Random Things Tours: Daughters of the Nile by Zahra Barri

I am completely against the condescendence displayed towards debut authors. Someone´s first published book may be as telling and important as any other further writings by an author. With this mindset, I was delighted once again to have my assumption confirmed, Daughters of the Nile by comedian, author and blogger Zahra Barri has the strength of a confirmed literary voice. Adding debut to the novel does not make any difference from the point of view of the overall value of the book.

A multi-generational women story, starting in Paris in the 1940s and continuning until the early 2000s in Bristol, the three women from Bin-Khalid family do write their own stories of independence and sexual liberation. A phenomenon too much considered through Western eyes and ignoring contributions of women like Doria Shafik, a fierce Egyptian feminist that is a role model for many advocates of women rights.

Shafik´s inspiration for the characters of the book has a special historical meaning.The women characters however, enjoy their full literary independence, through the stories they are telling and their unique flavor of life. They are forced to take decisions that may change their lives, but they are active within a larger family and social relations, they may relate to. 

The complexity of the situations and the characters are approaches with humour and a certain easiness that makes the reader comfortable faced with so many important issues. It allows to build up a space allowing the reader to better understand the situations presented while taking stances for or against specific characters.

Daughters of the Nile reads as a saga, revealing identities and challenging ready-made narratives. First and foremost though, it develops alternative queer and feminist histories through intriguing characters. I can only hope the author will continue her literary investigation of the topic and will keep sharing more such stories.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own