Breezes – نسمات

Contributed By: Mahbuba Hammad
Language of Presentation: Arabic, English
Media Format: Print Publication
School Level: College/University, Middle/High School
Institution/Provider: Alhamd Publisher LLC.
Author: Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri
Collection: Breezes - نسمات
Fee based $
Condition of Use: All Rights Reserved
Description:

Synopsis:
Sitting on a bench overlooking the lake, she unexpectedly hears the whispering voice of her once-upon-a time college-life sweetheart. Now in their senior years with graying hair, they reflect on their past and embark on a journey of recollecting their pure yet passionately innocent encounter. “Breezes” is a romantic novel yearning to uphold the values and sacredness of love, loyalty, and family ethics.

This book written in Arabic and accompanied by the English translation.

About the author:
Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is an accomplished lawyer, an educator and a community activist who has advocated for human rights throughout her career. She has lectured and conducted training workshops in over 30 countries across every continent on the globe with major governmental and non-governmental organizations. She has also appeared on mainstream and alternative media outlets. Though she has published several books and articles on legal and social topics, “Breezes” is her first novel.

The English translation was done by Mouna Mana Ph.D. >




 
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213 Comments

  1. The Book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, has quite an interesting story. I believe that it might even be written as more of a poem rather than a story, in fact. I was quite surprised to receive the book when purchasing it only to find that it is printed from right to left due to the fact that it was originally written in Arabic, which is in fact written from right to left rather than from left to right as writings in English are. I guess I just expected to receive a Standard English book. Even though this happened, I was just fine with this way of printing; it just took a little getting used to. I just seem to have had a few mishaps when coming back to the story and attempting to read it in the wrong order, but I soon remembered and fixed my mistakes!
    Since the book has been translated from Arabic to English it has unfortunately lost a lot of its literary value, therefore I am unfortunately not able to actually take in its true value, which does somewhat disappoint me because I really enjoyed it and know that there is so much more to the story that I can’t even grasp. Although I have hit this unfortunate bump in the road while reading the passage, I find that the story is rather intriguing and found myself constantly wanting to know more! The author gives a lot of detail in the passage, but not too much. They give just enough detail to allow us to embrace what is being felt in that moment in the story. The way the details are placed in the story allows the reader to not only feel the emotions of the passage, but is given a well-rounded understanding of what is happening.
    The book is based off of a love story and it’s impeccable ending, but I chose to just focus on the beauty of their love. It starts out with what seems to be a date between old high school lovers whom have now reunited as adults. Both people seem to be very nervous, but are also quite into each other. I favor how the author gives an insight to their past and the young love in which they both held for each other over the years. It helps the reader gain knowledge of how their love isn’t new, but has been built up once upon a time only to have been returned to later on in life.
    The way the author wrote the book makes you feel as if you are part of the relationship. The details allow you to really feel what is going on in the story. Also, the way the author put their thoughts into the story, exemplified the way you feel about what you are reading. Instead of seeing it from a third person’s point of view, you get to see it through the eyes of the character. Not only do you get to know one character’s thoughts, but the author gives the reader insight to both of their thoughts, therefore you really get to know both sides of the story. By doing this the author has created a way for the reader to know the relationship even better than each of the two main characters in the story.
    Even though I really enjoyed reading this book, I found myself to be a bit bitter about how many questions were in the story. I understand that the author was trying to express the thoughts in which were going through the character’s head, but there seemed to be too many questions being asked at one time. It became a bit overwhelming for the paragraph. For example, on page 58 the author wrote, “Why did I choose that dress? And why that collar and those white earnings? Aren’t they the emblem of purity and sincerity? Why did that red collar tug at me that day? Was it because of some hidden feelings that reflected the flames of my emotions?…(etc.)” You see, the way the author places so many questions in a row tends to overwhelm me as a reader. It makes it too hard for the reader to keep up with the story when you write a passage this way.
    Overall I believe that this book is well written and has a really great story line. If I were to have found it on my own in a library or a bookstore somewhere, I would have most definitely read it for recreational purposes rather than academic purposes. The way the book is written gives off a kind of vibe that draws in the attention of the reader. Once I began reading the book I wasn’t able to put it down. As a non-avid reader, I actually enjoyed reading this story and would probably read more books coming from this author in the future.
    (Amber Meyer)

    • When I first got this book I was confused because it was right to left instead of left to right, and to be honest I thought it was going to be a boring book about a tragedy, but boy was I wrong! This is book was amazing and I loved it very much. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour is about two elderly people who were once young and in love. I also found interesting that the book was written like a poem, this makes the poem easy to read and more enjoyable. The poetic form of the book I think allows the reader to become more indulged in the story and truly enjoy its’ romantic theme and fall in love with the characters as well. The way the author Wafica Monsour describes the scenery is absolutely amazing, I felt like I was there present during the old couple’s exchange sitting by the lake and in every other scene they were remembering I felt like I was there. I found myself getting trapped into the story and the romance as well, I was rooting for the happiness of the two characters and went through a range of different emotions while reading. The story opens with the women sitting on a bench by a lake and she hears the voice of the man she has always loved, her college sweetheart. They have not seen each other in a long time and are scared to talk to each other because they both fear rejection from the other, unbeknownst to them that they both want the same thing; to talk to each other, and that they both still have strong feelings for one another. The conversation is initiated when a waiter comes by to take their order and they end up ordering the same thing, this leads to the start of a conversation that starts of the whole book. In these conversations we explore their college years and learn how both of these young students fell in love with each other and the innocence that surrounds them. Then a misunderstanding which turns into an unresolved conflict occurs and they separate, but because they are from the same city they occasionally run into each other and have brief eye contact and sometimes try to have conversation with one another. Later we see the couple end up together in a retirement home living the rest of their lives together rereading their love story until they have it memorized.
      I’m not big fan of romance novels because in my opinion not a lot of romance stories are relatable or they are full of eroticism and lust and in my opinion put more emphasis on physical love rather than an emotional connection between the two character, but “Breezes” is the opposite of all that. “Breezes” is a novel focused and the true love of these characters and how fate always seems to bring them back together which makes them soul mates. I also think that “Breezes” is a relatable story no matter if one is young or old. I think “Breezes” is very relatable because it’s young and innocent love. Nowadays young people don’t have the same ideas about love and we live in a society where we see more flings and “hookups” rather than real pure love. The way Wafica wrote this book I feel as if I’m also part of this story, like I’m a third person watching these events unveil before my eyes. I can sense the passion that these two characters have for each other and I feel like I’m right there feeling the pain that they both felt and the security they felt when they were able to hold hands and be together.
      My favorite part about this book was when the women recites a French proverb that translates to “if only youth knew, and if only age where able”, I think this book teaches a great lesson on love and sometimes having to take risks to reach happiness. The women explains that if she knew what she knows now she would have handled their conflict differently and they wouldn’t have gone through so much pain. To me this book teaches that when you are young love can be confusing and sometimes there are outside influences from families and friends that can affect the situation and lead to misunderstandings. In the end though when someone truly loves a person they are willing to go through the worst of times because they just want to be with their love in the end and it also shows me that love is not dead like many people say, love is no longer what it used to be now people have this idea that love is being surrounded by materialistic things and having someone there to share them with, but love isn’t just acquiring material things, it’s about having each other and finding comfort in each other’s’ touch and never wanting to let go because letting go would be like ripping away half of your heart and soul. I also love the innocence of these characters despite their old age, they are like bright eyed school children who only wish to be in each other’s companies. I also love this book because it gives me an insight into the romantic Arabic culture.
      I will highly recommend this book to anybody who is looking for a true romantic read and something different from the romance novels we have around now. This book teaches us all valuable lessons about love and risk taking and how you are never too old to have a soul mate and a happy ending.

