The Almond

The Almond is written under a pseudonym by a North African woman and reads like a very erotic manuscript of a female trying to break away from her nationality and her religious roots. Badra, a young girl is fascinated by her body and her emotions from puberty to a young married woman.

On her wedding night she experiences the traumatic union of herself and her husband a much older and very fat man and is unable to consummate her marriage. In keeping with the religious traditions of the area she is then sexually assoulted and raped.This disturbs her so much she goes looking for help to overcome the fear and trauma. She meets a handsome young doctor, who helps with his actions in a way that she can experience a joyful and loving union that is acceptable and gentle.

I was impressed by how the story was written and the enormity of the word RAPE. Having experienced this trauma within my family I found this book very hard to read.

Here lies the differences between the world's cultures whereas in the Western World the first night of marriage is a private affair in African cultures the groom's family are present at the consumation of any marriage. If this does not happen then the families actions will lead to sexual assult and rape.

This leads to a debate about the enormity of what is acceptable here in the west and within other cultures where arranged marriages are the exceptable norm.