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  <title><![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]></title>
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        <name><![CDATA[Leila Ahmed]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[I got this book for Christmas - my husband picked it out all by his onesie! - and I hoped for better things than Ahmad delivered.  This is a woman who has led an intriguing life...but she writes in a style that is at once ornate and tedious.  I got the impression that she thinks of her life as &quot;...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50072664">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[This book I just read for last months DOA book club. It was ok, its more of a memoir of Leila Ahmeds life growing up in Egypt at the time of British control and then the rule of Nasser. She is Muslim but not a practicing Muslim, that is she does not state anything negative about Islam in general as ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55657762">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[I first heard of Ahmed's autobiography from an interview she did with Krista Tippet for Speaking of Faith.  I was intrigued by her description of the harem in that interview  -- which resonated -- but was unprepared for the copious amounts of history, Egyptian specifically and Middle Eastern general...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60459041">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Absolutely outstanding memoir written by a thoughtful scholar of Islamic Women's studies. Ahmed weaves her memories of growing up in post-revolutionary Cairo with historical analyses of Egypt, Islam, women, Arab Nationalism, and identity issues. It's rare to find such a scholarly, thoughtful meditat...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/44040132">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[A fascinating feminist perspective of modern Egyptian history and how the rise of Arab nationalism affected individual lives. A great history lesson and memoir of a woman searching the define herself as Muslim, female, immigrant, etc.  This book strongly influenced my perceptions of current events i...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38592096">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Chris]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Heard the author interviewed on Fresh Air.  Stunning portrait of life for a young woman of privileged class in a second-world country, finding her way through the turmoil of post-colonialism into a deeper understanding of herself and the world we all occupy.  A memoir.  ]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <date_updated>Sat Apr 18 10:20:14 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[A fabulous read. Resonates with where I am at. I have strong socio-political views, I am on a journey of defining myself as &quot;woman&quot;: remaining feminine, playing hard where necessary and being a black professional in the Gulf- very enlightening journey indeed]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53129477]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53129477]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>8529523</id>
    <user>
    <id>128706</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Liz]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/128706-liz]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">68016</id>
  <isbn>0140291830</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780140291834</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">19</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170684386m/68016.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68016.A_Border_Passage_From_Cairo_to_America_A_Woman_s_Journey</link>
  <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>139</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <read_at>Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Nov 01 13:25:41 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Dec 09 09:13:54 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book effectively addresses the complications that exist in the crossing of different borders and cultures. Ahmed takes the time to introduce you to the life she lived as a young girl in Cairo. She takes you through the political situations and problems that shaped what Cairo has developed into ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8529523">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8529523]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8529523]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>77889718</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[sara]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Richmond, VA]]></location>
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  <isbn13>9780140291834</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">19</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170684386m/68016.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <date_added>Sun Nov 15 15:56:42 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 15 16:00:03 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[read it for a book club...glad to have read it to get a unique perspective...but the author contradicts herself over and over...if this falls under &quot;islam and feminism&quot;, it's quite pathetic...]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77889718]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77889718]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>21294479</id>
    <user>
    <id>1128268</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jillien]]></name>
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  <isbn13>9780140291834</isbn13>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170684386m/68016.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>139</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Apr 29 20:06:34 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 02 15:30:08 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I love autobiographies in general, but I especially loved this one. I really learned a lot about Egyptian history/politics, revealing a very tumultuous and transitory time in its history. (I especially found it interesting to learn about her father's position on the High Dam) Having lived in Cairo, ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21294479">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21294479]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21294479]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>15605516</id>
    <user>
    <id>357213</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Melinda]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Santa Cruz, CA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/357213-melinda]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170684386m/68016.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68016.A_Border_Passage_From_Cairo_to_America_A_Woman_s_Journey</link>
  <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>139</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Sat Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Feb 16 21:16:12 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Feb 16 21:51:15 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is an intellectually stimulating and beautifully memoir. It reflects the formative moments of Leila Ahmed's life while simultaneously investigating questions of imperialism, culture, religion, identity, feminism, race, literacy, politics, literature, Egypt, and Arabness at a level exceptionally...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15605516">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15605516]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15605516]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>3337201</id>
    <user>
    <id>123884</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jennifer]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Jamaica Plain, MA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/123884-jennifer]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">68016</id>
  <isbn>0140291830</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780140291834</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">19</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170684386m/68016.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68016.A_Border_Passage_From_Cairo_to_America_A_Woman_s_Journey</link>
  <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>139</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[those who want to learn about Egypt or Islam]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jul 20 20:01:52 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jul 20 20:01:52 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read this for a book club.  I really didn't know a lot about what's covered in this memoir--growing up in Egypt, the formation of Arab nationalism, what it's like to be a Muslim woman, what it's like to love aspects of the culture that has colonized you.  One of the most interesting things about t...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3337201">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3337201]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3337201]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>42190059</id>
    <user>
    <id>1846306</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Eileen]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Lethbridge, AB, Canada]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1846306-eileen]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">68016</id>
  <isbn>0140291830</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780140291834</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">19</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170684386m/68016.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68016.A_Border_Passage_From_Cairo_to_America_A_Woman_s_Journey</link>
  <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>139</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jan 06 22:48:32 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Feb 22 12:28:45 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[In this thoughtful memoir Ahmed reflects on multi-layered questions of identity in relation to gender, nation, and colonialism as well as family history, class, and schooling.  The text is unsentimental and consistently intellectually engaging.  To have a woman of Leila Ahmed intellectual stature (s...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42190059">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42190059]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42190059]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>1843721</id>
    <user>
    <id>125690</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Lee]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/125690-lee-del]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">68016</id>
  <isbn>0140291830</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780140291834</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">19</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170684386m/68016.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68016.A_Border_Passage_From_Cairo_to_America_A_Woman_s_Journey</link>
  <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>139</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[women and mark clark]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jun 11 07:45:39 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 21:13:07 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Ahmed's memoir describes her transformation from a privilaged child in British colonial Egypt to an Americanized feminist academic. I haven't got this far, but this is the quote from the person that suggested it to me:  &quot;Especially compelling is her defense of Islam as an inherently feminist re...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1843721">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1843721]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1843721]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>1012591</id>
    <user>
    <id>44555</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Angela]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Buenos Aires, Argentina]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/44555-angela-loft]]></link>
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  <isbn>0140291830</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780140291834</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">19</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170684386m/68016.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68016.A_Border_Passage_From_Cairo_to_America_A_Woman_s_Journey</link>
  <average_rating>3.73</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>139</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
  </description>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2003</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu May 03 12:48:51 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 18:51:07 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Leila Ahmed's tells the story of her childhood showing what she sees to be a real difference between the Islam the women in her family practiced and that which the men practiced. This story also helped me understand the Nasser era and colonialism in Egypt, what happened to the Jews who once lived th...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1012591">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1012591]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Colleen]]></name>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">19</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <read_at>Tue Aug 26 09:48:25 -0700 2008</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[Leila Ahmed is a beautiful writer. Her memoir is candid and successfully describes both the her viewpoint as a child and reflections on childhoon as an adult. It additionally, provides insight into women's Islam, women's roles in Egypt, and arab identity. I really like this book and would advise all...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12139691">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
  <id>19959874</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Tessa]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <read_at>Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Fri Apr 11 14:19:36 -0700 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[This is a fantastic autobiography by Ahmed about growing up female in Egypt after its independence from Britain, and then going West for her education and having to deal with two different cultures.  ]]></body>
    