      • Arab 290. Dustin Mellberg
        “Breezes” written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, and translated from Arabic to English by Mouna Mana, is a beautiful love story that shares many emotions with the reader like fear, passion, desire and true love. The story is about a Man and a Woman who share a strong sense of love and passion towards each other during the earlier stages of their lives, the problem being that they were to young and arrogant to confess their love for one another and ended up going their separate ways due to misunderstandings caused by a rumor, and fear. The theme for this story would have to be fear, and passion. I found the story “Breezes” very interesting, I really enjoyed the way the author would write their thoughts and show that they were both madly passionate about each other. It made the story different from other love stories, but at the same time it did upset me a little that they were both to afraid and arrogant to tell one another how they really felt even though they both felt the same way. Even at an older phase in their lives they were still afraid of rejection from one another. The author clearly shows that they are crazy about each other by providing their thoughts. Arrogance and fear forces them in to deciding to go their separate ways. They find themselves in the arms of other people although the love and thought of one another never went away. Then some more years pass and the two run into each other again, but this time as seniors. Here in the story you can see that time has chipped away at their appearances, and has given them a more elderly look, yet there is something time can never take away from the two and that is the passion they have always felt for each other. Time can never conquer the love they had for each other. I’m glad that they finally come to an even ground and confess their feelings, I’m just upset the two didn’t end up together after all the years they felt such passion for each other. It just goes to show that love doesn’t always find a way no matter how much you may love or want one another.
        This book was a very easy book to read, the author made the book fun to read with all the beautiful imagery and emotions that were put into the story. Although I may not be a huge love story kind of guy, I did find this story oddly relatable especially to me for the reason I grew up kind of shy and would have kind of the same block that the man had to let out my feeling due to the fear of rejection. I feel the author put a unique spin on this love story and it made it much more interesting book to read. I also enjoyed how the author showed both the male and female perspective, compared to other love stories where you just see through the eyes of one person. It made the story much more relatable and fun to read. I also enjoyed the way the author really showed their love for one another, but also showing how afraid they were of just saying few word that just expressed the way they feel, or expressing their love through physical affection. This story does go to show that sometimes true love does not always find a way to make it work even though two people are crazy about each other. It also goes to show that true love does exist and that this is an imperfect world and you don’t always end up with the person you truly love.
        I would definitely recommend “Breezes’ by Wafica Aldoueiri to a friend. It is truly a great story that shows the love and passion between two people and the many different stages in life they go through together. Although they never overcome the main obstacle fear, it is a beautiful love story with wonderful imagery and incite to a couples love life and thoughts. Aldoueiri made this a very unique love story, and he made it very easy to connect and relate to the story making it much more enjoyable and easier to connect to the story. The main themes of the story was definitely the “fear” because they were both afraid to express their feeling for one another, and the other main theme being “love” because no matter how much time would pass between the man and woman’s encounters they would always have the same sense of love and passion for each other. If you are tired of reading the same old love stories I would definitely recommend this story it is a realistic romance and isn’t very time consuming.

    • “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a classic love story about two people who fall in love and all the moments that they share together. I believe that the title of the book relates to the love story because while the two people were falling I n love, every moment seemed to go by like a breeze. In my opinion, the book expressed how delicate love is and how family becomes a huge impact on who you confess our love to. A short summary of what the book is about is two people who fall in love while they are both going to college and they go through a series of events together and different phases of a relationship like the awkward stage, the uncertainty of whether or not they like you back, and then the stage of breaking up the relationship. Wafica Mansour Alboueiri does a good job on showing how delicate love is and how family is included in your love life by telling the love story in chronological order of the events that these two people share together throughout time and how much they love each other.
      Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri explains the delicacy of love and how innocent it is by describing how both of these people have had feelings for each other for a long time but have not told each other that because they both have thought that the other did not think of them that way, and then possibly ruin the relationship that they have built together already. Then when the two of them have confessed their love for each other, they take the relationship very slow because they are afraid to move into the relationship to fast and are trying to figure out how to run the relationship. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri had also tried to explain how family has an impact on your relationship because the man in the story had talked to his family about the woman he cares about and wants his family’s opinion of her as well as their approval for dating her.
      The themes that Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri incorporated into her story were very effective because by reading how these two people fell in love, you can see how much effort it takes to let someone know you love them and how much you need to sacrifice in order to make the relationship work. By reading this book, it taught me that not everything is perfect when it comes to relationships and that there are many things that can go wrong but you have to be able to push through and work things out with one another when hardships come along. In society today, so many people throw away relationships without trying to work through things together because they are not shown how to handle situations like that. This book shows that everyone can have that special connection with someone that you would d everything for and you can call them your soul mate. This relates to the story because the two people who have fallen in love with each other, broke up eventually and never talked to each other for a very long time. One day they met up again and they start talking for hours about how much in love they use to be with each other and that they still felt the spark between the both of them even though they have not seen each other for many years.
      This book compares to the world I know because I have fallen in love with my best friend and we dated for almost two years, and just recently we split up because of how busy our lives became and that we needed some time away from each other. Even though we broke up, he still runs through my mind constantly and everything that I do or am surrounded with reminds me of him. I also cannot stop talking about him when I am talking with my friends or family. I believe that this man is my soul mate, and even though I know he is more heartbroken than I am, I know that we are strong enough to work things out and love each other unconditionally.
      I would absolutely recommend anyone to read this beautiful love story because it is not a Cinderella story where everything goes perfectly for the both of them and they live happily ever after. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri clearly writes her themes about love and explains them very detailed by telling the love story of these two people. Once you start reading this book, you will not want to out it down because it is wonderfully written and you feel like you are a part of the story. You go through every emotion that the characters go through and you feel absolutely heart broken when you find out that the two of them are no longer together.

