The Proof of the Honey

Al Neimi is Syrian, now living in Paris. It’s not hard to see why this novel was banned in a number of Arab countries because it deals with the taboo subject of the sexuality of women in the Arab world, drawing on ancient texts and modern exchanges, in a very frank manner. And al Neimi is frank even compared with some Western sensitivities. And in pursuing both, she overturns a number of preconceptions.

al Neimi, if she is the “I” of the novel which is told entirely in the first person, states her life view in the opening paragraph: “Some people conjure spirits. I conjure bodies. I have no knowledge of my soul or of the souls of others. I know only my body and theirs. And I am content with that. I conjure them and I see myself show more with them once again—ephemeral travelers in an ephemeral body; they were never more than that. The rules had been laid down. What, men as mere objects? Why not?”

“I have grasped this simple lesson: I take my pleasure with men and they take their pleasure with me. Full stop? I do not ask of them either love, or faithfulness, or devotion, or any commitment that might limit their horizons, close their eyes, or zip up their flies.”

Reading is her solace: “Secret reading had become a scholarly specialization. Long live progress, and the abolition of our taboos in deed, word, reading, writing, and seminar topics.” For al Neimi, “the Arabs were the only nation in the world that considered sex a blessing and thanked God for it.” Arab writers believe that one of the benefits of copulation is that it provided, “a glimpse of paradise”.

al Neimi rails against the tyranny of dissimulation that characterizes all aspects of Arab life and never more so than concerning sex where there is no public display, no public discussion, no public education, and yet, “Looking for a hymen in the Arab World has become like looking for a needle in a haystack…and waiting for girls to acquire a sound sexual culture is like waiting for Godot.”

An interesting book…an interesting glimpse into an aspect of Arab culture that is simply not addressed…an interesting introduction to some of the new Arab writing available in translation. show less

Un modesto librino nel quale, come spesso succede, la pretesa libertà sessual-erotica della scrittrice/protagonista non è niente altro che il paravento per scrivere nostalgicamente dell'uomo amato che funge da chiave per i sensi sopiti.
Le parti più memorabili sono costituite dalle ampie citazioni di testi classici dell'erotismo arabo. Per la serie: niente di nuovo sotto il sole, soprattutto se si parla di sesso ed eros.

Excerpt from Linus's Blanket - The overarching plot here is thin but the novella is very interesting in terms of shedding new light on women’s relationships and sexuality in Arabic culture through women’s personal reflections on their lovers. The vignettes that the women offer here are varied and engaging. The novella is an arresting meditation on the sexual evolution of a woman deeply affected by an intense love affair. Though not perfect its execution, The Proof of Honey is a thought provoking book to contemplate on an afternoon.

Aan de hand van klassieke Arabische erotische teksten vertelt een Syrische bibliothecaresse in Europa haar persoonlijke erotische avonturen.

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Araba, musulmana e colta, la protagonista di questo libro, nata e cresciuta a Damasco, si è trasferita a Parigi dove si occupa della biblioteca di arabistica dell'università. Nella sua vita c'è stato un uomo fondamentale, un uomo che le ha aperto un mondo prima sconosciuto, erotico, carnale. Questo incontro l'ha portata a mettere in pratica le teorie che ha appreso in anni di letture clandestine degli antichi testi di letteratura erotica araba, fino a risvegliare i ricordi dell'infanzia siriana, memorie di un mondo degli adulti complesso e contorto, fatto di segreti, tradimenti e passioni. Senza dimenticare le confidenze delle amiche, o i tipici rituali della cultura araba come l'hammam, e le leggi, i testi sacri, tutto diventa show more materia di una ricerca che fa del corpo il mezzo e il fine della ricerca stessa. E la protagonista intraprende questo percorso proprio perché si sente figlia orgogliosa di un universo culturale profondamente arabo. Ribalta i luoghi comuni sul rapporto tra sesso e Islam, e mostra come nella tradizione araba il piacere sessuale non sia un peccato, bensì una grazia di Dio, un "assaggio", un'anticipazione dei piaceri che attendono gli individui in paradiso. show less