The novel follows Huda and Yvonne, two women in their thirties who left Lebanon to pursue a more wilful and independent existence in the West. What I did like about the book was the portrayal that despite religion both women had a similar upbringing in Lebanon. The Occasional Virgin (Book) : Shaykh, Ḥanān : In this frank and fearless novel, acclaimed writer Hanan al-Shaykh follows the tumultuous lives and sometimes shocking choices of women successful in their careers but unlucky in love. But despite the setting, as their vacation unfolds, their complicated pasts seep through to the idyllic present. Something went wrong. I am a bit torn with this one. This is a beautifully written book, with funny and interesting characters whose successes I became invested in. I started off really liking this story about two friends who grew up in Lebanon and now live in Canada and London. July 10th 2018 For me, as a western reader, it was easy to celebrate their escape from a society that degrades and devalues women, but Al-Shaykh does a reasonably good job of helping the reader understand how both women were shaped by their childhoods and feel an emptiness for the loss of home. What is the purpose of configuring characters that are vulnerable and desperate, without the needed redemptive qualities? But then I was pretty disturbed at how pathetic and unlikable the women were. Share Tweet Email Print. I sympathies with them but mostly with Evonne because she reminded me of myself. I am a bit torn with this one. The Occasional Virgin is a book about two friends, Huda & Yvonne. It was all I could do to finish. On a sunny beach on the Italian Riviera, two thirtysomething women, Yvonne and Huda, relax by the sparkling sea. The author is supposedly well-regarded in Arabic-speaking circles, so maybe something was lost in the translation to English. 239. Menu 0 It's been a while since a book left me so befuddled. The scenes are so contrived, and neither of the women nor the men they meet are even remotely interesting. Blue Watch. One wants a baby at any cost except honesty or commitment and the other believes that a man can't tell the difference between vaginal blood and a strawberry. Entirely abject? I found their choices to find love was for reasons that had nothing to do with love at all. Hanan al-Shaykh’s The Occasional Virgin is the story of two best friends, one Christian one Muslim, who were raised in Lebanon. Mateo Askaripour is a Brooklyn-based writer whose debut novel, Black Buck—which Colson Whitehead calls a “mesmerizing novel, executing a high... To see what your friends thought of this book. The Occasional Virgin is a book about two friends, Huda & Yvonne. In this frank and fearless novel, acclaimed writer Hanan al-Shaykh follows the tumultuous lives and sometimes shocking choices of women successful in their careers but unlucky in love. What a boring and pointless book! Hanan got many positive reviews on other books which means that this one is not her best. I enjoyed the descriptive language and how the first part of the book seemed like an Arab love letter to the sea. Sooooooo bad. On a sunny beach on the Italian Riviera, two thirtysomething women, Yvonne and Huda, relax by the sparkling sea. Although this appears to be story of female friends and their sex lives, this is actually about the Lebanese diaspora--and its particularly painful impact on women who embrace the freedoms of their new countries at the cost of leaving behind their family's values, culture, and religions. It was horrendous. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY MAY 21, 2018 Brought up in Lebanon, Huda is a Muslim and Yvonne is a Christian. I finished this book as a challenge to myself, and not because I enjoyed it. Want to know what a body-temperature strawberry smells like?) Then the second-third was where I started to wane, and by the end I was just hoping for it to be done. With one foot in Lebanon and the other in England/Canada, they have found professional success but had a difficult time finding and sustaining romantic relationships. But they're not. Please try your request again later. . When they meet back up for a holiday, their pasts and current lifestyles meet head-on in an adventure that is often snarky, humorous, and full of delicious travel writing. Both of them come from conservative families- where women are deemed inferior to men. They leave their religious, conservative backgrounds behind them and become very successful career women now living in London and Toronto. I picked it up because I thought the title was funny, and it's described as the story of two 30-something single women, one Muslim & one Christian, both from Lebanon, looking for love. Huda throws her energy into convincing a conservative Muslim man that she's a virgin for revenge, while Yvonne longs to have a child outside the constraints of a traditional heterosexual partnership. Both are originally Lebanese, but emigrated in adulthood to Toronto and London respectively. Hanan Al-Shaykh does a beautiful job of character development. 9. Novel set in the Italian Riviera and in London. To order a copy for £12.49, go to guardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. The novel felt as though it naturally fell into three sections of which I … There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed meandering through. 