    • I have never read a book like this before or any book of the Arabic culture so I was really excited to read this book! The format definitely threw me off but you get used to it as you keep reading. On one side of the book it is translated in English, the other side is in Arabic which is awesome. It gave a different vibe which was really cool! It is a quick and easy read but please do pay attention to the details in this story because it is so beautifully written! This story is not sugar coated, and it shows some actual problems that relationships have in real life. It was definitely realistic. The ending made me so happy though. I do wish there was more to the story, I read it so fast. I read almost all of it the first day it came in the mail! This is a beautiful story. I am reading this book for my Arabic 290 class, which is such an interesting class so I already knew this book would be a good one, I think the message the author is trying to convey is that no matter the distance and no matter the time apart, if the love is real, the love will never change. I love that message because I do think it is very true. Love should not change if it is true love, no matter what. In this story, the love remained the same between the two characters since they were young all the way until their hair turned grey. I feel like I got the inside scoop of a beautiful relationship. It was nice to experience true love between two characters. I would actually read the book again to fully understand everything that was being said, which I probably will do in my spare time. I loved how I got the best of both worlds in this story. I got to read both of the characters thoughts which was great. Knowing both sides of the story made it that much better, it honestly felt like I was watching a movie. It was not a hassle to read at all. There was also so much symbolism in this story which is a good thing. The words just flowed beautifully with all the symbolism. I was a little lost at first because the point of views would change from her to him so I would be a bit confused at times but it was actually interesting figuring out who was speaking at the time. The two characters thought so alike too. They both felt the same way about each other but insecurities would get in the way of them being together. This teaches the audience to put aside your fears and insecurities and let out how you feel because it might open a door to something beautiful. I can definitely say this story taught me several things about life and love. Do not hold back, take your chances. Many young people need to know this so I think this book is great from student from high school to college and great for any adult to read. Their love is so innocent. Who knew that separation would only make love stronger. They are both faithful to each other, even during the time of separation which shows how true their love really is. AlDoueiri really does have such a way with words! The details were also amazing, it was so easy to just visualize everything that was going on. Looking into an Arabic relationship and lifestyle is truly the best part of reading this because I am so used to the American way of life. This is not just any regular love story. It definitely sets itself apart from other love stories. The author really knows how to keep you wanting to read more. I am glad that this book was translated into English, and hopefully many other languages too. This is not a long story either, so if you are looking for a fast read, this is definitely the one for you. I love romance, so I thought this book was great! I definitely recommend this book to other students! -Elexis Bennett

    • “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was a very captivating love story that resembles the true tragedy of love we face as individuals. This isnt a perfect happily ever after story tge way kid movies end. Wafica uses “Breezes” to highlight the way a real love life would be lived in today’s society. I enjoyed the book because i connect with the plot and characters. It is a beautiful tale of love and human flaws that also gives us encouragement and hope for our lives. I was a littke upset at the woman’s decision, however i do understand why and i have also seen similar circumstances in my life. Two people love each other tremendously and still havent been married. It has happened all over and its just a matter of actions and reactions and a mental battle that may or may not be able to be overcome. The two characters met as college students, and the man had the initial attraction first. This is a common element in relationships because the initial attraction is a lustful one. Men tend to be drawn to the physical appearance at first, while women are drawn to the physical as well as charm and if they can see a future with him. Both characters begin shy and awkward like any male and female who have some attraction toward one another. The woman was a strong independent intellectual just like most Arab women. They both held their feelings because usually when someone is of interest to you, you want to nake sure everything goes perfect so you can win them over. This is why i believe they took their time. Finally they get through the awkward glance stage and become compatable vocally. They are now in a relationship and connected to one another. It starts to get serious when the couple goes ti the mans house to meet the family. The family all accepted the woman and all was going well, until a rumor of the man cheated threw the woman off and she ended the relationship. Just when things couldnt get any better a false report caused their inseperable love to destroy their relationship. It only took one rumor which also happened to be a lie to destroy a good couple. That jist goes to show you that without consideration and work at the relationship nobody can a have a long healthy life together. Theres always bumps and snares and not everyone can emotionally get through them so they just give up. Their love was still true she just wasnt willing to feel the pain so she ran. This is very common among women in relationships. I was a little angry with the woman because of the emotional influence the story gave me, so i wanted them to get through it and get married. The way the author continued the plot was great because it makes you continue to read on the edge of your seat with a little hope for the characters. Its also nore interesting because you dont know how it will play on but you want the best fo them. However sometimes that love isnt strong enough to survive everything. All they needed was to speak their true feelings, but that weed called pride allowed their realtionship to whither away and die. The man should have took charge and fought for her over and over and if he failed then so be it, but if she was worth it at least fight and show her that he is the best thing for her. They never said what they needed to say and that is the common theme among relariinships today. Theres only one life so let out your feelings and live to win the day. Pride and emotions shouldnt of stopped them from being together.

    • “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was a very captivating love story that resembles the true tragedy of love we face as individuals. This isnt a perfect happily ever after story tge way kid movies end. Wafica uses “Breezes” to highlight the way a real love life would be lived in today’s society. I enjoyed the book because i connect with the plot and characters. It is a beautiful tale of love and human flaws that also gives us encouragement and hope for our lives. I was a littke upset at the woman’s decision, however i do understand why and i have also seen similar circumstances in my life. Two people love each other tremendously and still havent been married. It has happened all over and its just a matter of actions and reactions and a mental battle that may or may not be able to be overcome. The two characters met as college students, and the man had the initial attraction first. This is a common element in relationships because the initial attraction is a lustful one. Men tend to be drawn to the physical appearance at first, while women are drawn to the physical as well as charm and if they can see a future with him. Both characters begin shy and awkward like any male and female who have some attraction toward one another. The woman was a strong independent intellectual just like most Arab women. They both held their feelings because usually when someone is of interest to you, you want to nake sure everything goes perfect so you can win them over. This is why i believe they took their time. Finally they get through the awkward glance stage and become compatable vocally. They are now in a relationship and connected to one another. It starts to get serious when the couple goes ti the mans house to meet the family. The family all accepted the woman and all was going well, until a rumor of the man cheated threw the woman off and she ended the relationship. Just when things couldnt get any better a false report caused their inseperable love to destroy their relationship. It only took one rumor which also happened to be a lie to destroy a good couple. That jist goes to show you that without consideration and work at the relationship nobody can a have a long healthy life together. Theres always bumps and snares and not everyone can emotionally get through them so they just give up. Their love was still true she just wasnt willing to feel the pain so she ran. This is very common among women in relationships. I was a little angry with the woman because of the emotional influence the story gave me, so i wanted them to get through it and get married. The way the author continued the plot was great because it makes you continue to read on the edge of your seat with a little hope for the characters. Its also nore interesting because you dont know how it will play on but you want the best fo them. However sometimes that love isnt strong enough to survive everything. All they needed was to speak their true feelings, but that weed called pride allowed their realtionship to whither away and die. The man should have took charge and fought for her over and over and if he failed then so be it, but if she was worth it at least fight and show her that he is the best thing for her. They never said what they needed to say and that is the common theme among relariinships today. Theres only one life so let out your feelings and live to win the day. Pride and emotions shouldnt of stopped them from being together..

