Early Review: The Ruins of Us
15 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in New Release Reviews Tags: fiction, islam, marriage, muslims, polygamy, saudi arabia
The Ruins of Us by Keija Parssinen (pub date 1/17/12)
What would you be willing to do to marry someone from another culture? Imagine changing your religion, learning a new language, and moving to another continent to be with the person you love.
The Ruins of Us is about a woman who has done just that. Rosalie is a beautiful American, born in Texas, who is married to a sheik named Abdullah. Rosalie left her life behind to live with Abdullah in Saudi Arabia, and quickly adapted to Saudi culture. She converted to Islam, learned Arabic, and dressed and acted as was expected of the women in Abdullah’s country. Together they raised two children, and enjoy the life of luxury that Abdullah’s wealth has provided. But Rosalie’s illusions of a happy life are quickly shattered when she inadvertently learns that Abdullah has taken a second wife, and had been keeping his other marriage a secret for two years.
Shaken and angry, Rosalie starts to reconsider her life with Abdullah and her place in Saudi culture. What is interesting about the book is that it also considers Abdullah’s perspective on the marriage. He is shown as a man who cares deeply for his wife, yet finds himself yearning for the person she was before they were married. It is an interesting paradox to think that he fell in love with Rosalie because she was not like Saudi women, while knowing deep down that she would have to adapt to Saudi culture in order to be accepted by his family, and later resenting her for it.
The turmoil in Rosalie and Abdullah’s marriage makes them too preoccupied to see its effects on their teenage children. Their daughter Mariam years to be a more modern woman, and begins pushing the boundaries of acceptable behavior for girls at her school. Their son Faisal takes the opposite approach; he falls in with a group of radical Muslim fundamentalists, and comes to hate his own American heritage.
This is a powerful debut novel. The characters are bold and dynamic. It is interesting to contemplate Rosalie’s character, a woman who prides herself on her independence and spirit, yet who chose to live in a country where she is not legally permitted to drive a car. Abdullah is not entirely unsympathetic; he loves his wife but is conflicted by what is acceptable in his culture and how it affects his marriage. This is a story about love and loyalty that is both well written and engaging. It’s a relevant and entertaining read from a great new author!
