Married to a Stranger by Nahid Rachlin

This is not the best book I’ve ever read by any stretch of the imagination, but moved me nonetheless.  Although the overall voice of the book is rather juvenile, this only adds to the horror of arranged marriages.  Imagine being forced to marry someone you’ve never even met at just fourteen or fifteen.  Or even younger.  It is an unfortunate fact that there are still women and girls in this world who don’t have to imagine.  They know.

Minou was lucky in that she had at least met her husband, and that her father took her wishes into consideration.  Granted, Minou’s judgement proved unwise, but at least she had that much of a choice.

This books is very powerful for all it’s childish simplicity.  I wish, though, that some of the stories the women submitted for Minou’s magazine had been given in full.

Rating:  3.75 out of 5 stars