BOOKS FROM UZBEKISTANThe Dancer from Khiva : One Muslim Woman's Quest for Freedom
by Bibish
Description:
"Winner of the National Bestseller and Book of the Year prizes in Russia, The Dancer from Khiva, is the unflinchingly honest, deceptively plainspoken memoir of Bibish, a Central Asian woman who came of age in a rigidly Islamic village in Uzbekistan. In a narrative that flows like a late-night confession, Bibish recounts her story. Born into an impoverished family, she was named 'Hadjarbibi' in honor of her grandfather's pilgrimage to Mecca. The holy name, however, did not protect her from unspeakable abuse at the hands of the men in her village. She knew instinctively to keep her experience a secret rather than risk further punishment, but soon her love for Uzbeki dancing - prohibited by Islamic custom - caused her to be beaten by her brothers and ostracized from her community. Dreaming of freedom, Bibish fled. The Dancer from Khiva is a testament to her fierce will and courage: the searing, fast-paced tale of a woman who risked everything to follow her dreams, break her culture's silence, and tell her shocking story."--BOOK JACKET.