In 'Intimate Fractures: The Aftermath of a Rape' by Wagih Abu-Rish, readers are taken on a harrowing and ultimately uplifting journey through the aftermath of a traumatic event. Mustafa, a Palestinian student, finds his life forever altered after a vicious attack and rape during a 1963 political rally in Durham, North Carolina... . What unfolds is a gripping narrative that explores the profound impact of such an unimaginable crime.
Abu-Rish's storytelling is both heart-rending and heartwarming. Mustafa's resilience and courage shine through as he embarks on a life-altering cross-country journey from North Carolina to Stanford University. We are exposed to a full spectrum of experiences, from the warmth of newfound friendships and acts of kindness to the challenges of racism, encounters with the law, and the enduring power of love.
One of the most touching aspects of the story is Mustafa's relationship with Michelle, his daughter-buddy. Their deep bond and shared decisions regarding their future resonate with readers, evoking strong emotions. Their journey together prompts us to reflect on the profound themes of forgiveness, self-identity, and the human capacity for resilience.read more
BIOGRAPHY Wagih Abu-Rish is a Palestinian-American author and activist. He spent much of his career as a businessman, specializing in acquisitions. During a long and varied professional career, he was a foreign journalist in Beirut, Lebanon, and an ad executive on Madison Avenue in New York.
He has been active in prom... oting progressive causes such as democratic practices and equal rights. Among those causes, he feels strongly about the need for the liberation of women in the Middle East, which he considers to be the most overlooked and abridged human right of all.
It is his hope that this book highlights the themes he believes in. The most salient of such themes is the fact that most adherents are ignorant of the essence of their own religions. This applies equally to the adherents of Islam and to all other religions.
His second and mostly implied theme is the difficulty people have in humanizing others, whether that means another gender, ethnicity, or nationality. Such humanization is the starting point for resolving difficulties and conflicts between competing individuals, parties, and countries.
Mr. Abu-Rish earned bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Houston and the University of Oregon. This is his first novel.read more