      • Breezes
        Have you ever been in love but you have not been able to express it? In the novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri a man and a woman who once knew each other when they were younger, ran into each other again and were able to communicate their love for each other. They never had the courage to speak up about each other’s feelings but fate has brought them back together. Not knowing how hard it really was to share their feelings with one another they took the chance and the outcome was positive. After reminiscing the memories they have shared and the happy times they spent together, they find themselves more in love than ever. Years earlier obstacles hit their relationship as it was put to the test. The couple had to separate for a long period of time while he goes to Egypt, as she becomes hopeless as if he will come back not loving her anymore. With rumors of him cheating she feels lost with different emotions not knowing how to handle herself, following her gut instinct she walks away with a broken heart and many memories she now has to forget. Days went on, tears were shed, and she was faced with sleepless nights, all while she was wondering what was going to happen next. As times went on they both came to their senses and decided to tell each other how they really felt. Although they had plenty of things to think about and trust to regain they decided their love was too strong and they became one again. While reading this short story I felt the ending was predictable but also kept me on my toes. The excitement of them getting back together and truly knowing they love each other made me not want to put the book down, therefore I read it in one sitting. The way the author put it in perspective through poetry was offbeat and overall an unfamiliar way of reading for me and I bet others. It also made me open my eyes to the different kind of literature and ways to express how one is feeling, AlDoueiri uses poetry to convey what she is trying to express and yet it is a different route but it still has a meaning.
        This story really touches close to home and the heart because it relates to a family struggle I once had to go through. After being married for seventeen years both my parents sat my sister and I down and told us they were separating. Leaving us hurt and confused they did not have an explanation or reason why this was happening. A very long year went by not knowing what was going to happen next, they decided to try being together one more time, because they knew there love was still strong. While everyone in the family was overwhelmed with happiness, my parents knew they had a lot to work on and foundation to rebuild. Now five years later they are happier than ever. As a reader I had an idea of how the characters were feeling and it is a emotional and terrifying feeling. The feeling of not knowing what is going to happen next, or not knowing in my case if the only people you have seen love will ever love again is horrifying. Never actually experiencing this but seeing it for my own eyes, I know I do not want to go through such heartache and headache.
        I feel this story is very similar to my family’s story in many different ways. Separating and going through hardships is what builds the foundation of a relationship a makes the other walls stronger. When two people love each other, they will do anything to make it work. No matter the struggle between two people if it is meant to be they will do anything in their power to be together. There is no true definition of love, it is whatever you want it to be. The affection and warmth a couple feels for each other is all that matters. Reading this story makes me hopeful that one day I will find someone I am truly happy with and will go to great lengths to try and stay happy. I would recommend this short story to anyone willing to reach out of their comfort zone and read something different. I knew this was going to be an intriguing piece of literature because the text was from right to left instead of left to right like everyone is taught to read and write. Not having any idea of what it is was going to be about, I am truly happy I finished it and am able to express my insight and the way I ultimately feel about it.

        Samantha Turpin

    • Breezes, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a romantic novel and it is translated from the Arabic language to English. It was translated by a story teller named Mouna Mana and the story goes on to be about a love between two people who were once lovers and then reunite at a later age and reflect on how they were madly in love and things didn’t work out due to them being young and having misunderstandings. For me personally, the first few pages it was hard for me to piece the pages together because of how the book was written but it was fairly easy to catch on to over time. I enjoyed reading this novel because of how it displays that no matter what happens, love is strong and it will always be there for someone you once cared about. Throughout the beginning of the story, it’s clear that they love each other but both of the two aren’t courageous to let the other know how they feel. Even as they are now at an older age, they have a fear of rejection and may be to prideful to express one another’s true feelings. Seeing that this how they’ve been since young, it resulted to them both finding someone else and being married to different people. Over time, their love never was truly done with and they never moved past from one another so the way they felt about each other had remained the same even when they decided to become friends in their youthful days. The author had made it clear that their love for one another had never stopped and for me personally, I believe if you truly love someone you should go after that individual especially if the feeling is mutual. I believe that this story caught my attention and was very interesting to me because of how the two connected on a friendship level after all those years and it was almost like a fire in a positive way between the two. I think this is the typical love story and how it goes down is a fair reflection of that but I think the author does a great job of making it feel unique and display the true struggles that occur during a friendship or relationship.

      Since the author had wrote from both perspectives of both the man and woman I was able to identify with both and see where they were coming from. Clearly as a male, it was a bit easier for me to identify with that but the way the author displayed both sides made it easy for me to see how the woman went about things. I believe a good them that can be used to describe part of this novel is fear. I think fear because the two have been out of each others live for a good period of time but they were college sweethearts and their love for each other is still present but the fear of them reaching out too far and looking desperate played a big role in how they expressed their selves. In the novel, the man didn’t completely understand the woman’s distance and fear or rejection, so she was wondering why he would shy away which caused her to shy away although she wanted him to express the way he truly felt so she can do the same. One thing that was certain, the woman was not going to initiate expressing the love she has for him. As time went by is when they finally decided to open up a bit more and discuss moments that they shared, the different phases of their relationship and what happened in their college life. They then discussed where they’re at in life right now and eventually turned out to truly express the love they really have for each other. A clear theme dealing with this story is love. Love is exactly what these two individuals think about when thinking of each other, they are a prime example of how love can overcome any and every thing. They both stated that they had made attempts to forget about each other but their strong bond and love they have for one another refused to let them do so. When they finally open up it expressed their love and the fear and regrets they once had about telling each other their true feelings and what made them happy.
      Overall, I truly did enjoy reading the novel Breezes. In many ways, the story line could come off as predictable and the typical love story but for me, I felt like it was unique in many different ways. The way the author Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri wrote it was awesome. The thing I liked the most was how he labeled each chapter, almost like it was a stage in each part of the man and woman’s love. I thought that was very interesting. I noticed the characters were never named and for me, that alone was very different because that rarely happens. This was a novel full of love and romance and the author made it easy to connect a story like this to anyone’s personal love life. It was good to read about a love story from someone else’s perspective and that was eye opening for me. I truly did enjoy reading the novel Breezes.

