Review: Braving A New World
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 12, 2014
This story is mainly about Galeila, born out of wedlock to an illiterate young woman working as a maid in the home of a wealthy doctor. She had an affair with one of the doctor's sons and harbored dreams of settling down and raising their child in love and comfort. It will most likely come as no surprise to most readers that this didn't happen. Her mother loved her though and worked hard to both support her and make darn sure she got an education. Galeila thus becomes the first woman from her line to be able to read or have a real shot at a better life. It ends up being a long struggle.Many parts of the book were distressing. The divisiveness of different religious beliefs, for example. The very thing that should bring people of the world together, or at the very least try to make it a less harmful and dangerous place, all too often accomplishes the exact opposite. The revolution in Egypt that gave everyone such high hopes turns into a bitter disappointment for much of the populace. Galeila's desperation to find a man who will take care of her and solve her problems which leads time and again to confusion, despair, and violence.I liked the story, however. There were many times when the author could have taken a happier less realistic route but chose to stay close to the way the world all too often ultimately is. This decision to create an unflinching look at so many topics- marriage, religion, abuse, revolution and more will no doubt make some readers uncomfortable, but I had to admire her (sometimes brutal) honesty.The only real complaint I had with the book was the lack of careful editing and the number of typos. Incorrectly used words were the biggest offenders but phrases like "the sound of hurried footsteps came trudging down the hall" were more irritating. Past and present tense were often mixed together. These things constantly force a reader away from the story, and that is unfortunate. In the end, though, I would definitely read more work by this new author because practice will iron a good deal of this out and I believe she has real talent.