PositiveAsymptoteIn the book’s introduction, Dabbagh explains that translating works about love and lust is difficult, though we do not learn about the ways in which the various translations could have impacted the anthology. This is especially pertinent in the cases of translations from Arabic to English, which represent the majority of the works in the text; Arabic can be seen as a unifying language, but the subtleties and differences between the dialects dictate different cultural specificities and reflect a stark diversity in both place and community. In other words, unless the place of origin is clear, the readers lose a sense of place with the absence of dialect, and different geographies and contexts start feeling neutral ...This anthology provides a glimpse into a world that has been constantly made invisible or policed within systems of domestication and abuse ... the writings in the anthology provide a language and a needed vocabulary for Arab women seeking to find solace and community. Whether they are experiencing love, sex, or a combination of both, the voices of the included writers provide a point of reference for the long forgotten tradition of erotic writings and the censorship of Arab women’s sex lives and experiences. Pain, shame, and guilt are challenges that persist in the anthology, but so is joy, and joy within pain is a revolutionary act of love that can pave the way to collective healing.
