Title: Light of the Desert
Author: Lucette Walters
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-4918-4256-0
Pages: 590
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Aaron Washington

Read Book Review

Even before commencing the first chapter, the author creatively introduces the reader to a world of suspense and mystery and a welcome to a thrilling story. March 21, 1993; the introduction part tells of a girl who is being dragged down to a pool by her father. The girl is obviously in torment as she has been savagely kicked, hurt to the point of bleeding and is now being drowned. Later in the book, the reader gets to know that the girl is named Noora, and she was being unfairly punished just because of something involving her jealous sister, Zaffeera. I admired that the author had me guessing and thus increased my urge to read the book further.

On the first chapter, we are introduced to Yasmina Fendil, a hardworking and obedient wife in a traditional Egyptian family. I liked how the author portrayed Yasmina. She was always submissive to her husband, always faithful even though her husband was previously a playboy and still made out with other women when he traveled for business. Yasmina and her mother Sultana were the pillars of her home. As for Farid, Yasmina’s husband, he was the head of the family and the sole provider; we could see how these two women had an impact on the family and their society.

Though the society in Light of the Desert is completely patriarchal, we can see how important the feminine aura in their daily life is. The male gender always dominated every aspect of the family, even disregarding logic in emergency matters. The incident where Yasmina had to go through a cesarean operation so as to give birth to her third child, Zaffeera, was the peak moment where I found patriarchy to be irrational. Here is a woman, who could lose her life if not attended to, but the males; her husband, the Sheik and other men were still debating on whether to consent to the operation or not. Sultana was my heroine at this moment. She was up against the societal rules if it meant saving Yasmina. She was ready to face any consequence later on, but her daughter Yasmina had to be attended by the English doctors.

Zaffeera’s envy of Noora’s life, especially seeing how in love Noora was with her fiancé Michel and the events that followed made the book interesting to read. Though younger, she wanted to be the controlling sister and felt superior to Noora. The introduction text in the book is later explained in a detailed and absorbing style. A jealous sister who frames her sibling, making her suffer and even run so as to stay safe.

The author wrote a really beautiful piece of literature that is full of adventure, lessons and a great plot. Basing the story on an Egyptian family which had a blend of both traditional modern aspects of life was genius of the author. Her style of writing is nothing but fantastic. I enjoy reading books which use stylistic devices like metaphors, sayings and similes. There is also symbolism in the book, and an array of themes; romance, the family setting, betrayal, education, femininity and diversity in culture and societal norms. Light of the Desert is a great piece of literary art.