      -Joseph Sullivan

    • Breezes is written by author Wafica Mansor AlDoueri. She is a lawyer, educator and community activist who has advocated for human rights throughout her career. Breezes is her first novel. Breezes is a short novel about everlasting between a man and a woman. The book starts with them meeting again when they are older. At first, there is no conversation between the two and the readers are only aware the two’s thoughts. A constant fear that crosses their minds is rejection. The man fears that he will be rejected again and the woman fears he is no longer as into her as he once was. He tries to show his affection and puts his hands on the table, waiting to see if she will put her hands in his. The man later builds up the courage to ask her why she rejected him and attempted to cut off all ties with him. She then tells him because another women that she worked with at the time told her that he was also trying to get with her. The women admits she was young and naive and should not have bought into that story and deeply regretted her actions. We learn most of the characters throughs from their internal dialogue between the two. Although their feelings are mutual, they do not say because they are constantly feared of being rejected. Towards the end of the novel, one of them tries to delete the other from their memory completely by deleting their number and name from their schedule book. Despite the efforts made to cut off ties with one another, they always manage to find their ways back to each other. I think the author of this books argument is to fight for what is worth having and not be afraid of rejection. If you constantly fear rejection you will never be satisfied and constantly think about what you could have been. I think the author does a great job of using literary devices and strong diction to keep the reader interested. When she uses such intense words to describe their thoughts and the way they see each other it just confirms how strong their love really is for each other. I would say the only faulty thing about this book to me personally would be the absence of names for their characters and it made it some what difficult to keep up with the dialogue. But I think the author did this on purpose because he wanted the theme of love to be dominant and strong so he left out the little things. To me, this is a book most readers would enjoy. Although it is short it is simple and extremely detailed. AlDoueiri does not prolong events but keeps the reader engaged waiting for the next move between the two. The book is well organized and overall easy to follow. The series of events in the book are not in chronological order but in short stories making it easier to understand the time periods the characters are describing and talking about. The authors argument is set up in a way that provides constant examples of regret from the characters not telling each other how they really felt about each other because of their fear of being rejected. I think her argument is persuading because the whole book is basically an example of not only love but regret. They both repress and concealed every emotion inside of them because their pride was more important to them than their emotions. I think the book teaches all of its readers a great lesson and also gives readers who have been in the same or a similar situation hope. Hope to change the outcome of situations by expressing emotions and feelings when they are present and before it is too late. In this case it doesn’t even have to be a romantic love it could be any kind of love and to just remember to never be too afraid to tell someone how you feel about them because you could never see them again. This book has helped me understand this subject of everlasting love because like I stated before it gives us hope because the two character in the book fell in love when they were younger but never expressed their true feelings to each other because they were to scared of rejection but in the end, they do end up together and finally confess that their deep love between the two is mutual. This book is unique from other romantic novels because their love is so innocent and pure. They share the same thoughts and chivalry is dominant through out the story. One of the traits the woman remembers so distinctly about the man is his manners. This is truly a great read for most people and readers are bound to get something out of this book. I would recommend the book because everyone can get something out of the book whether its learning the multiple lessons and themes or the enjoyment a sweet romantic novel.

    • Areej Abed-Aziz

      Breezes was written in Arabic by Wafic Mansour AlDoueiri and later translated in English by Mouna Mana. The fact that this book needs to be translated for others to read tells you a lot about the book. It is not your typical love story between a man and woman with a happy ending and honestly I thought it would be a typical book. The two were young and in love. Things happened between the two just like it happens to anyone and they went on with each other’s lives but their love was always held on. Their love was so strong that it was on hold for so many years even with the complications they had. They met later on and after so many years, they finally decided to put all the complications behind them. They wished when they were younger, nothing got in between their relationship and let so many years pass by.
      As young lovers, they went through what everyone goes through. They separated because she wanted a life somewhere else and he did not go with her. The boy though that was a final goodbye for the two but she does come back. As they were in love with each other, they met each other’s families and went through the process of telling their feelings and building their relationship with trust. As trusting was building up, there was rumors that the boy was talking to other girls. The girl believed every rumor and did not give the boy a chance to speak or if it was true, to be heard on why he did what he did. Their love ended there until years later which they regret letting each other go for some nonsense that was not explained or even true.
      Themes that I picked up for the novel Breezes is fear. There were both scared of commitment and they were both afraid to tell each other’s feelings due to thinking the other might not feel the same way. They knew they were in love but confused at the same time because they never felt each thing. Another theme I picked up is do not believe others. As growing up in school, I realized that you can trust anyone especially those that were close to you once. People you thought had your back can stabbed you as well and that’s when I learned not everything you hear is true. The young girl believed what people were saying and that affected many year of her life. The main theme I picked up is go for your goals. The couples’ goal was to grow up together and love each other. They get things that were unexplained get in between their love. Nothing should get in your way of what you want or where you want to go in life. Once something stops you, there is a high percentage of not reaching that goal. Many people and things that are successful today did not let anything get in their way. Life is to short and too simple to stop what you believe in. The couple let so many years go by and the question is what if they did not let that happen? A lot of other things can happen and they would not regret it for that rest of their lives even if they did get another chance at meeting again.
      Breezes was a good novel to read. Even if it was a love story, I would suggest many people to read it because it has more than just a love story. The meanings behind the messages can relate to anyone. Love and pain and taking risk in life is a relation anyone can feel. The read teaches you how to deal with your pain. Their pain was dealt with by remembering all the good times and even if they remembered the bad times such as the girl leaving or believing rumors about the guy, there was change in their lives. Change is always good. The novel does not discuss what they did the years they were separated or the people they met, but if their love did not end, their own life would have not happened. Everything has its pro and cons. Another main theme that we can all relate to is not letting things get in our way of where we want to be. The girl let lies get between their loves. We all have goals and we all want to be someone someday. That is why we are going to college. The novel brings a bigger picture for the audience than someone who just wants to read a love story. WE can all relate to the messages in Breezes and that is why I enjoyed reading it because it opened up my mind and about thoughts in my future that will help me along the way. I suggest everyone to read Breezes and look behind the main messages than a typical romance story.

