship between the two could prove deadly. She and Shafiq could be killed for "dishonoring" the family.
Before Shafiq became smitten with Kathmiya, his everyday life was an adventure with his best friend, Omar, who is also Muslim. During this era, such a friendship was considered taboo, but to the two boys they are brothers. A bond that stands up during a time of war. Omar's father dies, and Shafiq's father steps right in to provide financial support. Jewish people, their homes and businesses come under attack, and Omar's family opens their home to Shafiq's. Shafiq's brother Naji is suspected of supporting the Communist part, and Omar is still there providing support. When Shafiq is torn apart by his feelings for Kathmiya, Omar is right there.
The novel is told from Shafiq and Kathmiya's perspective. Kathmiya's mind is consumed with finding a husband and a life beyond poverty. It's all she can talk about with her mother, who is also a maid. From Kathmiya's perspective you would never know a war is going on. Perhaps that was Jiji's way of showing how differently men and women think. While Shafiq is completely in love Kathmiya, he is also more aware of the dangers in Iraq. He worries about his safety walking the streets, being accused of Zionism or if he can every escape Iraq. The romance, which is at the core of the novel, didn't grab me. Sometimes the romance felt very one-sided. Shafiq is the one who longs for Kathmiya, while she explores other options. She tells Shafiq to his face that she has found a potential husband, and at that same time doesn't seem to realize his anguish. It's only when all those options are gone, does Kathmiya explore her feelings for Shafiq. From a cultural perspective, Jiji builds a vivid portrait of what it's like to live in a multicultural society. People didn't know who they could trust then, and in the present day I don't think it's all that different.
Rating: Give it a try
Notes: I received a copy of Sweet Dates in Basra from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. For more information on the author and book visit: http://www.sweetdatesinbasra.com/
In Basra, Kathmiya is just another servant. A servant whom no one pays attention to except when they want their tea served. Only one person, Shafiq, a Jewish boy, takes the time out to notice Kathmiya. "That boy who had asked if she was okay was the only person in Basra to really look at Kathmiya, to see beyond whether or not she could iron shirts. Her longing, she told herself, was for the forbidden friendship that scared Jamila into violence but just for the simple chance to have a conversation." Anything beyond a few words between Kathmiya could be dangerous. She comes from another culture -- Midaan -- and a relationship between the two could prove deadly. She and Shafiq could be killed for "dishonoring" the family.
Before Shafiq became smitten with Kathmiya, his everyday life was an adventure with his best friend, Omar, who is also Muslim. During this era, such a friendship was considered taboo, but to the two boys they are brothers. A bond that stands up during a time of war. Omar's father dies, and Shafiq's father steps right in to provide financial support. Jewish people, their homes and businesses come under attack, and Omar's family opens their home to Shafiq's. Shafiq's brother Naji is suspected of supporting the Communist part, and Omar is still there providing support. When Shafiq is torn apart by his feelings for Kathmiya, Omar is right there.
The novel is told from Shafiq and Kathmiya's perspective. Kathmiya's mind is consumed with finding a husband and a life beyond poverty. It's all she can talk about with her mother, who is also a maid. From Kathmiya's perspective you would never know a war is going on. Perhaps that was Jiji's way of showing how differently men and women think. While Shafiq is completely in love Kathmiya, he is also more aware of the dangers in Iraq. He worries about his safety walking the streets, being accused of Zionism or if he can every escape Iraq. The romance, which is at the core of the novel, didn't grab me. Sometimes the romance felt very one-sided. Shafiq is the one who longs for Kathmiya, while she explores other options. She tells Shafiq to his face that she has found a potential husband, and at that same time doesn't seem to realize his anguish. It's only when all those options are gone, does Kathmiya explore her feelings for Shafiq. From a cultural perspective, Jiji builds a vivid portrait of what it's like to live in a multicultural society. People didn't know who they could trust then, and in the present day I don't think it's all that different.
Rating: Give it a try
Notes: I received a copy of Sweet Dates in Basra from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. For more information on the author and book visit: http://www.sweetdatesinbasra.com/
April 19, 2010
Set during World War II in Basra, Iraq, "Sweet Dates" is a story of the different religions and social classes at the time. Part star-crossed lovers, part history lesson, I didn't love it, but it did keep me intrigued enough to finish.
December 5, 2010
Kathmiya is a disarmingly beautiful Marsh Arab maiden. Instead of arranging her marriage, her parents send her off to Basra to work as a servant.
