The story of life in Beirut as one of the Arabic nation, she tell what the habits of Arabic nation, especially as Arabic woman. This novelist is currently stay in Beirut for signing of French translation of her novel, “The Locust and the Bird: My Mother’s Story,” whose English translation was released in 2009, at Beirut’s Francophone book fair.
Shaykh explained that in this book in particular, she meant to eliminate some of the misconceptions the Western world might have about Arab or Muslim women.
“This is the story of a woman who assumed her choices in life and defied family, society and values by leaving her husband to marry her lover in the 1950s,” said the writer, who veered back and forth from English to Arabic every time the conversation took a heated turn.
“It’s not very accurate that all Arab and Muslim women are oppressed and silenced; my mother and other women led battles from early on.”
Shaykh admits, however, that listening to the story of Kamila, her mother, and the writing process afterward were both “painful” experiences as she was confronted with her grief and untold secrets from the past.
The novelist said the book made her aware of how much she resembled her mother and all the traits she inherited from her.
Shaykh confided that while her feeling of being an abandoned child did not disappear completely, if she were in the same situation Kamila found herself in some 50 years ago, she would have made a similar decision. So the complete story have been shown on TV last time.
Shaykh attributes her talent in shaping attractive and genuine characters to her abilities as an observer. “I was a nosy child … you cannot be a writer if you are not aware of the things and people around you.” Do you believe to her statement, you may have your own statement that more suitable with your life, life style.
Shaykh explained that in this book in particular, she meant to eliminate some of the misconceptions the Western world might have about Arab or Muslim women.
“This is the story of a woman who assumed her choices in life and defied family, society and values by leaving her husband to marry her lover in the 1950s,” said the writer, who veered back and forth from English to Arabic every time the conversation took a heated turn.
“It’s not very accurate that all Arab and Muslim women are oppressed and silenced; my mother and other women led battles from early on.”
Shaykh admits, however, that listening to the story of Kamila, her mother, and the writing process afterward were both “painful” experiences as she was confronted with her grief and untold secrets from the past.
The novelist said the book made her aware of how much she resembled her mother and all the traits she inherited from her.
Shaykh confided that while her feeling of being an abandoned child did not disappear completely, if she were in the same situation Kamila found herself in some 50 years ago, she would have made a similar decision. So the complete story have been shown on TV last time.
Shaykh attributes her talent in shaping attractive and genuine characters to her abilities as an observer. “I was a nosy child … you cannot be a writer if you are not aware of the things and people around you.” Do you believe to her statement, you may have your own statement that more suitable with your life, life style.
