Footprints on the Heart
By Jean Naggar
After 1956 when after a joint military maneuver involving France, Britain and Israel , the jews of Egypt are forced to leave the land of their birth. Egypt under Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal and the other three
countries took it back so to speak. The jews of Egypt for the most part had it pretty good. Their forced departure left their lives in upheaval and in most cases irreparably damaged. The story starts off with Sol chilling in his house which is rather big. Young Salwa ventures into this house after picking some magoes. They have breif conversation then they go back to their daily lives. Life takes them in many directions.
Sol goes of with his family to France and then to New York. Life is hard in France as the family are refugees who left everything behind. New York is also challenging. Aldo the family patririarch cannot find a job and sinkks lower and lower into despair. Sol's mom becomes determined and makes a name for herself in the finance industry. Sol goes on to be successful as well. Sulwa gets married and has two kids named Ali and Jamila. Jamila means beautiful . Her life changes becuase of her beauty.
Sol really never comes full circle with Sulwa and they do not meet again. Sulwa remains behind in her village. Jamila gets adopted at age 12 and moves to America where Malvina who owns a modeling agency gets Jamila into modeling. her name changes to Jasmine. The story tells the ups and downs she faces in the modeling industry, relationships, temptation etc. Going through two flings which leave her disappointed . She focused on her career instead of relationships. She makes it big.
Ali gets cauht up i the Muslim Brotherhood. After stealing food he lands in prison and from getting released he ends up working in a hospital. Eventually he is so good he gets promoted to nurse. Modern events are pivotal in all their lives. 9/11 and the arab spring had a strong impact on all their lives. Sometimes positive and sometimes negative.
No comments:
Post a Comment