Shafiq is a young Jewish boy who has grown up in Basra, side by side with other Muslim families. His sense of brotherhood with his Muslim neighbour Omar is proof that religion is no barrier to friendship.
He falls in love with Kathmiya the first time he lays eyes on her.
But in a world where honour is paramount and the loss of honour is punishable by death, the friendship that blossoms between Kathmiya and Shafiq is doomed from the start.
Their story begins in the Iraq of the 1940s when British warplanes begin bombing and long-simmering tensions in the country erupt.
Entwined in the socio-political struggles of the time, emerges a story of forbidden love and undying friendship.
Sweet Dates in Basra is an exploration of two different cultures and how the bonds of brotherhood and love transcend physical and cultural barriers.
As Shafiq begins a quest to teach Kathmiya how to read, Kathmiya is on a quest of her own - to find a suitable Muslim husband.
But as their worlds crumble around them, Shafiq and Kathmiya find strength and solace in each other.
Their relationship is a doomed one, but still they know that in such uncertain times, they may never get a chance at love again.
It is a tortuous journey they embark on and it may only end in heartbreak.
Jessica Jiji has based her novel on the life of her own father.
His family too had an unreserved bond with a Muslim family - it was a solidarity that "endured through successive wars, changes in government and sanctions".
These are the stories she grew up with as the daughter of an Iraqi immigrant in America. They were stories not of war and atrocities, but of love, warmth, friendship and humanity.
Jiji says: "I wrote this novel in tribute to the Iraq that I was raised to revere. Unlike the war-drenched country portrayed on the news, it is a place of pleasure and adventure, richness and warmth, friendship and family." - Meneesha Govender
Shafiq is a young Jewish boy who has grown up in Basra, side by side with other Muslim families. His sense of brotherhood with his Muslim neighbour Omar is proof that religion is no barrier to friendship.
He falls in love with Kathmiya the first time he lays eyes on her.
But in a world where honour is paramount and the loss of honour is punishable by death, the friendship that blossoms between Kathmiya and Shafiq is doomed from the start.
Their story begins in the Iraq of the 1940s when British warplanes begin bombing and long-simmering tensions in the country erupt.
Entwined in the socio-political struggles of the time, emerges a story of forbidden love and undying friendship.
Sweet Dates in Basra is an exploration of two different cultures and how the bonds of brotherhood and love transcend physical and cultural barriers.
As Shafiq begins a quest to teach Kathmiya how to read, Kathmiya is on a quest of her own - to find a suitable Muslim husband.
But as their worlds crumble around them, Shafiq and Kathmiya find strength and solace in each other.
Their relationship is a doomed one, but still they know that in such uncertain times, they may never get a chance at love again.
It is a tortuous journey they embark on and it may only end in heartbreak.
Jessica Jiji has based her novel on the life of her own father.
His family too had an unreserved bond with a Muslim family - it was a solidarity that "endured through successive wars, changes in government and sanctions".
These are the stories she grew up with as the daughter of an Iraqi immigrant in America. They were stories not of war and atrocities, but of love, warmth, friendship and humanity.
Jiji says: "I wrote this novel in tribute to the Iraq that I was raised to revere. Unlike the war-drenched country portrayed on the news, it is a place of pleasure and adventure, richness and warmth, friendship and family." - Meneesha Govender
January 6, 2012
Recommended.
There was a lot in this novel - the situation of the Jewish community in Iraq in the 1940s, the struggles endured as a maid coming from a poor background in the Marshes to work in bustling Basra, and the problems of friendships between different cultures and between unmarried men and women.
There are two main charcters, Shafiq, a young Jewish-Iraqi, who starts to feel the effects of anti Jewish sentiment in Iraq as he reaches his teens, and Kathmiya, a beautiful young girl from the Marshes who should be entering into marriage at this age but finds herself shipped off to work as a maid in Basra.
Kathmiya can't understand why she is not getting married like her sister Fathima, and why her father seems to hate her so much. But she makes the best of her life in Basra and works hard.
There she is noticed by Shafiq, who is stunned by her beauty. In this society it would mean certain death for Kathmiya if her friendship with Shafiq were ever discovered and the relationship can have no future.
The other main relationship in the book is between Shafiq and his Muslim neighbour, Omar. Not only are the boys best friends, but the families help each other in numerous ways over the years in a society where such friendships are becoming increasingly problematic.
