The struggle as depicted in this book is so different from the current experiences of females in the USA, that it is really hard to use the term 'Feminist' as applied to both countries. The strongest emphasis in the book is on Feminism in the Middle East. The establishment of a Jewish homeland just wasn't done very well, and I feel sympathy for all who have been involved in that debacle! That doesn't mean that I am anti-Jewish or anti-Israeli. Suffice it to say that I have strong beliefs about what I see as the historical mistreatment of Palestinians that occurred when Western countries dispossessed them of their land. Of course, this is a problem that I can't fix and do not even attempt to completely understand. As an American citizen, I see this as very sad evidence that they are being misled by their political and religious leaders, similar to the way in which the Japanese people were misled by their leaders at the end of WWII.

The mistrust and hatred even extends to Muslims who live in or are educated in the USA. This book was published in 1996, so it was before Desert Storm/Shield, the war in Afghanistan, the extended war in Iraq, etc. One important message (to me), is the expression of the hatred the people in the Arab countries in the Middle East have for the USA. Hayate has studied and work in the USA and is on a grant to study in Tunisia. Although set in Tunisia, Hayate is from Lebanon, but cannot return because it isn't safe.

Accad writes about several young women in Tunisia, one of whom is the main character Hayate.

I've given this book 4 stars, not because I 'liked' it or really enjoyed it, but because I think there are important messages in it.

Wounding Words by Evelyne Accad