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      <review>
  <id>4261171</id>
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    <id>227310</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Samuel]]></name>
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  <id type="integer">1271403</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America-A Woman's Journey]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1271403.A_Border_Passage_From_Cairo_to_America_A_Woman_s_Journey</link>
  <average_rating>4.60</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[A lyrical memoir--from Egyptian Muslim girlhood to American feminist womanhood.  <p> Leila Ahmed grew up in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s in a family that was eagerly and passionately political. Although many in the Egyptian upper classes were firmly opposed to change, the Ahmeds were proud supporters of independence. But the family's opposition to Nasser's policies led to persecutions that would set their youngest child on a journey across cultures and through some of the major transformations of our century: the end of colonialism and the European empires, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of the multireligious society that had thrived in Egypt.  <p>Through university in England and teaching jobs in Abu Dhabi and America, Ahmed sought to define herself-and to understand how the world defined her-as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. Her search touched on language and nationalism, on variations in men's and women's ways of knowing, and on vastly different interpretations of Islam. In the end she arrived at an ardent but critical feminism and an insider's understanding of multiculturalism and religious pluralism. In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of her Cairo youth and the fierce beauty of the Arabian desert, Ahmed has provided a story that can help us understand the passages between cultures that so affect our global society.</p></p>]]>
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  <date_added>Wed Aug 08 09:52:19 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 04:18:48 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[&quot;we are so used to the idea of Egypt as 'Arab' that it seems unimaginable that Egyptians ever thought of themselves as anything else.&quot;<br/><br/>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4261171]]></url>
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      <review>
  <id>36834668</id>
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    <id>229919</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Julie]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <read_at>Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Wed Aug 05 08:38:46 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I could have sworn I reviewed this book when I finished reading it.  Apparently I was a fan.]]></body>
    
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      <review>
  <id>9768420</id>
    <user>
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    <name><![CDATA[Gabrielle]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey]]>
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    <![CDATA[In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.<br/><br/>As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.<br/><br/>An Egyptian woman's &quot;richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism.&quot; --<em>The New York Times Book Review</em>]]>
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  <read_at>Thu Jan 03 12:05:58 -0800 2008</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[overall a decent book. at times incredibly profound. worth reading. ]]></body>
    
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