The Flavor of Cultures, by Weam Namou
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The Flavor of Cultures, by Weam Namou
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Mervat was born in Iraq as a minority Christian and in the late 1970s and came to America at age two. Torn between her cultural heritage which dates back over 7300 years and the new land of freedom and opportunity, she watches friends live an Americanized lifestyle while she clings onto Middle Eastern traditions, all along yearning for the courage to follow her own path, to "Trust thyself" as Ralph Waldo Emerson emphasized. Then she meets Johnny, the perfect potential suitor, but he brings along multiple complications. As their relationship faces its challenges, Mervat's desire for having individuality while maintaining her tribal lifestyle escorts her to the discovery of unexpected cultures and beliefs.
The Flavor of Cultures, by Weam Namou- Amazon Sales Rank: #4160522 in Books
- Published on: 2015-03-14
- Original language: English
- Dimensions: 8.50" h x .67" w x 5.50" l,
- Binding: Paperback
- 268 pages
About the Author Weam Namou is an Iraqi American author, filmmaker and journalist. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Wayne State University, studied fiction and memoir writing through various corresponding courses, poetry in Prague through the University of New Orleans and screenwriting at the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan. Her poetry, essays and articles have appeared in national and international journals. www.weamnamou.com
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Fascinating Coming-of-age Tale Illuminates a Misunderstood Community By Elisabeth Khan This gem-like novel, like everything else by this author ("The Feminine Art" ;"A Mismatched Braid"), deserves a wider audience. Weam Namou writes about the American Chaldean community that she was born in with great love and a subtle sense of humor, without sweeping its imperfections under the rug. In doing so, she is the only author that I know of who is able to shed some light on this tight-knit group of Middle-Eastern immigrants, known by most people in the Detroit area only as the "Arab" owners of their local supermarket, party store, or gas station. In the Old Testament, Abraham is described as coming from "Ur of the Chaldeans," located in Mesopotamia, the fertile land between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, home to the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians — present-day Iraq. Not surprising then, that Chaldeans are quick to point out how, as speakers of a modern form of Aramaic (the language Jesus spoke), they are not Arabs (although most speak Arabic as a second language) and they are not Muslims, but devout Catholics, one of the earliest Christian communities in the world. Nevertheless, their day-to-day culture shares a lot with that of their Arab neighbors, especially in the realm of folk tales, cuisine, and family values. Chaldeans started migrating to the USA fairly early in the 20th century, their numbers swelling from the late 1960s, when Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party came to power in their homeland, and even more dramatically as a result of the Iraq wars and the political instability following them. Because of their strong mutual support system, they were able to carve out a prosperous new life, without disappearing into the American melting pot. The book's protagonist and narrator, Merwat Putris (aged 19 at the start of the book), remembers nothing of the country where she was born, relying instead on stories from her elder sisters to understand her family's roots. Almost every situation in her life evokes memories of those tales, which include family lore as well as stories from the Arabian Nights and the Bible. These many stories-within-the-story are the spice that gives this novel its unique flavor. Merwat is expected to marry a suitable boy within her community, and pursues an associate's degree in a local community college while waiting for an acceptable suitor to present himself. Marriage (leading to financial security and kids) and a honeymoon in an exotic locale are presented as the rewards for preserving her virtue, and above all her reputation, in the midst of the temptations of America. Observing the lives of her siblings, Merwat fears that what follows may be an anti-climax of sorts, filled with dirty diapers and in-law quarrels, and she secretly aspires to a life of travel and freedom. The writer skilfully takes us inside Merwat's head and heart as she deals with the difficulties imposed on her by her cultural background while taking her first tentative steps into adult life and romantic love. With equal skill Ms. Namou unveils the cultural richness of a whole unknown world that thrives within the walls of our Chaldean neighbors' homes.