Scan barcode
afterttherain's review
5.0
"We live in a time where knowledge, information, and ideologies are easily accessible. We do not need to hark back to the interpretations and teachings of old; we can and should instead determine for ourselves what it means to be a Muslim woman. In our pursuit of learning and finding meaning in our lives, we will always grow."
This might have been the hardest read for me so far this year. Not intellectually, just... emotionally, and how much I found my truth being reflected in these little fragments of stories - it makes me almost sad, somehow. The fact that our experiences may be unique but emotions are never unique to ourselves, it's a universal concept and that is... sad. It was interesting to see the different perspectives to this issue, though - and the idea that there is not a correct answer. At the end, an empowered woman is someone who lives their lives - it's not about what they choose, it's about the matter of them being the one making the choices in their lives. And even at that point, many of us are still ripped off that right.
Then again, life goes on, and I suppose we continue trying to make other people's truths better, and perhaps that is the most important thing. The formation of our identity is something that lasts a lifetime, and it's okay if I'm not the person I thought it would be. It's okay if the person I would be tomorrow is not the person I am today. The world still turns, somehow.
This might have been the hardest read for me so far this year. Not intellectually, just... emotionally, and how much I found my truth being reflected in these little fragments of stories - it makes me almost sad, somehow. The fact that our experiences may be unique but emotions are never unique to ourselves, it's a universal concept and that is... sad. It was interesting to see the different perspectives to this issue, though - and the idea that there is not a correct answer. At the end, an empowered woman is someone who lives their lives - it's not about what they choose, it's about the matter of them being the one making the choices in their lives. And even at that point, many of us are still ripped off that right.
Then again, life goes on, and I suppose we continue trying to make other people's truths better, and perhaps that is the most important thing. The formation of our identity is something that lasts a lifetime, and it's okay if I'm not the person I thought it would be. It's okay if the person I would be tomorrow is not the person I am today. The world still turns, somehow.
julyj's review
4.0
A great read on the collection of stories by Singaporean women. I've learned so much from the touching stories they bravely shared, struggles they had to overcome with the biggest overarching theme of finding their true identities as a result. Also loved how this book brings out my feminist and egalitarian side!
7luckythings's review
4.0
I have to admit, as a Malay-Muslim woman in Singapore, this book was a bit hard to read. Not because of the essays themselves but due to the truth I find in the stories from these ladies. I could relate to the pain, hope and dreams of these ladies like as if they were my own. Despite the uncomfortable truth in the experiences of these ladies, there was a sense of acceptance as I read through their stories, that whatever that I feel as a young Malay Muslim Singaporean woman is valid. I feel seen, which is rare.
ghostcats's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
afterttherain's review against another edition
5.0
"We live in a time where knowledge, information, and ideologies are easily accessible. We do not need to hark back to the interpretations and teachings of old; we can and should instead determine for ourselves what it means to be a Muslim woman. In our pursuit of learning and finding meaning in our lives, we will always grow."
This might have been the hardest read for me so far this year. Not intellectually, just... emotionally, and how much I found my truth being reflected in these little fragments of stories - it makes me almost sad, somehow. The fact that our experiences may be unique but emotions are never unique to ourselves, it's a universal concept and that is... sad. It was interesting to see the different perspectives to this issue, though - and the idea that there is not a correct answer. At the end, an empowered woman is someone who lives their lives - it's not about what they choose, it's about the matter of them being the one making the choices in their lives. And even at that point, many of us are still ripped off that right.
Then again, life goes on, and I suppose we continue trying to make other people's truths better, and perhaps that is the most important thing. The formation of our identity is something that lasts a lifetime, and it's okay if I'm not the person I thought it would be. It's okay if the person I would be tomorrow is not the person I am today. The world still turns, somehow.
This might have been the hardest read for me so far this year. Not intellectually, just... emotionally, and how much I found my truth being reflected in these little fragments of stories - it makes me almost sad, somehow. The fact that our experiences may be unique but emotions are never unique to ourselves, it's a universal concept and that is... sad. It was interesting to see the different perspectives to this issue, though - and the idea that there is not a correct answer. At the end, an empowered woman is someone who lives their lives - it's not about what they choose, it's about the matter of them being the one making the choices in their lives. And even at that point, many of us are still ripped off that right.
Then again, life goes on, and I suppose we continue trying to make other people's truths better, and perhaps that is the most important thing. The formation of our identity is something that lasts a lifetime, and it's okay if I'm not the person I thought it would be. It's okay if the person I would be tomorrow is not the person I am today. The world still turns, somehow.