by Bibish
Reviews:
(1 month ago) |
28 Aug, 2024
Hadjarbibi, nicknamed, Bibish, is a Muslim woman from a remote village close to Khiva in Uzbekistan. Horrifically abused in her childhood and under the complete control of the male members of her family, she flees to Russia but returns to her village and is subsequently married. After the breakdown of the former USSR, she and her husband move to Moscow, hoping for a better future for their two sons.
The writing in this memoir is simple and childlike in places, and I sped through it. I thought that both the title and the blurb of this book were misleading because very little dancing takes place, and Bibish's accounts of her harrowing experiences are somewhat superficial. While it cannot be denied that this woman suffered greatly from poverty, hunger, abuse and ignorance in a male-dominated society where women are merely chattel, I thought the narrative lacked soul. It failed to move or inspire me in any way, and, in my opinion, a more experienced writer would probably have captured the nuances of her history better. Ultimately, I am glad that Bibish got to share her experiences which, while not taking the route I expected, shed light on the difficulties faced by anyone seeking a better future in a foreign country.
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