Book Review: Syrian Brides by Anna Halabi

What an enjoyable and interesting set of stories! I’m generally not a fan of short stories; the necessarily abbreviated characterization usually leaves me feeling like I’m missing out on something and the plot suffers for me as a result. These stories read more like Aesop’s fables or anecdotal gossipy tales between friends though, and I enjoyed them for that.

Each offers an insightful lesson at the end; I must admit that I didn’t always see the connection between the “lesson” and the tale, but even when I didn’t, the tales AND lessons were worth reading. I particularly enjoyed the snarkier tales, in which comeuppance was delivered to the deserving. By mixing up the “heroes” and “villains” of the pieces, Halabi did an excellent job exploring the intricacies of familial and marital relationships.

Her ability to blend humor, violence, and wit made the tales more than just morality lessons and offered a lovely insight into a culture that is rich in color and flavor – much of which is unknown (or unacknowledged) in the West. The collection offers a chance to rectify that, and does it with a light touch that I found enjoyable and engaging, even when the subject matter was heavy.

It was an enjoyable read, and I thank the author for introducing it to me and offering me an obligation-free review copy.