In the Shadow of Her Voice. A Memoir of an Arab Woman

Isn't it amazing how quickly we claim to "know" someone?  I have "known" Muna Alyusuf - in this very casual sense of the word - for a number of years. We met in the UK where she worked as a training manager. We worked together on a number of assignments and we regularly spoke on the phone. She came across as a strong, professional woman and I appreciated her openness and straightforwardness. At a time when companies send meaningless "Seasons' Greetings", this devout Muslim woman would wish me "Merry Christmas" and I knew she meant it from the bottom of her heart.

But little did I know the real story behind Muna Alyusuf. When I read Muna's book "In the Shadow of Her Voice", I was deeply touched by this powerful demonstration of courage. She narrates her life journey from her upbringing in a a small town in Eastern Saudi Arabia, the struggles of a liberal Arab woman who is deeply connected not only to her family but to the spiritual foundation of her tribal society yet finds it impossible to accept the boundaries that her society sets for her and other women. Muna has the fighting spirit of a lioness and her honesty is inspiring and shocking at times. She combines the frankness of a thoroughly modern feminist, the knowledge of an avid learner, keen reader and eager scholar with the poetry of the Arab culture and Muslim wisdom in search of her identity. 

In the Shadow of Her Voice. A Memoir of an Arab Woman is published by Fatema Sanctuary Publishing and is available on Amazon.
  

 

ยป