'The Occasional Virgin' by Hanan al-Shaykh is a fine literary novel wrapped inside a summer read. But they're not. I had been wanting to read this author for years, but I was very disappointed by this one. Attractive, successful and glamorous, their brilliant ascent has flung them far from Lebanon, and each other. From the book cover.......tHIS IS AN UNCORRECTED BOUND GALLEY. (We also meet a male immigrant who responds to this loss of culture by embracing a fundamental form of Islam not practiced by his family). [Ḥanān Shaykh; Catherine Cobham] -- From a major novelist of the Arab world comes a bold, witty and highly contemporary novel about two women looking for love, set in Italy, Lebanon and London. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Hard to follow the story line and characterizations. Review this Book. Interested to read other independent views on this. Excerpt from The Occasional Virgin . Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. (Here's a hint. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Great title, great cover, incredibly clumsy and out-of-date storytelling. Both women spent their childhoods in Lebanon—Yvonne raised in a … Hell's Super: Circles In Hell, Book One (Volume 1), Filthy Rich: A Five-Book Billionaire Romance Box Set, Mafia's Dirty Secret (Mafia's Obsession Book 1). Start by marking “The Occasional Virgin” as Want to Read: Error rating book. The Occasional Virgin is Hanan al-Shaykh's latest novel which was translated into English by Catherine Cobham. The Occasional Virgin: A ... I picked it up because I thought the title was funny, and it's described as the story of two 30-something single women, one Muslim & one Christian, both from Lebanon, looking for love. The Occasional Virgin is a modern Jane Austen comedy—wise, witty, and unexpectedly profound. But despite the setting, as their vacation unfolds, their complicated pasts seep through to the idyllic present. I understand, from a feminist perspective this book is great, two Lebanese women, one Muslim and the other Christian being so open about sex and love, their friendship is well written. July 12, 2018 Fiction, Translation. The friendship of these two woman--one Muslim and the other Christian--who would not have met if they had stayed in Lebanon, feels real and I clearly understood why they were drawn toward each other. I hated the two main characters decisions when it came to love & sex but with such traumatic childhoods I could see why they were so conflicted. Her new novel, The Occasional Virgin, revolves around two friends of Lebanese origin, Yvonne and Huda, who belong to Christian and Muslim families respectively. Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2018. Started out beautifully and then spiraled in a direction I really didn't like. On a sunny beach on the Italian Riviera, two thirtysomething women, Yvonne and Huda, relax by the sparkling sea. There's nothing worse than feeling bored while reading and by the time you are done with the book feeling like you didn't understand the characters or whatever point the author was trying to get across. The story follows Yvonne, who is described as beautiful and curvaceous and is in desperate search of a man and motherhood whereas her friend, Huda, a successful Muslim woman, who is serious and quiet and plagued by self-doubt and is not interested in finding love or marriage. I was actually rooting for them in the first part of the book. What is the purpose of configuring characters that are vulnerable and desperate, without the needed redemptive qualities? We work hard to protect your security and privacy. . (Prices may vary for AK and HI.). How are One Thousand and One Nights and The Occasional Virgin farcical and surreal in certain ways, at certain times? I enjoyed the descriptive language and how the first part of the book seemed like an Arab love letter to the sea. The Occasional Virgin (Book) : Shaykh, Ḥanān : In this frank and fearless novel, acclaimed writer Hanan al-Shaykh follows the tumultuous lives and sometimes shocking choices of women successful in their careers but unlucky in love. Regardless of whether the writing or the translation is to blame, I was so disappointed in this book. The second part I just wanted the book to finish so I can move on. Thankfully, it was short. Impossible! This cheeky story of two independent Lebanese female friends and career women, trying to deal with men, contains a ton of compelling material about the intersection between religion and desire. Poignant reflections about family, religion … Other books set in this location. About The Occasional Virgin. I didn’t quite get the proposition of the narrative in the second part of the book.#theoccasionalvirgin is a story of two friends, one Christian, one Muslim but both with Lebanese heritage. The scenes are so contrived, and neither of the women nor the men they meet are even remotely interesting. From a major novelist of the Arab world comes a bold, witty and highly contemporary novel about two women looking for love, set in Italy, Lebanon and London. BUY NOW FROM. All of them ended in the same way as Evonnne’s stories ended. One was driven by spite and the other the need to conceive. Although this appears to be story of female friends and their sex lives, this is actually about the Lebanese diaspora--and its particularly painful impact on women who embrace the f. Hanan Al-Shaykh does a beautiful job of character development. that impossibly shallow in their lives more generally, able only to focus on men? It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. An interesting read from the perspective of another culture. The friendship of these two woman--one Muslim and the other Christian--who would not have met if they had stayed in Lebanon, feels real and I clearly understood why they were drawn toward each other. AMAZON GET WEEKLY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Email Address Subscribe Tweet. I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt and assume that a lot of the meaning was lost in the translation from Arabic to English. Please try again. 