They Fell Like Stars from the Sky & Other Stories is a collection of short stories by Palestinian writer Sheikha Helawy, translated by Nancy Roberts. These 18 stories explore the lives of Bedouin women and girls from the village of Dhail El E’rj, the author’s homeland from which she and all the other residents were forcibly displaced by the Israeli occupation in the 1990s. The occupation is present in these stories, but it’s not the focus; rather these stories focus on daily experiences related to womanhood, puberty, love, and grief. The book explores themes of family, freedom and identity as the characters navigate societal expectations. 

 

Almost every story confronts patriarchy in some way and feels like a tiny rebellion. Most of these characters are determined and stubborn, and this feels like a form of rebellion, too. I loved witnessing these characters act out of spite, call out double standards, and stand up for themselves as they dealt with unwanted attention from men or clashed with family members. Desire is also a common theme—some characters long for home while others long for love, and they all long for the freedom to be themselves. 

 

This feminist collection is bold and provides readers with a lively glimpse into Palestinian Bedouin life. As Nancy Roberts notes in her preface, the experiences of Bedouin women and girls are rarely written about, and with this book, Sheikha Helawy has created space for their stories. 

 

Thank you NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for providing me with an e-ARC to review.