The Forbidden Woman

“Malika Mokeddem, through her autobiographical character of Sultana and an intriguing supporting cast, gives us a rich and relevant description of the steep divide in the geography of her soul—one educated beyond the boundaries of the extreme element of Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria, and one that yearns for home. The Forbidden Woman is a short, lush, and provocative novel. It provides a piercing view of the inner life of anyone who must live in exile, both physically and emotionally, along with a necessary and practical understanding of the current prognosis for most of Algeria’s women. At once unsettling and enjoyable.”—Bloomsbury Review|“Through the narratives of Sultana and Vincent, Mokeddem creates an interesting dual perspective on the plight of contemporary Algerian women struggling to preserve female strength in the midst of sexist culture. While Sultana’s pain seems irremediable, hope lies in the fresh determination of Delila and also in the active resistance of the village women who finally band together in solidarity with Sultana to defy oppression.”—Rachel Stein, Multicultural Review