Daughters of the Nile

I was so excited to read this novel by Zahra Barri, and I feel like it did not disappoint!
Daughters of the Nile follows three generations of women from the Bin-Khalid family, Fatiha, Yasminah, and Nadia. The stories of these women span through the years of 1940-2013 and take place in the areas of Paris, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and England. The novel goes back and forth through time and places weaving the stories of these women intricately, while sharing their stories of love, loss, struggles, and empowerment. Though each story is different, somehow they are similar in that all go through life navigating hardships while exuding courage and determination on their paths to figure out who they are and what they truly want in life. I loved the fact that this novel was inspired by the life of Doria Shafik, a feminist who was a key figure in women’s liberation in Egypt whose actions helped grant Egyptian women the right to vote under the Egyptian constitution. I also really appreciated the glossary at the end of the book that helped a non-Arabic speaking person such as myself to learn and understand some of the terms used in the book that I might not otherwise be familiar with. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Unbound Firsts Publishing and Zahra Barri (via NetGalley) for this Advanced Reading Copy of Daughters of the Nile in exchange for an honest review.

Spanning 70 years across Paris, Tehran, Cairo and London, this story follows three generations of women from the Bin-Khalid family, who all play a role in contributing to gender and identity politics of their time, whilst navigating the Islamic faith in which they were raised.

This story is beautifully woven, and often confronting in detail. The characters are complex and flawed, wrestling with their identities whilst bravely advocating for understanding and change.

What I loved the most about this story was the contrast in the identity expressions of Fatiha, Yasminah and Nadia, and how these lead to misunderstandings between each of the women, when in fact, they are all broadly advocating for the same thing; equal rights for women and marginalized people.

Navigation and interpretation of faith was also a central theme in this book, and I enjoyed how this was expressed by each of the women, particularly Yasminah, who whilst arguably lives the most alternative lifestyle of the three women, also displays the deepest connection and commitment to her faith.

Overall Zahra Barri has created an enjoyable and insightful novel, and I would recommend this to readers who are interested in feminist and identity politics and the intersection of these themes with faith. I look forward to reading more from Zahra Barri in the future.

This captivating multigenerational saga follows the lives of Yasminah, Nadia, and Fatiha from the 1940s to 2013. Set against the backdrop of the Middle East, Africa, London, and Paris, the narrative weaves a tapestry of struggles, triumphs, romances, and heartaches.

What truly stands out is the intricate character development, as each woman's journey is intricately connected despite the vast geographical and temporal distances. The author's meticulous attention to historical accuracy adds depth and richness to the storytelling, making the book informative and engaging.

While Yasminah, Nadia, and Fatiha belong to different eras, their quests for self-empowerment resonate powerfully throughout the narrative, offering a poignant and universal message. A must-read for those seeking an immersive and thought-provoking exploration of womanhood across generations. It is highly recommended for its compelling storytelling and resonant themes.

NetGalley Review 📚

Daughters of the Nile - Zahra Barri
Published by @unbounders

This will be my first ARC review and it feels only right to say that this book jumped out at me straight away, the description and the cover.

Daughters of the Nile is a multi-generational story about three women from the same family. At its heart it is a feminist book about liberation and queerness and the love, struggles and misunderstandings between these women.

I felt that, for each of these woman, you really felt for their struggles with each other but also with themselves and their position and place within the society they live in. Whether that be Egypt or England (or other). The oppression and hardships faced by these women shaped who they became and also how they reacted to circumstances and people around them.

I really felt all the emotions reading this book, it is at times heart wrenching but also very funny. You root for the characters to communicate and overcome their obstacles and to find understanding with each other and you laugh plenty of times on the journey with them.

I learned so much from this book about Egypt and the feminist movements mentioned in the book. It makes you want to go wild on google and learn as much as possible.

Thanks so much. To @netgalley and @unbounders for allowing me the chance to read this book. I know I will be recommending this for sure and will be grabbing a hard copy of the book to put on my shelves at home.

Read if you like:

•queer stories
•feminism
•bisexual representation
•Islamic themes

#zahrabarri #netgalleyreview #arcreviewer #unbounders #booklover #queerbooks #feministbooks #bookstagrammer #daugtersofthenile

The authors deeply intimate style of writing takes you on an incredible journey with the three generations of women that feature in this book.
The attention to historical detail is excellent, spanning from 1940's to 2010's.
Set across multiple landscapes, including the Middle East, Paris and London.
As well as being completely engrossed in the storyline, I amassed new knowledge on many aspects of countries and cultures different to my own.
To be Muslim and queer....the complexity of being true to yourself, finding your own place in society....I did not want this book to end!

I really enjoyed reading this, it had everything that I was looking for and thought the use of multi-generational and in different settings worked wonderfully. I thought the overall realism worked well in the story and thought it was beautifully done. I enjoyed the way Zahra Barri wrote this and can’t wait to read more.

The are three generations of women from the Bin-Khalid family, Fatiha, Yasminah, and Nadia followed throughout the story. It takes place from the 1940s to 2013 in several countries in the Middle East, Africa, London and Paris. It discusses stories of struggles, triumphs, loves and losses. Their lives are intertwined throughout the book. The character development is very engaging. The author's fastidious attention to the historical details throughout the story was fascinating. Although these are three different women during different times, their stories aren't so different. Self empowerment was a strong theme present in the storyline. I highly recommend this book.