The Almond: The Sexual Awakening of a Muslim Woman

by Nedjma

Book Overview

An autobiographical erotic novel written by an observant Muslim woman in contemporary North Africa, The Almond is an extraordinary and pioneering literary work, a truly unforgettable journey into the sexual undercurrents of a world that is, outwardly and to Western eyes, puritanical. Badra is a young Muslim widow who flees the small town of Imchouk to take refuge with her Uncle Slimane's iconoclastic ex-wife. In Imchouk, it was expected that Badra's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802142613
• ISBN13: 9780802142610
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

FANTASTIC READING

Read this book with an open mind. The Almond takes you into a world seldom revealed. I enjoyed this book tremendously and could not put it down.

Hard to find just 1 word describing it...

Please, do not listen to those who say this book is nothing! Those people cannot feel anything, probably. While you are reading this book, you are living step by step the character's life and you are feeling every single change in her heart that is happening to her. You must be a stone not to feel this anger, revenge, love, guilt, pride, lust, the will to discover herself and not-willingness to stop herself from loving so passionately even though she is going against her culture's moral principles. There are so many topics interfering with each other. It's a very interesting work, and - VERY alive, and those who say it's 1 of the worst erotic books ever - probably they don't what this word means, erotics. One cannot say that everyone understand this words the same way, so - buy this book, and read it, and find out for yourself whether or not it's worth your time. I can absolutely guarantee that you will love it!

The Almond, A Critical Review

Recently, "Nedjma," author of The Almond stated that her novel is semi-autobiographical, about 40% and the remainder a true picture of a few Muslim women in her community. To some extent, I can accept The Almond as a portrait of life in a repressive- even by near-eastern standards-rural Imchouk. However, it is far more than a tawdry tale of the underground social life of Tangiers's elite. I read The Almond as a two-prong story. The first story, initially narrated by a near 50-year "Badra," whom gleefully proclaims she's in possession of the Near East's most beautiful fruit as she narrates the story of her life until this point. And, the second, subtler, but no less provocative, is the story of the environment. Indeed, this form of repression is systematic and quiet, constantly regenerating and regurgitating its hapless victims. In this world, the old axiom "actions speak louder than words" regularly repeats itself and takes on an insidious metamorphosis, as actions not only speak louder than words, but speaks in place of words and free-thought. The only crime these women commit is one of pure silence. This, of course, begs the questions, who are these role models for Badra? What does Badra see in the women of Imchouk? Imchouk is home to the forbidden world of silent women. Silent, unfulfilled women whose aborted dreams gives way to the exciting world of dishwashing and laundry, daily trips to the market (where she exchanges the ever-intriguing art of recipe-swapping) from there it's back to preparing the three meals for the family and the expected, special meal for the husband followed by after-meal "consumption.") When we meet young Badra, she and her friends are at that delicate place in their lives where the natural physiological course is ushering them into young adulthood. Because of the environment, the obligatory discussions never occur. As we understand (and expect) Badra and her friends go on their own discreet, fact-finding mission. The answers, at least the temporary ones, come in inquisitive moments of self-discovery and communal participation. Badra also witnesses varying degrees of violence against women. At home, she observes her mother's cruel treatment of a young girl who bears a child for Badra's irresponsible older brother. This young woman, a daughter of a baker, loses her name, her male-child and eventually her life. The boy would grow up only to be identified as the son of Badra's brother. Within a short time, she too becomes the victim as she's ceremoniously raped on her wedding day. She was betrothed to a wealthy and impotent bigamist. Being an expert on human reproduction, this owner of two other unhealthy wives, suspects that the newly fertile Badra would be in optimum condition to bear him a son he so richly deserves. There only one problem, Romeo is unable to consummate the relationship and appeals to his mother, no less, for help. She, in turn, enlists the services of Badra's mother and sist

The Almond, A Critical Review

Recently, "Nedjma," author of The Almond stated that her novel is semi-autobiographical, about 40% and the remainder a true picture of a few Muslim women in her community. To some extent, I can accept The Almond as a portrait of life in a repressive- even by near-eastern standards-rural Imchouk. However, it is far more than a tawdry tale of the underground social life of Tangiers's elite. I read The Almond as a two-prong story. The first story, initially narrated by a near 50-year "Badra," whom gleefully proclaims she's in possession of the Near East's most beautiful fruit as she narrates the story of her life until this point. And, the second, subtler, but no less provocative, is the story of the environment. Indeed, this form of repression is systematic and quiet, constantly regenerating and regurgitating its hapless victims. In this world, the old axiom "actions speak louder than words" regularly repeats itself and takes on an insidious metamorphosis, as actions not only speak louder than words, but speaks in place of words and free-thought. The only crime these women commit is one of pure silence. This, of course, begs the questions, who are these role models for Badra? What does Badra see in the women of Imchouk? Imchouk is home to the forbidden world of silent women. Silent, unfulfilled women whose aborted dreams gives way to the exciting world of dishwashing and laundry. Daily trips to the market, where she engages in the ever-intriguing art of recipe-swapping. From there, it's back to preparing the three meals for the family and the expected, special meal for the husband followed by after-meal "consumption." When we meet young Badra, she and her friends are at that delicate place in their lives where the natural physiological course is ushering them into young adulthood. Because of the environment, the obligatory discussions never occur. As we understand (and expect) Badra and her friends go on their own discreet, fact-finding mission. The answers, at least the temporary ones, come in inquisitive moments of self-discovery and communal participation. Badra also witnesses varying degrees of violence against women. At home, she observes her mother's cruel treatment of a young girl who bears a child for Badra's irresponsible older brother. This young woman, a daughter of a baker, loses her name, her male-child and eventually her life. The boy would grow up only to be identified as the son of Badra's brother. Within a short time, she too becomes the victim as she's ceremoniously raped on her wedding day. She was betrothed to a wealthy and impotent bigamist. Being an expert on human reproduction, this owner of two other unhealthy wives, suspects that the newly fertile Badra would be in optimum condition to bear him a son he so richly deserves. There only one problem, Romeo is unable to consummate the relationship and appeals to his mother, no less, for help. She, in turn, enlists the services of Badra's mother and si

Stunning novel

Difficult to put into words just how beautiful a book this is. Crude and honest, but at the same time sexy (duh), sensual, really beautifully written. Interesting look into the controversial world of muslim women, a propos for our time. Yet also a must-read for any woman. You'll read it in a few hours, won't be able to close the cover.