Breezes

The first time I got this book, I thought it was a poem due to how it is organized and structured from top to bottom. It is unique because you read from the right side rather than the left like you would with any other book; It is translated from Arabic to English by a teacher educator and an educational researcher named Mouna Mana.

“Breezes” by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri is about two couples, a man and a woman, who fell in love at first sight since childhood years, but did not have the chance to express their feelings to each other because the fear of rejection and it is . The two characters does not have a name, but the author describes them as “him” or “her.” It took me a while to figure out who was speaking because the font is different in each chapter, but as I read along, I understood. Imagery is used a lot in this book, so you can actually imagine what the situation was like and I personally can relate to it. There were mixed emotions expressed in the story such as: jealousy, sadness, and passion. The feeling that they had for each other was powerful. Both characters were too afraid to open up to each other because they weren’t ready to be hurt or fallen out of love. It amazes me how after a year of being apart from each other, they were able to reunite together and catch up. Throughout the book, you follow through the journey of their relationship, how it grows yet there is conflict that they have to overcome. Although they seem to get through it in the end.

I think the theme in this book is true love never fades away even if there are challenges coming ahead. Al Doueiri gives a message to the readers that people should not have to be afraid to express their feelings towards a person that they genuinely love because then it can be too late. We can’t experience love in our lives when we are surrounded by fear on the inside. If fear is stopping us, how are we going to succeed or get past in life?

Overall, Breezes is a beautiful story that has a great ending.. I am not a fan of reading books, but I am a fan of watching romance movies. I actually learned a lesson about love from this story. If you are a fan of romance stories, this is a book you should invest in. It is must read!

The short novel “Breezes” is written by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri, who is an accomplished lawyer, educator, and human rights activist. Breezes is a classic and beautiful love story that once got lost in translation between two young lovers due to fear, rejection, and arrogance. To begin with the bad news, I think I can relate to others about how this book was confusing at first due to the right to left reading rather than the normal left to right. It did take some getting used to, which I didn’t really appreciate, but once I finished reading the novel, it seemed to me as if nothing else mattered. On a good note, there were several things that I did appreciate. One was how the author wrote this story. Al Doueiri writes this story in a way that almost makes it seem like it is a poem. The lines in this novel and very short and poetic. To me, this makes it more entertaining because it’s not common like one drag on sentence. Another thing I appreciated was how there was both the english and arabic text. I felt as if this made the text more beautiful due to the intricacy of the arabic alphabet. This is a perfect example that you should never judge a book by its cover, or judge the outward appearance of something before getting to know the inward.

Diving into the importance of the story, Breezes, is a novel that shares a love story between two young lovers. Al Doueiri writes this in a way that seems like chronological order, where she highlights the important events in their love story. The title of each chapter told a story in time itself. Speaking of highlighting important things, the author does a fantastic job at using a great use of imagery and detail. I felt as if I was not just reading their love story, but as if I was watching it. Because of this, I really felt as if I understood both of the characters thoughts and feelings. I was rooting for them and their love story the entire time while reading this. In the beginning, it is clear how they feel for each other and the reasoning to why it is not expressed. “The fear of rejection was likely, or indifference, or lack of desire to meet. Their fear seized them…” Along with this quote there were many more that proved why the love was not confessed between the two. This novel is more than just the fear of rejection. It shows obstacles in relationships. “And I don’t know how many evenings I spent without a single tear drying.” The beautiful thing is that in the end, it proves that love prevails in the end. No matter how hard you fight against your destiny, fate will be what wins.

Breezes is a novel that I would definitely recommend. It is very short, but has so many themes embedded in it, that can be relatable to people of all ages, from high school students to senior citizens, and everything in between. Love is something that almost every person desires. They desire to love as well as to be loved in return. I think that the main theme in this story is about taking risks to find true love. In the novel, the two characters show what true love really is because no matter how much time has passed, their mutual feelings for each other have stayed stronger than ever. You will never know if you don’t take risks. Although taking risks comes with insecurities and maybe even the fear of being rejected, it can also open doors and lead to something beautiful and true. I really enjoy how the title of the novel can be seen as a theme in this novel as well; breezes, every moment of the two characters sharing moments together and being in love together went by like a breeze. Just as wind is a part of worldly nature that the world needs, love is a part of human nature that humans need. When you’re with the person you love, being with them in that very single moment seems like the only thing that matters and you never really keep track to realize how much time has gone by.

It is a good story of two people who are in love but learn that love is not easy or simple. The story does fet hard to follow but overall a good read and very interesting!