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Where's the rub? By Jim Clark A film version of Hamlet from the 1940s began with a statement about the hero: "this is the tragedy of a man who could not make up his mind." With a slight change in wording a description could be made of the very different heroine of The Flavor of Cultures: this is the tragedy of a young woman who could not make up her own mind. Mervat, nineteen, spends most of the story coming to grips with her Middle Eastern background while living in modern day Detroit among fellow Chaldeans. Although her neighbors hail from ancient Christian communities in Iraq they have deep ties and strong habits of thought that have developed over millennia. Now Mervat must translate the old rules, customs, beliefs, and ancient legends that comprise her viewpoint into something more amenable to two different cultures, to put it mildly. Weam Namou sets this coming of age story of Mervat, the youngest of four sisters, in a family who emigrated here when she was two years old. While her awareness of Iraq is almost entirely second-hand, her status as an American remains unresolved. She had not yet been called to take her naturalization exam. This left her "stuck between these two worlds like a secret between a gossiper and her neighbor." Mervat keenly feels a void where there should be her own personal story. And, with her "huge ego" she sets out to create an as yet unwritten but defining story of her life. So, in a land of plenty she takes a dim view of her of her sisters' husbands and determines to marry well - not beneath herself as she believes her sister have done. Her husband-to-be will give her a better life than her sisters have settled for. But this is America and she pursues her future with the excessive gusto redolent of too many in this culture: she starves herself to look beautiful and maddeningly desirable. Although she does not leave herself emaciated the self-destructiveness is quietly at work - and in some ways, not so quietly. Without giving away the story line, most of this tale revolves around Mervat's inner struggle while pursuing the dashing young man of her seeming dreams, dashing Johnny - whose family can afford a Corvette among other nice things. But much of her struggle is often done in the supportive company of her older sisters and to a lesser degree her parents and the close-knit Chaldean community in Detroit. The most heartening aspect of this story is the loving, patient support of the sisters whose marital fates Mervat seeks to avoid. The sisters spend a lot of time sympathetically counseling their somewhat pampered and often misguided baby of the family. Mervat, it must be said, makes a fascinating narrator. While trying to figure out which rules to follow and what plans to make she regales the readers with the legends and customs of the very old world of the middle east - absolute catnip to anyone in a young culture that hungers for history beyond a couple of centuries. (If legends such as the princess and the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water gives you a pleasurable shudder, then this tale is for you.) But back to our story: the world becomes increasingly complicated and unclear as Mervat attempts to create her own story amidst some painful naiveté and unplanned results. The slings and arrows she willingly faces (unlike Hamlet) take quite a toll on her. And it takes time for her to venture outside of her secure community after absorbing some difficult lessons in humility.Helpful quibble department First, a spoiler alert: do not read this paragraph if you do not want to know a plot twist late in the novel. After the dust has settled on Mervat's self-destructive side the story picks up about nine or ten years later. She has a six-month old daughter with nary a word about the father, the family's reaction, much less the Chaldean neighbors' view of this. Ieman ("faith" in Chaldean which suggests Mervat has come to some resolution about her relationship with God) shows up with seemingly no reaction from others. The child comes across as theoretically (theologically?) connected to the story but in no other way. The lapse feels a little odd and out of place but it certainly does not ruin an otherwise good tale. It is safe to resume reading for those content to only let the author tell the story. This book tells a story of one woman's hard and sometimes flawed effort at distinguishing and eventually combining the important parts of divergent cultures into her life. Let us just say she makes a nice case for living by the lights of Ali Baba, God, and Emerson. That should also help explain why some of the rub thrived outside herself as well as within.Jim Clark
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Coming of Age Cultural Journey By John R. Monteith Young adults, if you want to understand yourselves better through wise and insightful eyes, dive into this cultural journey centered around the rich and unique Iraqi Christian culture.The subtle complexities of interpersonal relations unfold as a young woman seeks her identity and purpose. The Chaldean culture places huge obstacles in her way – obstacles to which most Westerners are oblivious. Her struggles highlight life's meaningful but often overlooked intricacies as well as its deepest questions.The Flavor of Cultures uses laser-guided perception of the emotions governing countless interactions to craft a suspenseful story. If you enjoy a well-written, correctly paced social adventure, check out this book. And if you at all interested in familiarizing yourself with Iraqi Chaldeans – those who live in the United States and those being persecuted in the Middle East – this book is a must.-John Monteith, Author of the Rogue Submarine series
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