One woman's love story (Forbidden Love - Norma Khouri)

Member Name: idoodooyou

Product:	Forbidden Love - Norma Khouri
Date:	25/04/08 (108 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great book, toughing and moving

Disadvantages: Very sad, hard to read in parts

Think about the one person in your life that you truly love. Remember how you first met that person, got to know them, and eventually built on a relationship that you hope can last the test of time........ Now imagine thatt this relationship is frowned upon, in fact, more than frowned upon. Imagine that by having any sort of contact with this new special person you are breaking some sort of law of the land, this new and wonderful relationship must be conducted in secret for should you be found out you, your lie shall be punishable by Death.....

Forbidden love is the story of Dalia,a young Arabian Muslim girl. The book was written by her best friend and business partner Norma Khouri and published in 2004.

Dalia and Norma grew up together in Amman Jordan and were both from strict muslim families. Having finished school they convinced thier fathers to set them up in business in a salon as they did not want the lives of their mothers and their mothers before them, destined to a life of domination at the hands of the husbands chosen for them by their families.
Their business grew into a steady little earner but both girls simply enjoyed the freedom. After being escorted to work in the morning by one of their brothers, they would enjoy a sneaky coffee and cigarette, or a quick chat with the girls about fashion or make-up.

They often dreamt of life away from Amman, in beautiful foreign countries with civilised men who treated women as their equals, with respect. Perhaps this is what first drew Dalia to Michael, a young Catholic Major in the Royal Army. He came for a haircut and the girls knew straight away that he was different to any man they knew. Slowly Dalia and Michael started to become closer and it was not long before a group of them starting meeting up in secret. Of course Norma worried for the safety of her best friend, especially when she spoke of runing away with Michael, but she too got a little carried away by the excitement of this new way of life they were all sharing.

After a few near misses with their families, Shortly after her 26th birthday Dalia seems to develop a terrible paranoia that her father and brothers are treating her strangely. She makes a last whispered call to Norma saying she is really scared but by the time Norma calls for her friend the following morning it is too late, for during the night she has been murdered by her father and his sons in an honour killing......


This truly is a sad story, and highlights the everyday plight of women all over the world. The book is written from the heart of a girl who simply misses her best friend and stands to remind us all of just how easy we have it.

Published 2004
256 Pages
Now available for £1.49 from Amazon

Summary: Fantastic story, really sad... I cried!!