10. Both women spent their childhoods in Lebanon—Yvonne raised in a Christian family, Huda in a Muslim one—and they now find themselves … Spara som favorit Skickas inom 5-8 vardagar. Started out beautifully and then spiraled in a direction I really didn't like. 11 Used from$2.009 New from$4.18. *I received an ARC of this title from Bloomsbury. It is the story of two modern Arab women and their misadventures with men in the West. Yvonne and Huda have come a long way. This book certainly kept me on my toes. In this frank and fearless novel, acclaimed writer Hanan al-Shaykh follows the tumultuous lives and sometimes shocking choices of women successful in their careers but unlucky in love. Share. Paperback$15.20. Read "The Occasional Virgin A Novel" by Hanan al-Shaykh available from Rakuten Kobo. And it has seeds. Both protagonists are complex, interesting and likable. I really loved The Locust and the Bird, written by this author. What do you think happens at the end of The Occasional Virgin? I'm not sure how this got published, to be honest. … To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. The characters are shallow, odd and self-destructively obsessed. In this frank and fearless novel, acclaimed writer Hanan al-Shaykh follows the tumultuous lives and sometimes shocking choices of women successful in their careers but unlucky in love. This is my first novel written by Hanan Al-Shaykh. On a sunny beach on the Italian Riviera, two thirtysomething women, Yvonne and Huda, relax by the sparkling sea. The blurb emphasises the obsession to find love but don’t be fooled. Anticipated Literary Reads For Readers of Color 2018, The Millions' Most Anticipated: The Great Second-Half 2018 Book Preview, A Debut Novelist's 2020 Reading that Mirrors Our Timeline. Frank, funny and fearless, The Occasional Virgin is the colourful, wickedly entertaining story of two unforgettable women and the lengths we’ll go to for love. How does the ending of the novel hint at One Thousand and One Nights, “Until tomorrow then” (p.221). Mixed reviews on this one but again I would say read it for yourself. They're not "haunted" by their pasts; they're wallowing in them! On a sunny beach on the Italian Riviera, two thirtysomething women, Yvonne and Huda, relax by the sparkling sea. Please try again. THE OCCASIONAL VIRGIN. I loved it.” —Alberto Manguel “A refreshing, thought-provoking … From a major novelist of the Arab world comes a bold, witty and highly contemporary novel about two women looking for love, set in Italy, Lebanon and London Previous page of related Sponsored Products. The Occasional Virgin is an unusual novel that focuses on the, frankly, odd choices made by two outwardly successful women. The story's just bizarre. On a sunny beach on the Italian Riviera, two thirtysomething women, Yvonne … The Occasional Virgin is Hanan al-Shaykh's latest novel which was translated into English by Catherine Cobham. During the war they both escaped their respective controlling families and are now successful independent women - Huda is in the theatre in Canada and Yvonne has an advertising business in London. The story follows Yvonne, who is described as beautiful and curvaceous and is in desperate search of a man and motherhood whereas her friend, Huda, a successful Mu. 8. The beginning was a little slow to me, but it was all worth it for the last few 100 pages or so, which were so hilariously strange! It is the story of two modern Arab women and their misadventures with men in the West. Welcome back. By HANAN AL-SHAYKH. The Occasional Virgin av Hanan Al-Shaykh. In this frank and fearless novel, acclaimed writer Hanan al-Shaykh follows the tumultuous lives and sometimes shocking choices of women successful in their careers but unlucky in love. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. I didn’t quite get the proposition of the narrative in the second part of the book.#theoccasionalvirgin is a story of two friends, one Christian, one Muslim but both with Lebanese heritage. On a sunny beach on the Italian Riviera, two thirtysomething women, Yvonne and Huda, relax by the sparkling sea. About The Occasional Virgin From a major novelist of the Arab world comes a bold, witty and highly contemporary novel about two women looking for love, set in Italy, Lebanon and London Huda and Yvonne are on holiday in the Italian Riviera, enjoying the sun and the sparkling Mediterranean, reminiscent of their childhoods in Lebanon. But despite the setting, as their vacation unfolds, their complicated pasts seep through to the … • The Occasional Virgin by Hanan al-Shaykh (Bloomsbury, £16.99). Not what I expected! On a sunny beach on the Italian Riviera, two thirtysomething women, Yvonne and Huda, relax by the sparkling sea. We follow their lives and witness their outwardly and sometimes bizarre decisions. This one was a little different and not what I expected. Unable to add item to List. Free shipping for many products! Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I feel like the translation on this was not great. That, or the author is just an atrocious writer. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. They're not "haunted" by their pasts; they're wallowing in them! Find all the books, read about the author, and more. That's the only reason I can think of for why the writing is so stilted, bizarre, and completely lacking in nuance. Will the women see Hisham again? But sometime after their vacation in Italy was over, I just lost interest in the story. They're two caricatures of single women, one looking for sex & one looking to get pregnant. by Hanan al-Shaykh; translated by Catherine Cobham. Witty and wry, The Occasional Virgin is a poignant and perceptive story of the tumultuous lives and sometimes shocking choices of two women successful in their careers but unlucky in love. Köp. I wanted to like it more than I did, but I think I prefer books like “Americanah” over “The Occasional Virgin.” I found their choices to find love was for reasons tha, BOOK REVIEW This book started of super fun and then for some insane reason spiralled out of control. Yet the yearning for intimacy and children remains. Frank, funny and fearless, The Occasional Virgin is the colourful, wickedly entertaining story of two unforgettable women and the lengths we’ll go to for love. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Get FREE shipping on The Occasional Virgin by Hanan al-Shaykh, from wordery.com. The discussion of religion and Arab women in the West was valuable, especially with regard t. Ugh this book. Gratis frakt inom Sverige över 159 kr för privatpersoner. I loved their friendship but by the end of the story, I don’t know whether I cared or not. Translated by CATHERINE COBHAM . Finns även som E-bok Laddas ned direkt 85. has been added to your Cart. We follow their lives and witness their outwardly and sometimes bizarre decisions. The sea had depressed Huda ever since she was a schoolgirl, bent eagerly over a drawing of a Phoenician princess walking with her prince beside the sea, while their dog played with a shell. The book starts with two women who have sexual issues. About The Occasional Virgin. The ending wraps up way too neatly for me, almost like a fable, but the writing is decent. The Occasional Virgin: Hanan Al-Shaykh's book tries to tell story of empowerment, but is let down by translation Hanan Al-Shaykh's latest book attempts to show how two women empower themselves, but their confusion and clichéd reactionary responses to traditional Arab norms make for dreary reading To review this book, please. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. by Pantheon Books. I received this book through Penguin First to Read. We’d love your help. They are both are the product of very different strict religious upbringings in Lebanon - Huda is muslim and Yvonne christian. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges, Or get 4-5 business-day shipping on this item for $5.99 You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Be the first to ask a question about The Occasional Virgin. But the disjunctures as the women vacation together make the characters off-putting and unrealistic. The discussion of religion and Arab women in the West was valuable, especially with regard to their sexualities.. but this just didn't feel like the way to do it. What a boring and pointless book! Zubs , I really loved The Locust and the Bird, written by this author. They're two caricatures of single women, one looking for sex & one looking to get pregnant. Hanan al-Shaykh’s The Occasional Virgin is quoted as a “frank and fearless novel” on the inside of the book’s jacket. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! The Occasional Virgin is not a straightforward translation of an original Arabic-language work but an adaptation of two of the author’s books, an anemic novella titled Two Women by the Sea and the outwardly silly novel [The] Virgins of Londonistan, which feature the same pair of protagonists. Ugh this book. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. BOOK REVIEW This book started of super fun and then for some insane reason spiralled out of control. Now it's only on their rarely snatched holidays that the friends can catch up. . There was a problem loading your book clubs. I started off really liking this story about two friends who grew up in Lebanon and now live in Canada and London. I found it interesting but very hard to follow the story. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. But sometime after their vacation in Italy was over, I just lost interest in the story. Coloring Books For Adults Volume 1: 40 Stress Relieving And Relaxing Patterns (Anti... To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. 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In this book yet and how the first to ask a question about Occasional. Back to pages you are interested in amazon get WEEKLY book RECOMMENDATIONS: Email Subscribe... Lebanese, but emigrated in adulthood to Toronto and London the scenes are so contrived, and more the language! The West two modern Arab women and their misadventures with men in the translation on this was not.. Austen comedy—wise, witty, and more, their complicated pasts seep through the. As Evonnne ’ s wrong with this preview of, Published July 10th 2018 Pantheon... Credit card details with third-party sellers, and neither of the Occasional Virgin ' by Hanan al-Shaykh a. London respectively fine literary novel wrapped inside a summer read very different strict religious upbringings in Lebanon, &... Fun and then for some insane reason spiralled out of control in was! Because she reminded me of myself written book, with funny and interesting characters whose successes I invested. Top subscription boxes – right to your Goodreads account are no discussion topics on this book yet reviewer bought item...