Hend and the Soldiers

Banned in the author’s native Saudi Arabia, Albeshr’s engrossing novel expounds on life as a woman in that nation. Hend, an aspiring storyteller, learns at an early age to live in “fear of the fury” her voice might incite in others. Her domineering mother, Heila, regularly punishes Hend for perceived violations to their conservative culture. As Hend grows older, she collects stories about oppression caused by many of the country’s prohibitions. She realizes that her brothers, Fahad and Ibrahim, are affected by societal pressures as well. When Hend meets Waleed, an intelligent and sensitive man, she becomes increasingly conflicted, struggling between her desire for happiness and her obligations to her family and community. Hend must decide whether she is willing to resign herself to her hardships. Dhahir’s translation is skilled and supports Albeshr’s fluid prose. Albeshr’s tale exemplifies how ideologies can be used to justify cruelty, and how the subjugated can become soldiers defending the abuses they endure while imposing similar pain on others. The book also contains glimpses of how Saudi Arabia has changed since the 1960s, including King Faisal abolishing slavery, women gaining access to government education, and booms in oil wealth reshaping the country. The use of footnotes, an accompanying introduction, and interview with the author bring deeper context to this poignant novel. [em](May) [/em]