Jessica Jiji has never lived in Iraq but learned of this time in history from her father who left the country in 1947 as an 18 year old. HIs love for his homeland is reflected in her warm feelings towards this place and time. In spite of all the problems, I felt this affection and became involved in the narrative as it unravelled.
I listened to the unabridged audio version of this book, excellently narrated by Adriana Sevahn Nichols, but I have to admit I struggled with the names of all the secondary characters, which can't be back referenced on audio.
Possibly better to read this than listen to it, but certainly recommended.
There was a lot in this novel - the situation of the Jewish community in Iraq in the 1940s, the struggles endured as a maid coming from a poor background in the Marshes to work in bustling Basra, and the problems of friendships between different cultures and between unmarried men and women.
There are two main charcters, Shafiq, a young Jewish-Iraqi, who starts to feel the effects of anti Jewish sentiment in Iraq as he reaches his teens, and Kathmiya, a beautiful young girl from the Marshes who should be entering into marriage at this age but finds herself shipped off to work as a maid in Basra.
Kathmiya can't understand why she is not getting married like her sister Fathima, and why her father seems to hate her so much. But she makes the best of her life in Basra and works hard.
There she is noticed by Shafiq, who is stunned by her beauty. In this society it would mean certain death for Kathmiya if her friendship with Shafiq were ever discovered and the relationship can have no future.
The other main relationship in the book is between Shafiq and his Muslim neighbour, Omar. Not only are the boys best friends, but the families help each other in numerous ways over the years in a society where such friendships are becoming increasingly problematic.
Jessica Jiji has never lived in Iraq but learned of this time in history from her father who left the country in 1947 as an 18 year old. HIs love for his homeland is reflected in her warm feelings towards this place and time. In spite of all the problems, I felt this affection and became involved in the narrative as it unravelled.
I listened to the unabridged audio version of this book, excellently narrated by Adriana Sevahn Nichols, but I have to admit I struggled with the names of all the secondary characters, which can't be back referenced on audio.
Possibly better to read this than listen to it, but certainly recommended.
March 18, 2013
Sweet Dates in Basra is a memoir about an Iraqi Muslim girl named Jessica JiJi. This memoir takes place during the 1940’s when Iraq was not yet flooded with war. The 1940’s are also considered the lost time in Iraq’s history. Jessica was a teenage girl who was removed from her home at the young age of 18 to the unfamiliar city of Basra in Iraq. While in Basra she falls in love with Jewish boy Safiq. This love is forbidden because the two are opposing religions. But Safiq thinks differently because he has a strong relationship with his Muslim neighbor, Omar. This makes Jessica feel like her religion should not stop her love for Safiq. Jessica’s father has different views of who Jessica can love or even marry, it is very common in Muslim and Middle Eastern house holds for the father to chose who the daughter lovers or marries. This issue will soon be over shadowed about what will happen to Jessica and Shfiq.
This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the Muslim culture. People would also like if they wanted to learn about pre-war Iraq. I recommend this book for any age from 13-100 this book can really enrich your mind for other countries and cultures. To see hoe other cultures treat there women or how in many areas of the world certain religions have great tension between them. There are many parts in this book that really make you think about the decisions that you have made in your life and how it effects other people and how other people feel about the decision that you have made. I genuinely feel that it made me think about my actions more and not taking things for granted like most of us do.
This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the Muslim culture. People would also like if they wanted to learn about pre-war Iraq. I recommend this book for any age from 13-100 this book can really enrich your mind for other countries and cultures. To see hoe other cultures treat there women or how in many areas of the world certain religions have great tension between them. There are many parts in this book that really make you think about the decisions that you have made in your life and how it effects other people and how other people feel about the decision that you have made. I genuinely feel that it made me think about my actions more and not taking things for granted like most of us do.
June 20, 2011
Though being a muslim Arab I never seen Iraq before and may be never will and to be frank about it I never even thought of visiting Iraq someday. Yet Iraq remains this ache in my heart, this dear part, this lost dream flooded in oceans of blood through out its history. Seeing Iraq through this marvelous novel I see her as a beautiful lady wild haired and her twin rivers rund as deep as Kathmiya's eyes. A lady who had her share of misfortunes and happy times, a lady whose children give her hard times, a lady so beautiful that everybody envies her and wants to take advantage of her yet she remains so pure hearted and forgiving, a lady so burdened by massive superstitions.
