No place in the ark

Author's name: Reham Ayad

*I must admit that the title reminded me of Reham's previous novel, "Jacob's Ladder." The biblical implication is clear, but in this novel it is different, and even a bit deceptive!
The story of Noah's Ark involves survival from destruction and the escape of those who entered it, as is well known. However, in the case of "Lydia," the novel's heroine, who is haunted by the same nightmare over and over again, she sees her grandfather in a dream and hears a voice telling her that she has no place on the ark! The central question in the work is: Who will survive and who will perish?
*This time, Reham Ayad boldly and gracefully delves into the folds of Egyptian Christian society, spanning stages from the 1990s to the present day. To her credit, she tackled the unspoken without hesitation! The stereotypical societal view of honor and chastity—female, of course—is uncontested across society in general, with all its various components, and it also doesn't differ on the abuse of its women!
The violation begins with brutal and barbaric circumcision—and as far as I know, circumcision has now declined significantly compared to previous decades—and then extends to restricting personal ambitions and practical fulfillment in favor of marriage! These are painful scenes that deeply hurt me!
*It is unfortunate that the violation reaches the level of sexual assault by close relatives. It starts with childish play exploring the facts of life, and ends with physical harassment by a close person working for her grandfather. The victim is forced to remain silent for fear of damaging her reputation, urged on by the harassing man's wife! What is painful is that the victim is driven to feel guilty and disgusted by some in church circles! What is painful is the lack of understanding from those who are supposed to be shepherds and servants! What pricks the hearts is the lack of compassion between those who deserve it and those who should offer it to those with wounded hearts, not poke their wounds and cauterize them with salt! It is an existing problem in any case, and we do not deny the existence of positive models on the other hand!
* Why do we alienate our children and husbands from us and then blame them for their reactions? Lydia was caught in a vicious circle of lack of understanding, starting with her father, then her mother, until the climax of the tragedy was completed with her marriage to Rami! It seems from the difference that he suffers from blindness of insight, imagining that he carries her on the palms of his hands, as he puts it, estranged and suffering for her and their two daughters, but he is rude, selfish, impulsive, and indifferent to her feelings even to the slightest extent! He does not consider her being worthy of any realization or existence, and denounces her simplest demands! He hardly pays attention to his flawed personality! A hideous case of numbness and self-righteousness wrapped in ritualistic religiosity and sensual desires!
* Amidst all the solid societal values ​​we claim, a closer look exposes all kinds of social vices and moral corruption that eat away at society from within! It's easier to blame the victim! The disappearance of a married woman with two daughters is a heavy stigma, especially if she's Christian. All sorts of scenarios become possible. It's astonishing that almost no one is aware of their role in her disappearance! It's easy to make accusations without certainty!
* How have Egyptians changed and lost some of their tolerance toward one another? Why has preoccupation with religious identity become a primary obsession dominating the minds of simple people, and perhaps even not so simple ones? Why can't Zainab and Lydia's friendship continue spontaneously without Zainab worrying about Lydia's fate in the afterlife?
* Why is the Christian community hallucinating in a vile and real way about some naive idea that songs and art are forbidden? Unfortunately, this exists to varying and serious degrees! A widespread dogmatism, sometimes terrifying, most of the time rigid, but thankfully currently being seriously confronted!
* Everyone rejected Lydia and didn't care for her. She finds no one in front of her but "Rafiq," whom she draws on the wall and broadcasts her stories, tales, and tragedies to! She draws him, hides him, and erases him according to the circumstances, and he, in turn, embodies himself to respond to her and listen to her! Oh, the pain!
* At first, I was somewhat confused when reading "No Place in the Ark," then I realized that Reham Ayad decided to skillfully manipulate us by moving the narrative between Lydia and Rami to understand what was going on in each of their minds! I think that Reham Ayad played the game well and mastered it! Gracefully, smoothly, lightly, without elongation, without sagging, without fear! She broke through all the taboos at once with a penetrating intelligence that is to her credit!
You almost can't put the novel down before you finish it, before you feel sympathy for Lydia, before her ordeal hurts, before your stomach churns from the cruelty of what Lydia has been through so much, before your eyes tear up because she found no one but "Rafiq" whom you draw to talk to!
Gradual alienation ends with complete departure!
* Parallel stories, no less painful, about the sick Sarah and poor Fadi! Family disintegration at its worst!
* "Our dark side is always hidden, but our bright side is so dazzling that it is dazzling."