Barnard Authors' Shelf

It starts with a cigarette caught out a window in Marrakesh and unravels into a searing coming-of-age story. In Rim Battal's autobiographical novel, translated into English by alumna Liza Tripp '03, seventeen-year-old Rim's mother responds to that small transgression with fury, demanding a gynecological test to certify her daughter's virginity. What follows is a nuanced, unflinching journey through a patriarchal society where generations of women have learned to preserve the very traditions that constrain them; until Rim, confronting betrayal from those closest to her, finally breaks the cycle and dares to become herself. Join us for a conversation with Rim Battal (in the States from France for her book tour!) and Liza Tripp as they discuss the novel, its journey into English, and the courage it took to tell this story.