    • This novel is a short novel, but has so much meaning and depth to it. This novel is translated from Arabic to English. I feel it is a very good novel, but maybe the Arabic version has more of a deep connection to it. It is about two characters have such a strong love for each other. They met in their younger years. They didn’t want to express the love they felt for one another. Neither one of them wanted to feel rejection. But the love as it seems from the novel is a really deep connection. The title Breezes, I didn’t think it was going to be a love story. I thought it was going to be about nature and the world. It was about love and I guess love is a part of nature, so that was a good twist for me. I love stories like these. So the love these two characters have for one another s a different kind of love. It seems like a patient love they have. She goes on a trip and then comes back to him. Only to realize, she hears a rumor that he was with another girl. She is shocked at this. They don’t ever talk again for years. But there love remains. Years later they meet again and just stare into the nature. They remember the love they had for one another in their younger years. Just by a stare they give each other, they know why they are in love. But still yet they won’t admit it. Why is it so hard to admit it. Them admitting it, will make everything so simpler. As I was reading this novel, it was hard to understand, I had to keep reading the same line a few times. But after actually reading it and understanding it, I am glad I read it. A lot of people should read this novel, it has a different kind of love in it. They should read it out of their enjoyment. I recommend this novel for people who like to read love stories. Even for people who have never read a love story. This novel will maybe change their interest. From Arabic to English translation, I know it has more depth and connection in its original version. This is an awesome novel. I really liked it and recommend it!

    • Daniel Vollkommer—12/7/15
      Written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, Breezes is a romantic novel about two individuals and their secret love for one another. It is a story that begins as the two are young adults who are attracted to each, drift apart and eventually find each other again in their senior years. Their relationship begins and continues again, purely and innocently with respect and sincerity. AlDoueiri pens a beautiful account of love that exhibits these qualities that are seldom seen in novels today. Originally published in Arabic, Breezes has now been translated into English. It is printed in both languages, side by side, and reads right to left. It is uniquely written from two perspectives and brief narratives – each noted by a respective font and size. AlDoueiri writes with descriptive imagery and details that add a visual connection to the story making it simple to picture the details. The author utilizes two major themes throughout the book – love and the fear of rejection.

      Breezes begins with an impromptu meeting between the two main characters. The reunion is awkward as it is much later on in the character’s lives. They are nervous and words seem hard to come by. As one continues to read, you find that this is how the first meeting had gone between them. From there, the book goes on to describe their initial meeting as very young adults with similar characteristics. They are both shy about expressing their feelings to the other. Each fears that the other will reject them, consequently neither one of them will make a move towards each other. This couple always falls short of actually being able to profess their feelings. Once the woman was taking a trip on a ship to Egypt. As she was leaving, the man had come to say goodbye but was too late. He saw her waving to family members but she did not see him. He recalls this by thinking, “I had no way of saying goodbye other than those furtive glances….You didn’t sense my presence.” Another example of miscommunication is in the chapter entitled “On The Path Back.” The two end up walking together and he asks her if his walking with her is bothersome. She responds by saying, “No. No.” What she meant to say was there was no need for him to accompany her.” Miscommunication continues as the woman listens to a friend talk badly about the man because he was flirting with another woman. She shouts to herself, “You made an attempt (!!) with a lady friend of ours…” Instead of confronting him, the woman just believes the gossip and shuns him, shutting him out. He his left to wonder what he did and why she is ignoring him. As years pass, their paths do not cross, yet they yearn for each other, declaring “Both of us avoided meeting the other, in spite of the strong desire to do so……” A lifetime of absence from one another finally comes to an end when they meet, both elderly now, and feel the same as they did when they were young. This is demonstrated by their action as they “stood facing the other/Silent/Astonished/Unable to utter a word…..it was the innocence of childhood.”

      The central theme in the book is obviously about love. The ongoing desire for each other is strong from the time they met as young adults until they finally reconnect in their old age. I found their love affair to be completely innocent and pure. He completely respects her and values her innocence. He raises up the fact that she has morals by stating “I couldn’t dare cradle her hands in my own. She was always the very model of a polite girl who would not allow any young man to demean her.” She is absolutely in love with him as well. He consumed her every thought and she saw him in all aspects of her world. She states, “You remained with me night and day, in my waking moments and in my dreams….I became like the one who breathed from your lungs.” A secondary theme was the fear of rejection. Both characters exhibited this trait. They both overly questioned the relationship and whether the other would dismiss the other over trite reasons. In their old age as they finally meet again after many years of absence, the narrator describes their meeting as follows: “ They sat facing each other/Each one inviting the other to start the conversation/…../Without uttering a single word. Fear of rejection was likely..” Likewise the man asks, “Will I be rejected because I’m still a student?….What’s wrong with me?” This is just one example of many as he questions the validity of the relationship.

      Breezes is an unexpectedly, beautiful love story that endures the the lifetime of the two characters. Both profoundly in love with the other, they appear to have waited for one another until they meet again in their old age. AlDoueiri has written a romantic tale that is appropriate for all and transcends all ethnicities.

    • The short novel “Breezes” is written by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri, who is an accomplished lawyer, educator, and human rights activist. Breezes is a classic and beautiful love story that once got lost in translation between two young lovers due to fear, rejection, and arrogance. To begin with the bad news, I think I can relate to others about how this book was confusing at first due to the right to left reading rather than the normal left to right. It did take some getting used to, which I didn’t really appreciate, but once I finished reading the novel, it seemed to me as if nothing else mattered. On a good note, there were several things that I did appreciate. One was how the author wrote this story. Al Doueiri writes this story in a way that almost makes it seem like it is a poem. The lines in this novel and very short and poetic. To me, this makes it more entertaining because it’s not common like one drag on sentence. Another thing I appreciated was how there was both the english and arabic text. I felt as if this made the text more beautiful due to the intricacy of the arabic alphabet. This is a perfect example that you should never judge a book by its cover, or judge the outward appearance of something before getting to know the inward.

      Diving into the importance of the story, Breezes, is a novel that shares a love story between two young lovers. Al Doueiri writes this in a way that seems like chronological order, where she highlights the important events in their love story. The title of each chapter told a story in time itself. Speaking of highlighting important things, the author does a fantastic job at using a great use of imagery and detail. I felt as if I was not just reading their love story, but as if I was watching it. Because of this, I really felt as if I understood both of the characters thoughts and feelings. I was rooting for them and their love story the entire time while reading this. In the beginning, it is clear how they feel for each other and the reasoning to why it is not expressed. “The fear of rejection was likely, or indifference, or lack of desire to meet. Their fear seized them…” Along with this quote there were many more that proved why the love was not confessed between the two. This novel is more than just the fear of rejection. It shows obstacles in relationships. “And I don’t know how many evenings I spent without a single tear drying.” The beautiful thing is that in the end, it proves that love prevails in the end. No matter how hard you fight against your destiny, fate will be what wins.