Jessica Jiji has wrote a very attaching novel based on a true story about a multi layered society in war time showing what politics, war and occupation can do to the relations among people and their fates.
Shafiq with his pure love, sweet natured Omar and an always so worried Kathmiya, all share this exquisite relationship, loving Iraq each in his way, leading you through this engaging story.
This is a story about forbidden love, a story about dreams that may never come true, a story about how people of different backgrounds and different religions can live together in peace and have their common traditions and superstitions.
And what I love the most about this novel is how it shows that the problems in that middle east are not basically religion related there are always other reasons.
Jessica Jiji has wrote a very attaching novel based on a true story about a multi layered society in war time showing what politics, war and occupation can do to the relations among people and their fates.
Shafiq with his pure love, sweet natured Omar and an always so worried Kathmiya, all share this exquisite relationship, loving Iraq each in his way, leading you through this engaging story.
This is a story about forbidden love, a story about dreams that may never come true, a story about how people of different backgrounds and different religions can live together in peace and have their common traditions and superstitions.
And what I love the most about this novel is how it shows that the problems in that middle east are not basically religion related there are always other reasons.
April 30, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It's the story of Kathmiya, a village girl sent to Basra, Iraq to earn money for her family (and also a way for them to not arrange her marriage, for reasons that remain a mystery until the end of the book). And Shafiq, a young Jewish boy, friends with his neighbor, Omar, who is Muslim. The book tells the story of all of their relationships with each other during the late 1930s and 1940s. What I enjoyed about the book is that it's not your typical "boy meets girl, falls in love, overcomes obstacles and eventually they run off together." Instead the book really lets you get to know each of the main characters, all of the challenges that each of them face now, and in the future. And you also get to learn about what was happening in Iraq in the 1940s, and how it was impacted by what was happening in WWII (i.e. the Holocaust and the Zionist movement). And what happened in Iraq post-independence (i.e. a lot of inter-religious cooperation and hope). I found the book an interesting read, a beautiful story and the author also has very good writing skills (smooth flow) --no surprise, given that she has been a speechwriter for the Secretary General of the UN. I'd definitely recommend this book for people that enjoy reading novels that open up the world to them (i.e. different countries, cultures and other periods of history), while also enjoying a human story.
September 8, 2011
I wanted to like this book more than I actually I did.
I mean, who knew there was this giant marsh community in Iraq? That partial setting alone should elevate this book.
The female protagonist believes that marriage is the answer to everything. The ending of the book does nothing to change her way of thinking. In fact, if anything, it supports the idea that marriage can solve problems. It is difficult to appreciate the book when there is little character development. No great epiphany of any sort happens with the main characters. One of the minor characters could be said to have had some growth, but it is more disillusionment than anything else.
And the great big secret with the white missionary was so pedestrian.
What's worse, I think that the author wanted to convey a theme of female empowerment, but instead I couldn't help but think that it promoted female oppression.
I mean, who knew there was this giant marsh community in Iraq? That partial setting alone should elevate this book.
The female protagonist believes that marriage is the answer to everything. The ending of the book does nothing to change her way of thinking. In fact, if anything, it supports the idea that marriage can solve problems. It is difficult to appreciate the book when there is little character development. No great epiphany of any sort happens with the main characters. One of the minor characters could be said to have had some growth, but it is more disillusionment than anything else.
And the great big secret with the white missionary was so pedestrian.
What's worse, I think that the author wanted to convey a theme of female empowerment, but instead I couldn't help but think that it promoted female oppression.
January 3, 2021
Set during and after WWII, the story follows two teens in Iraq. One, a Jew, and the other, a Muslim. Their journey becomes one of star-crossed lovers and was an easy read.
September 30, 2013
By the time I realized I couldn't read this, I was already halfway through so I forced myself to finish it. In a nutshell, this is about two young star-crossed lovers in the midst of the Palestinian partition. Had each story been developed independently, they would have made fine novels. But, the author thought these would meld into one solid story. Wrong! Very disjointed and hard to follow. Too many characters with not enough character development. Had high hopes for this one.
