Fadia Faqir: Pillars Of Salt

[abecedarian]

Excellent story of two Jordanian women who share a room in a mental hospital. The writer switches points of view in each chapter, so that the women share glimpses into the reasons they're locked up. A third narrator, The Storyteller, keeps the story moving along, filling in details from a more detached vantage point.

 

[Stewart]

Excellent story of two Jordanian women who share a room in a mental hospital.

But what's it really about? Is there something far deeper?

 

[abecedarian]

But what's it really about? Is there something far deeper?

This is a story about injustice and oppression, and centers primarily on two women of different backgrounds forced to share a room in mental hospital. As Maha, a widowed peasant from the Jordan Valley, and Um Saad, replaced wife of a butcher from Amman, share life stories, we get a glimpse of the struggles women face in a male-dominated society.

 

[RitalinKid]

I recognize the term "Pillars of Salt" as a Biblical reference to Lot's wife. Does the author build on that?

 

[abecedarian]

I recognize the term "Pillars of Salt" as a Biblical reference to Lot's wife. Does the author build on that?

She does mention the story of Lot, but not really in relation to Mrs. Lot..I could have missed it, but I don't think so.