First book of 2024! Let’s GOO!

I consider Bothayna Alessa my face Arab female novelist, so I made it a goal to read her backlist books I’ve missed on.
I could really see how Bothayna had improved her writing craft in the latest works compared to these older ones. And it’s an honour to witness her growth.

This book was good, but overly descriptive for my taste. The writing, though beautiful at times, dragged on for too long.
The story started off with a strong premise, but got somewhat boring in the middle, only to pick up pace by the end.

I liked the use of mythology to mirror what the main character is going through, which definitely took me to a rabbit hole of my own research. I didn’t mind the melancholy I’ve seen some people complain about, but the main character being unlikable (selfish and a victim by her own accord) made it more difficult to sympathize with her, when she offered no sympathy for her family and the people around her.

There was one particular piece on pregnancy that I really liked.
It goes like this:

أنتِ حبلى..
حبلى بأي شي؟
أنت الحبل المدود إلى سرة العالم
إلى الحقيقة في باطنها السحيق
إلى بطن الحوت
إلى بئر المخفي والمحجوب.
أنت الأنوثة تمارس حقيقتها الخاصة
بسيطة وعارية
أنتِ حبلى..
أيتها القيمة على خفايا الخلق
يا وريثة السر
أنت حاملة المفتاح، وأنت الباب، وأنت ناصية كل قصيدة
وضوء كل معرفة.
أنوثتك لعنتك/لعنتك بركتك
وجودك فناؤك
كل ما فيك يضيء
حتى العتمة.