Nujood remembers a time when her rural Yemen village was idyllic. Early childhood was blessed as she played with her sisters. Food was plentiful, and her parents were loving. Of course, she was a proper girl and always did what her father and brothers told her.
Life changed suddenly, when for reasons no one explained, the family packed up and moved to a large city to live in the slums. Her father became addicted to the euphoria produced by chewing khat and the whole family suffered. As life grew more desperate, Nujood's older siblings disappeared. Nearly alone, Nujood discovers that her father is planning to marry her off at the age of 10 to a man three time her age. Terrified, she appeals to her mother, her uncles, her brothers to no avail. She is married.
Hauled back to that "idyllic" village, that is now a living hell, she is beaten by her mother-in-law by day and raped by her husband every night, despite his promise to her father to leave her alone until she comes of age. After moths of torture, Nujood escapes and declares that she will no longer obey the men in her life.
Nujood had nothing in her life or childhood that would have taught her to stand up for herself, and yet she does. She is unsure and scared, as and child would be, but she is also determined.
Written relatively quickly following her release, the novel sounds childlike which seems odd and perfect for this horrible story of child abuse. Nujood is so very genuine. It is the adults who are drawn in the extremes of a child's black and white world, evil is dark while good is unbelievably divine. Still, the adults are not stereotyped, just portrayed through a child's eyes as she searches for understanding.
To say that I enjoyed this story seems wrong, but it touched my soul, and I sorrowed for those girls around the world who are used by men and society. I am grateful that, for now, I can still protect my little ones.
Originally published 8/10/10
No comments:
Post a Comment