The Cry of the Dove: A Novel

by Fadia Faqir

Book Overview

"Exquisitely woven."--Leila Aboulela Timely and lyrical, The Cry of the Dove is the story of one young woman and an evocative portrait of forbidden love and violated honor in a culture whose... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802170404
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Grove Press, Black Cat
• Length: 282 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Good writing overall but I don't like the style...

The story itself was intriguing, heartbreaking and very well written. But omigosh, sometimes you just wanted to slap the main character and tell her to get over it. BUT I understand that the main theme of the book is her struggle between her present and past, which is something that isn't easy to overcome for anyone. What I disliked most was the style of writing used in the book. It was so confusing to try and follow all the back and forth thoughts between what she was experiencing in the present vs. a flashback from the past. One paragraph she would be sitting in a bar talking to someone and the next paragraph would start out with, "Hills, far, far away, soft fluffy clouds, his hair and oranges..." I'm thinking, what the mess is she talking about? It's hard to get a hang of and I didn't really get used to the style until well past half way through the book. Once you're used to it, then it's easier to read. It's definitely not a feel good book, like another reviewer mentioned. It's a downer for sure, haha

Cry of the Dove

The Cry of the Dove is a compelling story of a woman forsaken by her family and running for her life. Salma must flee her country to escape being murdered due to her sexual exploits with a boy from her village. She seeks refuge in jail where she remains for years. Her child is immediately taken away from her at birth and her life is a series of disappointments and confusion. Eventually, she emigrates to England but never feels safe or comfortable. Her very physical appearance constantly reminds her of her inferiority in her new country. The loss of her daughter has eliminated any hope for happiness. Even when she finds happiness, it is not enough. Her return to her country is a form of suicide but one that she cannot resist. Her daughter cries for her and she must answer. I found the book very powerful and sad. I think the author did a fine job of capturing the plight of many women who are in Salma's position. I agree that the switching from past to present was confusing at times but reflected her own confusion between her past life and her current existence.

A multi-layered novel about the difficulty of self-forgiveness.

As a professor of English in a state university and teacher of Middle Eastern Women Writers I am always looking for novels that will challenge my students. I have used Faqir's second novel Pillars of Salt on several occasions. I was eager to assign The Cry of the Dove this semester. I had never read it before and I read it along with my students. Our first reaction to Salma's inability to forgive herself and to "get over it" was based on the idea that she wasn't trying hard enough to settle into her new life in Exeter. However, after completing the novel my students and I came to understand the difficulty she had in adjusting to the country that was now to be her home. Her landlady lives a parallel life, the shop keeper across the road lives as an outsider, her Welsh friend lives with a sense of distrust for the English. How, we concluded, could we expect Salma to behave much differently than she did. Her early sexual experiences were brutal and abusive, her pregnancy blamed entirely on her, her protective custody, flight to the convent and eventually England did nothing to encourage her to forgive herself for her moment of adolescent indescretion. My students and I predicted the conclusion but wanted to avoid reading it. We knew what would happen. This novel continues Faqir's theme of womens' lack of power in the face of the male establishment, specifically, male relatives. The author clearly follows the themes of immigration, empowerment, personal power and cultural tradition. Pillars of Salt is, I believe, more powerfully and skillfully written. But The Cry of the Dove tackles the harsh realities of a woman who cannot escape her past and the damage it has done to her.