June 26, 2017
I really wanted to like this book. The setting was amazing - exploring various cultural identities across the backdrop of WW2 era Iraq - but the writing just fell flat. The pacing of the story was off, slow and repetitive in places that it didn't need to be, and way too rushed when it came to big events that should have elicited an emotional response, but instead just sort of happened in this awkward jumble of sentences. In fact, I found myself struggling to be emotionally invested in the story at ALL because the characters were so lacking. They were either very thin and one-dimensional, like all of Shafiq's family, or just not very likeable, like Kathmiya or her mother. I wanted to root for Kathmiya, and I know what the author was going for, but she was SO ANNOYING. It could have been really easy to make the reader sympathetic towards her, she had a pretty crappy lot. But she was written less like an angsty teenager with depth, and more like a toddler constantly having a tantrum. She has some pretty big and emotional events in her story later in the book, but I found myself unable to care or feel anything about it. And her big "secret" was fairly obvious, I guessed it pretty early on. The only character that I remotely felt invested in was Shafiq, because he was written as a fairly rounded and understandable character. He sort of had to carry the entire thing.
What I did enjoy was learning about what happened in the Middle East during WW2, a perspective you don't often get, and just generally getting to read a story that doesn't take place in the West. I so wanted this to be good, and I forced myself to keep reading it in case it got better. But it really didn't. I would not recommend this book.
What I did enjoy was learning about what happened in the Middle East during WW2, a perspective you don't often get, and just generally getting to read a story that doesn't take place in the West. I so wanted this to be good, and I forced myself to keep reading it in case it got better. But it really didn't. I would not recommend this book.
September 27, 2017
I just finished this book and I still have tears in my eyes. It is set during WWII in Iraq and at the end the author calls this time period in Iraq the "relatively idyllic years." If this is idyllic, I shudder to think what went on in other time periods. The book was beautifully written, very informative, and I highly recommend it, but the ending will leave you heartbroken. That poor girl. Our heroine, Kathmiya's, "happily-ever-after" involves being the fourth wife of a man she doesn't love who she only married to avoid being honor-killed for being pregnant by the man who she does love and who loves her and tries to marry her. But because of culture divides and family issues, that man only ever gets to see his child once and is not allowed to marry her.
I mean yay, our heroine didn't get honor killed and the new husband is too busy with four wives to ever count days and weeks and figure out the kid isn't his and go on a killing spree. Also, the heroine's lover does teach her how to read so at least she now has the escape of a good book (a pastime I highly recommend. :)) But the tiny sliver of happiness the heroine gets, and how grateful the heroine is for that sliver, almost makes the book more tragic. If this is idyllic for our Iraqi hero and heroine, what does bad look like? Unfortunately, it only takes flipping on the local news channel to answer that question. :(
I mean yay, our heroine didn't get honor killed and the new husband is too busy with four wives to ever count days and weeks and figure out the kid isn't his and go on a killing spree. Also, the heroine's lover does teach her how to read so at least she now has the escape of a good book (a pastime I highly recommend. :)) But the tiny sliver of happiness the heroine gets, and how grateful the heroine is for that sliver, almost makes the book more tragic. If this is idyllic for our Iraqi hero and heroine, what does bad look like? Unfortunately, it only takes flipping on the local news channel to answer that question. :(
March 25, 2019
Tough to rate this one. I mean--yeah, I liked it. I really did. I got sucked in by the front cover and the words "star-crossed love." I can't resist a love story. :)
It's 1941. Basra, Iraq. Shafiq (an Iraqi Jew) and Omar (an Iraqi Muslim) are next door neighbors and best friends. Then there's Kathmiya, a Marsh Arab, who wants a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for her, but her father will not allow it. Instead, she is sent off to Basra to earn money.
While religion isn't a barrier between Shafiq and Omar....it certainly is a barrier between Shafiq and Kathmiya. We're talking punishable by death.
Basically--"I love you so much that I must stay away from you so that you're not the next young woman to be murdered to preserve the family's honor."
If you like a well-written romance, this book is a good choice.
I will warn you, though: there's a good chunk of the book that describes the Anglo-Iraqi War. It's not gory or anything, but it did take some intense concentration on my part, and I spent quite a bit of time on Wikipedia trying to understand the war and how Nazi Germany and Communism fit in. History isn't really my cup of tea...and if it's not yours, don't let that be a barrier to enjoying this story. All in all, it is a love story. :)
It's 1941. Basra, Iraq. Shafiq (an Iraqi Jew) and Omar (an Iraqi Muslim) are next door neighbors and best friends. Then there's Kathmiya, a Marsh Arab, who wants a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for her, but her father will not allow it. Instead, she is sent off to Basra to earn money.
While religion isn't a barrier between Shafiq and Omar....it certainly is a barrier between Shafiq and Kathmiya. We're talking punishable by death.
