Woman At Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi

-

WOMAN AT POINT ZERO

- Nawal El Saadawi


This is a book that I thought I wouldn't like, but I ended up liking. It's the sort of book that I couldn't really have pictured reading, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I stumbled upon it on Instagram while hunting for a short read and honestly, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have picked it up if it had had a summary. But despite a few complaints, it turned out to be a solid read!

Based on true events, this book is a first account narrative of the protagonist, Firdaus, who had undergone torture and exploitation at the hands of every man in her life. She had been abused by several men, including her uncle, her husband who had been 40 years older than her, and even by the man who had offered her refuge. The book is on how the protagonist slowly develops an understanding on love, of the way in which the society functions and how men view women. 

This feels like one of those feminist books that every MAN should read. I don’t mean to sound stereotypical or sexist, but that thought kept coming back to me as I read. It’s because I’ve encountered men who dismiss concerns about the discomfort women often feel in public spaces or the inappropriate stares some endure. While this book does not address these specific scenarios, it does tell the story of a woman who has been taken advantage by every man in her life. I believe it’s important for men to read this—to understand how society often treats women and the impact it has. 

What I found off putting while reading was the author's writing style. The author, I feel, overly dramatized and exaggerated the emotions of the characters. I also felt that some scenarios were left underdeveloped or loosely explained, leaving readers to fill in the gaps without enough context. This made certain parts of the story feel incomplete. 

There is one thing without the mention of which, this review would be incomplete. I generally do not highlight quotes or annotate books, but this book prompted me to highlight quotes, which completely took me by surprise! The book is only 111 pages (online version) and barely takes a few hours to read. I'd recommend picking this up on a Sunday afternoon when you're in the mood for something serious and thought-provoking, yet light and easy to read.

Popular posts from this blog

Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan

-
COUNTING DOWN WITH YOU -Tashie Bhuiyan  Hi!!!! It's been a while since I wrote a review. Law school's been slowly sucking the living crap out of me. Anyways, I'm back with another romcom suggestion for you. So, be prepared to feel all those butterflies in your stomach and enjoy this rollercoaster of a book. Without further delay, let's dive right into the plot. This book follows a Bangladesh teenager living in America who suffers from severe anxiety due to the countless rules and regulations imposed by her parents. Her life turns around when her parents leave for Bangladesh for a month, and she gets to experience something that she has never before- freedom. 28 days of fake dating later, her anxiety is under control, and she feels happier than ever. But as all good things come to an end eventually, her parents come back with more expectations and restrictions. This time she finds herself at an impasse. Does she continue being her obedient self or does she stand up for h...
Read more

Dweepa by Na D Souza

-
  DWEEPA - Na D' Souza This 90-page book is a delight to read. Honestly speaking, I didn't expect to like it as much as I actually did. It's short, sweet and full of hidden emotions. The plot goes as such - Ganapayya and Nagaveni lead a simple, cheerful life in their village. However, due to the persistent fear of the entire village getting submerged thanks to the constant rains and rising river nearby, all other villagers leave. All alone and stranded in the village without any company, the couple are forced to live in fear as the rain continues to pour, and the threat of floods becomes increasingly real.  This is when Krishnayya, Nagaveni's familial childhood companion is called to this village to help with farming and cultivation. But there is a fierce attraction between Nagaveni and Krishnayya which does not go unnoticed by Nagu's husband. Ganapayya's intense fear and insecurity of being abandoned by his wife creates emotional tensions. Left alone, all three...
Read more

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

-
DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP  - Satoshi Yagisawa The universe had some trouble getting me to read this book. It kept sending me signals, and, as usual, I ignored them into oblivion. I finally picked it up and had a pleasant enough time reading it. This is a pretty popular book, even among non- readers, and I only picked it up out of genuine curiosity to find out why it's as hyped up as it is. Truth be told, I still don't know why. Although I didn't find the story super engaging, and it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat, something about it kept me turning page after page. The plot revolves around a young, working girl discovering her identity and breaking through certain   emotional barriers while working at her uncle’s bookshop in a quiet part of Tokyo. What I liked about it is how easy it is to read, and this might be its charm. The book is like butter; you'll slide right through it. It's short and easy to understand. The characters aren't very complex...
Read more