This collection of short stories, some of which are connected around the same characters, tells stories of women coming of age in Cairo, London, and New York between the 1960s to 1980s. As an expatriate tale it's important to realize that these are the stories of a more privileged class than a representative Egyptian work. Nevertheless, Soueif's protagonists deal with struggles including discrimination, failed marriages, and miscarriage. Souief's writing style is spare and these feel more like vignettes than stories. Her lyrical approach seems to be trying to capture emotions more than stories, but doesn't go far enough to make a connection with the reader. ( )

Very disappointing, frustrating, and confusing. The stories were written as though the narrator was writing only for herself--no explanations of what had happened, who the people were she was talking about (who were often just referred to as "he" or "she" rather than by name). As a reader, I want to engage with a book, not feel frozen out of it. ( )