Basically--"I love you so much that I must stay away from you so that you're not the next young woman to be murdered to preserve the family's honor."
If you like a well-written romance, this book is a good choice.
I will warn you, though: there's a good chunk of the book that describes the Anglo-Iraqi War. It's not gory or anything, but it did take some intense concentration on my part, and I spent quite a bit of time on Wikipedia trying to understand the war and how Nazi Germany and Communism fit in. History isn't really my cup of tea...and if it's not yours, don't let that be a barrier to enjoying this story. All in all, it is a love story. :)
April 27, 2020
I wasn't actually going to bother writing a review for this. I thought the two stars would speak for themselves. I changed my mind because it did manage to teach me some things I hadn't known before. Probably the best thing about this book, is that it gives us a glimpse of a prosperous, multicultural Iraq, which is difficult to imagine now. The story is about Shafiq, a young Jewish boy and his Muslim best friend next-door, Omar. It's set during and immediately after WWII. There is of course a love-story, but the leading lady is such a brat and they spend a large amount of time feigning or actually being indifferent towards each other. It's difficult to actually invest in their romance as it seems like nothing more than a hormonal teenager's attraction to a beautiful outsider, with no social standing. It is not very well written and the story is predictable, but still manages to convey that feeling of a country changing irrecoverably and lives branching off in different directions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2017
In many ways, this is a classic, familiar, and formulaic tale of forbidden love. The dark-eyed beauty who doesn't know her own potency. The intelligent, kind, and not-like-the-other-guys guy who instantly sees and appreciates her for both her inner and outer beauty. Their inevitable attraction. The culture that forbids their union. Insert Disney plot. While often predictable and usually more than a little bit sappy, these kinds of stories have definitely become tropes because of how enjoyable they can often be to read. I also enjoyed the insights the story provided into Iraqi life and culture during the Second World War, and was particularly fascinated to learn about Muslim and Jewish culture and history through the lens of this story.
May 28, 2018
This story had so much potential. Iraq in the 1940’s from the perspective of a Jewish boy and a Muslim girl. But so much depth was missing. There were so many unfinished storylines that were far from resolved. I felt like I never truly got to know the characters, even though their stories and personalities had so much potential. I like the story in general, but was disappointed that it fell short of all it could have been.
August 8, 2017
Easy summer read that leaves the reader wanting more . . . I wish there was a sequel!
October 30, 2019
Not my kind of story. Takes place during 1940s, love story in Iraq. Interesting learning cukture.
March 2, 2020
Interesting read, but not worth a re-read
March 21, 2020
I haven’t DNF’d a book in a while but I couldn’t do it 😬😬
November 6, 2020
A stunning and thought provoking tale of the true power of sacrifice, culture divides and never giving up on love.
September 30, 2022
This book had me all up in my feelings at the end that I had to come ip with my own conclusion.
January 20, 2023
Very good book about forbidden love in city where love was impossible
March 21, 2023
Interesting stiry of life in the mid 1940’s in Iraq told about a young girl and young man who want to be together but their caste’s prohibit it.
July 31, 2011
Set against the backdrop of World War II and its effects on the people of Iraq, Sweet Dates in Basra traces the developing relationship between a Marsh Arab girl, Kathmiya and a Jewish boy, Shafiq. Coming from very different cultures and backgrounds, each with their own difficulties in life, they nevertheless manage to forge a connection and fall in love. A second, but equally important, backdrop against which the story’s events play out is the relationship between Shafiq and his Muslim next door neighbor, Omar, who grow up as brothers in all but name.
The thing which elevates the book to a point way above that of a love story set in an exotic location is the multiple themes which Jessica Jiji develops throughout. Friendship, family, sacrifice, tolerance, identity – both religious and national – unification and idealism are all addressed. This might seem way too ambitious for a single story, but Jiji handles each one with sensitivity, allowing each theme it’s moment in the spotlight. The multiple themes echo the confusion of the times, but the writing itself is in no way confused. Instead it highlights the way the all intertwine with each other, much like the personal relationships in the book.
There are a large number of supporting characters in the book, which may seem confusing to some readers at first, but a little patience allows for each one to take their place in the narrative. Then there are beautiful details of the links and connections between seemingly disparate persons, underlying the theme of unification and the sense that we are all one people at heart.