      Breezes is a novel that I would definitely recommend. It is very short, but has so many themes embedded in it, that can be relatable to people of all ages, from high school students to senior citizens, and everything in between. Love is something that almost every person desires. They desire to love as well as to be loved in return. I think that the main theme in this story is about taking risks to find true love. In the novel, the two characters show what true love really is because no matter how much time has passed, their mutual feelings for each other have stayed stronger than ever. You will never know if you don’t take risks. Although taking risks comes with insecurities and maybe even the fear of being rejected, it can also open doors and lead to something beautiful and true. I really enjoy how the title of the novel can be seen as a theme in this novel as well; breezes, every moment of the two characters sharing moments together and being in love together went by like a breeze. Just as wind is a part of worldly nature that the world needs, love is a part of human nature that humans need. When you’re with the person you love, being with them in that very single moment seems like the only thing that matters and you never really keep track to realize how much time has gone by.

    • The book Breezes is filled with many emotions that take your soul on a ride. Wafica AlDoueiri uses imagery in the best way to describe this all too real love story of a man and woman who never got the chance to show their affection for each other. After years of being apart, they finally meet again and rekindle their relationship. This short novel is written in a poetic style format which was nice, because it made it seem as though AlDoueiri wanted it to be like a poem. The novel was filled with heartache and unresolved feelings. One of the best parts that stood out to me was when she wrote, “Because the key to the stomach is a bite, the key to conversations is a word, and the key to the heart is a look.” They were both so afraid of rejection it stopped them from showing their true feelings for each other. This Novel illustrates the bond that two people can have, it can never be broken, no matter how long or how hurt the bond has become. While sitting with each other they discuss what made their relationship pause, why they didn’t continue on. Through this they find that both of them have an intense spark towards the other. It is ultimately the thing that never let their minds forget the other. If she tried to forget him, he would pop into her mind that very second. There are many themes in this novel but two that stood out to me were that true love will never stop finding you and another theme is fear. When all was said and done they were still afraid of rejection. He was afraid that if he told her the rumors were not true that she wouldn’t believe him and he was afraid that if he said the rumors were true that he would lose her again. She was afraid of telling him how she felt because she didn’t know if he would feel the same.
      The only thing that was a little difficult for me to follow was the dialogue. I wasn’t sure who was speaking when most of the time. I would have to reread and find out. This wasn’t the best love story I’ve read, because there wasn’t that much detail. I wished I could’ve read more about how they met how old they were how old they are now. I wish there was more description on the characters. They don’t even have names. Maybe that was all part of the authors way of writing, but it isn’t the kind of writing I’m attracted to. I did however, enjoy the ride this book took me on, the imagery was very detailed to the point where I felt the pain the love the joy and the sadness that the characters felt. It is a type of pain I haven’t experienced, yet felt as though I have. I believe that this novel would cater to those who have had similar experiences. I truly did enjoy reading the book though. I wouldn’t have personally picked it, but I am happy that I read it, because it is a great novel. It is a great tale of two lovers. I would hope to see it become a movie one day, I would definitely watch it.

    • I’ve recently read the book Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueri. It has been hard to find any information about Aldoueri but the information that I did find was interesting. Aldoueri is a lawyer and a community activist and is a big advocate for human rights. Although she is mainly known for her book, Breezes. The thesis of the book is that Love will always come back. The man and girl both lost each other, but in the end they still found a way back to each other. I think the thesis of the book is that no matter how long you are away from the person you love it will only make your love for them stronger.
      The book is mainly about how a man and women who are not named at all in the book have been in love ever since they were young. However they were to scared to express their love for the fear of getting hurt. Then it fast-forwards to a time when they are old and end up having another encounter where they finally express their true love for each other. It is quite tragic that they couldn’t spend their young years together because of the fear of rejection. Through out time it seems that there love for each other has only gotten stronger. I think the author was trying to convey throughout the whole book was that if its meant to be then it will be. If your love is true then it will always find its way back. I think the author successfully conveyed that.
      The book is very relatable for the fact that a lot of relationships now a days do not last for the fact that a lot of people are afraid of rejection. A lot of people put up their walls and don’t really show themselves to their boyfriend or girlfriend because of the fear of being rejected or get cheated on. So the book did a very good job with relating to the audience even If it was written in a different time. Although there were some confusing things about the book.
      Throughout the book the author did not use any names which made it very confusing at times to follow along to what was happening and to who was saying what. At times she would have the girls dialogue in bold and the guys dialogue in regular writing. An example of this is when they were having back and forth dialogue, “That would expose what was hidden away and concealed.” I knew this was the girl talking because the sentence was in bold. Then when the man started to talk the text looked like, “-Its true that you were resolved to boycott…” Although by the end of the book the bold and the regular text were all messed up so it became very hard to follow along.
      One thing that I found very interesting about the book was the fact that they had Arabic words on the right side of the page and English on the other side of the page. I thought this was cool because while reading the book the whole time I knew that it was from an Arabic author. Also this book is not like any other book. The book pages open from the left instead of the right, which is very different from the books that I usually read. Another thing that was interesting was the fact that the book had some poetry inside of it. Although I don’t think the whole book was poetry I feel like it went back and forth from poetry. Although it was written just like poetry is written. It had short lines and wasn’t written where the sentences fill the whole page. Its strange because even though it was meant to be poetry, the entire time I was reading I didn’t really get the poetry vibe.
      In conclusion I feel like even though the author did convey her message of if your love is true then it will always find away back to each other. Even though she had many confusing moments I actually thought that she did a very good job. I think she made a very memorable love story. I would recommend this book to all my friends that are really into romantic kind of books.

    • To begin, the book is very interesting and fascinating. The first thing you notice when you open this book up, is how it is laid out. On one side you have the story in English, and on the other you have it in Arabic. I believe this was done so one can have a clearer understanding of the meaning of this book, considering its’ story was from the Arabic world. Moreover, about the lay out of this book, is that it is very poetic like. It looks like one, and reads like one. This book is very different than any other book I’ve read, and may be quite confusing. No names are shared in this book, and I personally found it very difficult and confusing to understand who was speaking. I was not sure if it was the author speaking, the man in the story, or the women.
      To summarize this book quickly, it is generally a love story between a man and a woman. When they first make contact, their eyes are quickly bounded together, and it is as if they were instantly and magically in love. The unique part, is that they do not speak to each other, but yet the reader is able to understand how strong their love is. The reader is able to feel the emotion and understand the emotion being felt by these two people, for each other. This being said, this talks about the tone of the book. Again this book is also very poetic-like. There is a lot of emotion put into this book. The reader is able to get an understanding how strong their love is, and it is shown by what you read in this book. This book that takes place in the Arab world, also taught the reader about the Arabic culture. Such as its marriage. How it is an arranged marriage, and the men have more power as to agree to the marriage or not.
      At first I thought it was only myself that was confused about where the perspective of this book was taking place, but after reading the previous reviews of this book, it seems that I am not alone. So yes again, this book may be very confusing. But it is clear enough for the reader to know that it is about a man and a woman having very strong emotions towards each other. However, as another reviewer had mentioned, you don’t know whose story was it. It makes you question and wonder about the dialect or monologue of this book. One reviewer suggested that what we were reading might have been the thoughts, or and ‘internal monologue.’ Which is very much believable.
      In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about romance and love stories. The fact that these two secretly love each other and are too afraid to admit it, but yet the reader is able to understand their love for each other, is very fascinating. This book is very unique, and I doubt anyone has read or seen a book similar to one like this. No names were exchanged in this book, and it took place in the Arabic world. The theme, or purpose of this book might have been to show the readers how love is like in the Arabic world, or to teach others out there about love itself. One example could be that you don’t always need to talk to someone first to fall in love with them, and that in time, love will come in place, and things will come together if they are meant to be.

