by Eman Quotah
Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published in USA
Jan 2021
312 pages
Genre: Novels
Publication Information
A spellbinding debut of colliding cultures, immigration, religion, and family; an intimate portrait of loss and healing; and, ultimately, a testament to the ways we find ourselves inside love, distance, and heartbreak.
"I love the sea," she said. "I don't know if I could live without it."
During a snowy Cleveland February, newlywed university students Muneer and Saeedah are expecting their first child, and he is harboring a secret: the word divorce is whispering in his ear. Soon, their marriage will end, and Muneer will return to Saudi Arabia, while Saeedah remains in Cleveland with their daughter, Hanadi. Consumed by a growing fear of losing her daughter, Saeedah disappears with the little girl, leaving Muneer to desperately search for his daughter for years. The repercussions of the abduction ripple outward, not only changing the lives of Hanadi and her parents, but also their interwoven family and friends―those who must choose sides and hide their own deeply guarded secrets.
And when Hanadi comes of age, she finds herself at the center of this conflict, torn between the world she grew up in and a family across the ocean. How can she exist between parents, between countries?
"Quotah's deft characterization and pacing, combined with an inside look at Saudi Arabian life, make this debut a compelling and worthy read." - Booklist (starred review)
"Saeedah's side of the story, in many ways the most intriguing, is also the most shadowy, and one wishes it were more fleshed out. But Quotah, born in Jidda to an American mother and Saudi father, depicts Saudi culture in engrossing detail, from fruit-scented shisha smoke to traditional wedding customs...A rich, finely rendered novel." - Kirkus Reviews
"[A]lluring...The narrative's delicacy belies the weight of its themes, and descriptions are etched with precision (Saeedah's 'nerves are elastic pulled tight'). Quotah's resonant, neatly plotted outing will be a treat for readers who love fractured family dramas." - Publishers Weekly
"A beautifully intricate family drama about a young woman torn between her parents and two worlds." - PopSugar
"This lovely novel traces the life of a young woman caught between parents and cultures, from Saudi Arabia to America, and brings both worlds to life in all their complexities." - Shilpi Somaya Gowda, author of The Shape of Family
"Bride of the Sea is a marvel. Eman Quotah has such compassion for her characters―especially the unforgettable Hannah―while uncovering new ideas about pacing and structure. This is an intricately realized novel that honors every place it depicts." - Rakesh Satyal, author of No One Can Pronounce My Name
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Eman Quotah grew up in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, and Cleveland, Ohio. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, USA Today, The Toast, The Establishment, Book Riot, and other publications. She lives with her family near Washington, D.C.
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