I particularly loved that I got a history lesson along with the story, yet I never felt like I was being lectured to. Instead, Jiji has seamlessly woven historical information and personal emotion into a beautiful, smooth, well-paced narrative. Of particular interest as well was the information about the Midaan people and culture, written so as to allow the reader to understand Kathmiya’s motivations and actions, while leaving the desire to know more about this fascinating people.
The difficulties surrounding the partitioning of Pakistan are echoed in the troubles faced by Shafiq and Kathmiya, written with an intensity that left the sense that both sets of events were tumbling to their particular conclusions.
Overall, while certainly not as popular as some of the recent stories coming out of this region, Sweet Dates in Basra is a beautiful, moderately easy read, with a powerful story to tell.
The thing which elevates the book to a point way above that of a love story set in an exotic location is the multiple themes which Jessica Jiji develops throughout. Friendship, family, sacrifice, tolerance, identity – both religious and national – unification and idealism are all addressed. This might seem way too ambitious for a single story, but Jiji handles each one with sensitivity, allowing each theme it’s moment in the spotlight. The multiple themes echo the confusion of the times, but the writing itself is in no way confused. Instead it highlights the way the all intertwine with each other, much like the personal relationships in the book.
There are a large number of supporting characters in the book, which may seem confusing to some readers at first, but a little patience allows for each one to take their place in the narrative. Then there are beautiful details of the links and connections between seemingly disparate persons, underlying the theme of unification and the sense that we are all one people at heart.
I particularly loved that I got a history lesson along with the story, yet I never felt like I was being lectured to. Instead, Jiji has seamlessly woven historical information and personal emotion into a beautiful, smooth, well-paced narrative. Of particular interest as well was the information about the Midaan people and culture, written so as to allow the reader to understand Kathmiya’s motivations and actions, while leaving the desire to know more about this fascinating people.
The difficulties surrounding the partitioning of Pakistan are echoed in the troubles faced by Shafiq and Kathmiya, written with an intensity that left the sense that both sets of events were tumbling to their particular conclusions.
Overall, while certainly not as popular as some of the recent stories coming out of this region, Sweet Dates in Basra is a beautiful, moderately easy read, with a powerful story to tell.
October 31, 2012
Author Jessica Jiji did an amazing job of taking me back in time and flying me across the world to be in the 1940’s Iraq. She takes you along side with Kathmiya Mahmoud, a young Marsh Arab maiden, as she is shipped off from her home in Iraq‘s tranquil countryside to the city of Basra which is very new and strange to her. Kathmiya must live off her diminutive earnings as a servant. Kathmiya has nothing special or any assets for her except for her exquisite and ravishing beauty. Kathmiya’s beauty brings more peril than peace. However, Kathmiya’s mother appears to be hiding a secret about her own mysterious past, one that could threaten Kathmiya's destiny forever.
Because of disoriented Iraq’s time of tradition and congregation, Kathmiya meets Shafiq. Shafiq is a Jewish boy who shares a brotherhood with his Muslim neighbor Omar, who claims that religion should be no barrier to friendship. However, when Kathmiya and Omar’s difficult friendship blossoms into a dangerous love and when British warplanes begin bombing Iraq and the country's long-simmering tensions explode, the love they share may send them to their doom.
Kathmiya’s bravery is what made me enjoy this book so much. She had to go through so much throughout the entire book. She also allowed me to relate to the book more than I thought I would be able to. It’s hard to relate to a lot of historical fiction books but Jessica Jiji allows you feel right along with her.
The writing style of the book flows and is very straight which most people look for in a book. It makes it easier to connect to and understand what the author is trying to get across.
Jessica Jiji has also written a novel called Diamonds Take Forever but this was her first novel.
Because of disoriented Iraq’s time of tradition and congregation, Kathmiya meets Shafiq. Shafiq is a Jewish boy who shares a brotherhood with his Muslim neighbor Omar, who claims that religion should be no barrier to friendship. However, when Kathmiya and Omar’s difficult friendship blossoms into a dangerous love and when British warplanes begin bombing Iraq and the country's long-simmering tensions explode, the love they share may send them to their doom.
Kathmiya’s bravery is what made me enjoy this book so much. She had to go through so much throughout the entire book. She also allowed me to relate to the book more than I thought I would be able to. It’s hard to relate to a lot of historical fiction books but Jessica Jiji allows you feel right along with her.
The writing style of the book flows and is very straight which most people look for in a book. It makes it easier to connect to and understand what the author is trying to get across.
Jessica Jiji has also written a novel called Diamonds Take Forever but this was her first novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews