The story that Fartumo shared one of family, love, fear, racism, the inner turmoil of her countries people. This story was so very personal and from a women's point of view and yet many different perspectives still. Idil character gives you the unique opportunity to see and feel such experiences This is a beautiful book. I hope that she continues to write and share her stories. It is really important for people to understand one another's struggles of intersectionality within other cultures. Different classes and power struggles exist, Idil's character reminds us of how much gender imbalance and struggle still exist. Time and time again we see that gap, women fall short, have no rights, and all too often were blamed for the actions of a man. If stories are told and people talk about it this is how things begin to change.
Fartumo book helps you to understand Somalia's government struggles, its people, and how the minorities were not given their rights. These being the Boon tribe. This is all based on a social class system and when Idil fell in love with a Boon this was the same as choosing to end her connection with her family.
This type of social stratification based on how one looks and social construct occurs time and time again in all societies. Here in Somalia, it is extreme. To a point where they have taken the rights of the Boon people away. All because one group of people feel they are better than the other. This is what is so powerful about this story. It is so common for one group of people to try and take the power away from another group. By doing exactly what is done here. We have learned this is and has been ingrained in the what the "world's culture" now to believe lighter skin is more acceptable.
But this must stop. Again I believe this is why books like hers are so important. It shows the inner truth of all people. The beauty of all people. Power/Money used wrong is ugly. "Beauty" whatever the current definition used wrong can be ugly. The people in her story time and time again were accused of being the ugly, unintelligent, and not happy. But they were the opposite they had such indomitable characters.
If I was a book critique, which I am not I would honestly compare her book to the "Life of Pi" due to the fact that Idil had every reason to come out and be angry, hurt, and bitter. Not even really make it at all. But yet she did.
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