Fatima's Room by Charlotte S. Gray
This short novel is intense. Fatima is a young woman, a middle daughter in a family of six girls. Her father is strict and often cruel. As the book opens we learn that Fatima is staying in a room by herself at her maternal uncle's. She is there because she has caused her father's death. We gradually learn the circumstances of this, the decision that the family will be undertaking about her fate, and how various other members of her family feel about this.
Fatima was able to be in college because her aunt and grandmother arranged it while her father was away. She longs for a future as a writer, and her uncle has given her a blank book and encouraged her to write while she is waiting. It is the time of Ramadan, and the verdict will come after this time is over.
The novel was inspired by the author's work in Sudan with the education of young women, as they told her of their lives and dreams after growing to trust her. She was aware of the limited lives these woman faced, and of punishments such as honour killings for various rebellious acts. She began to wonder what would happen to someone who struck out in anger, fear, or frustration with such a result. We see her feelings about realizing this is the first time she's had a room of her own.
We see Fatima struggle as she is offered options, and the guilt she feels along with the relief. A very interesting read.
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