I've just finished reading Aisha and though at some parts I found it entertaining, in the whole it was disturbing and unsettling. Soueif's writing style is quite solid. The way she masters the Arabic narrative style (of flowing physical description) with flawless English is quite fascination. But the problem is that it is the book's only real source of fascination. The rest, I feel, is generated by a 'sellable' idea, and what's more appealing than the notion of writing being a voice for those who are denied a voice. However, that is the major problem of the book. It's enveloped in time ambiguity as if it's written in temporal vacuum. It's not clear in which time and place all the female characters live. Since the theme in the book is Arab women's limited choices, I find it very critical that she leaves the narratives flow without underlining the period in which each event happens. The name of Aisha is a clear evidence. She is presented as someone who is from an educated and upper class family (a point made very clear in the last chapter when Aisha goes to the zar; the description of which is intolerably condescending), however the name 'Aisha' is old-fashioned and associated with 'poorer' classes. On the other hand, the name of Zeina, her nurse who comes from a butchers family has a more modern name and uncommon among that society the author is describing. I feel the choice of the name Aisha is aimed at the Western audience since it has romantic mystique.
With the exception of the chapter on Zeina's marriage, the rest of the book is marred with unbelievable self-indulgence and the amazing part is Soueif gets away with it!
With the exception of the chapter on Zeina's marriage, the rest of the book is marred with unbelievable self-indulgence and the amazing part is Soueif gets away with it!