  2. When I first saw the greatly written romance/love story “Breezes”, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, I was slightly taken back by the fact that the book reads from right to left instead of left to right like a standard American book does. I thought it made the book more unique since it isn’t something I am normally accustomed to. Since the novel was translated from Arabic to English, I loved that it still kept the book written in Arabic on the right side and had the translated English version on the left hand side. This gave it a more cultural feel which I greatly enjoyed. I have gained a new appreciation for love stories since reading the novel “Breezes”. Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri does an amazing job describing in detail the love and longing of two people who desperately want to be together. Mansour Aldoueiri’s writing style is what made the short novel so much enjoyable in my personal opinion. She put a great amount of enthusiasm and imagery throughout this novel that sometimes I even envisioned myself in the book being able to experience everything the characters were experiencing. I also very much enjoyed how Mansour Aldoueiri joined both of the characters thoughts and feelings by adding both of their inner thoughts to the dialogue. I loved being able to understand how each character felt. This was my first time experiencing Mansour Aldoueiri’s writing pieces and from my liking of “Breezes” I cannot wait to read another greatly written novel by her!
    In the short story we meet these two characters who are so deeply in love with one another and who are able to miraculously find their way back to one another at an older age after going years and years apart from each other. This novel shows the struggles and heartache that true love can bring. “Breezes” revolves around how the two characters fell in love, how their love was lost, and finally how their love was reunited. The novel starts off with the woman sitting alone and then hears a familiar voice behind her. She then realized the voice belonged to her long lost lover from her teen years. Both the man and the woman were very nervous seeing one another again because they both thought that they hated each other. Mansour Aldoueiri does an amazing job by allowing us to know what each character is thinking throughout this novel by making the fonts different sizes to indicate who was talking. As they sat together, they both came to realize how much alike they are. For example, they both ordered the same food and drink combination. They reminisced on all their memories they shared together when they were young teenagers and how much they enjoyed being together. The two soon realized how much in love with each other they still are and how all those years apart did not change that and in fact their love seemed to have grown. This book touches on the theme of fate. Fate is what brought the two lovers back together in a random setting while both of the lovers thought they would never see one another again. The author reveals the reasons as to why the two characters were separated. The man had to leave for academic purposes and the woman was heartbroken because of this. She had her own life to live and could not go and chase after her lover. She was a student and her family would not have approved of her stopping her life for a man but like I stated previously, fate intervened and they were reunited once again to rekindle their love for one another that was never lost.
    This romance novel touches on little stories that make up the two lovers experiences and memories with each other. What makes this novel remarkable is how much people can relate to it. Everyone has experienced the being in love feeling before which is what brings this story more to life and if someone has not experienced love then that makes this book even greater. This novel is so descriptive that it makes you feel exactly what the characters feel. It brings you into the story and makes you a part of it. This book also shows you the do’s and don’ts of a relationship. It teaches you to let your guard down and take risks that come with falling in love with someone. “Breezes” teaches you that everyone fears rejection and not being loved in return but to take that leap of faith and just hope that the person will feel the same in return. You will never know unless you go for it! “Breezes” is overall a greatly written romance novel that will get anyone to feel the love of the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves poetic type of novels and who love romance! I cannot wait to read more novels from Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri!

  3. When I first saw the greatly written romance/love story “Breezes”, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, I was slightly taken back by the fact that the book reads from right to left instead of left to right like a standard American book does. I thought it made the book more unique since it isn’t something I am normally accustomed to. Since the novel was translated from Arabic to English, I loved that it still kept the book written in Arabic on the right side and had the translated English version on the left hand side. This gave it a more cultural feel which I greatly enjoyed. I have gained a new appreciation for love stories since reading the novel “Breezes”. Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri does an amazing job describing in detail the love and longing of two people who desperately want to be together. Mansour Aldoueiri’s writing style is what made the short novel so much enjoyable in my personal opinion. She put a great amount of enthusiasm and imagery throughout this novel that sometimes I even envisioned myself in the book being able to experience everything the characters were experiencing. I also very much enjoyed how Mansour Aldoueiri joined both of the characters thoughts and feelings by adding both of their inner thoughts to the dialogue. I loved being able to understand how each character felt. This was my first time experiencing Mansour Aldoueiri’s writing pieces and from my liking of “Breezes” I cannot wait to read another greatly written novel by her!
    In the short story we meet these two characters who are so deeply in love with one another and who are able to miraculously find their way back to one another at an older age after going years and years apart from each other. This novel shows the struggles and heartache that true love can bring. “Breezes” revolves around how the two characters fell in love, how their love was lost, and finally how their love was reunited. The novel starts off with the woman sitting alone and then hears a familiar voice behind her. She then realized the voice belonged to her long lost lover from her teen years. Both the man and the woman were very nervous seeing one another again because they both thought that they hated each other. Mansour Aldoueiri does an amazing job by allowing us to know what each character is thinking throughout this novel by making the fonts different sizes to indicate who was talking. As they sat together, they both came to realize how much alike they are. For example, they both ordered the same food and drink combination. They reminisced on all their memories they shared together when they were young teenagers and how much they enjoyed being together. The two soon realized how much in love with each other they still are and how all those years apart did not change that and in fact their love seemed to have grown. This book touches on the theme of fate. Fate is what brought the two lovers back together in a random setting while both of the lovers thought they would never see one another again. The author reveals the reasons as to why the two characters were separated. The man had to leave for academic purposes and the woman was heartbroken because of this. She had her own life to live and could not go and chase after her lover. She was a student and her family would not have approved of her stopping her life for a man but like I stated previously, fate intervened and they were reunited once again to rekindle their love for one another that was never lost.
    This romance novel touches on little stories that make up the two lovers experiences and memories with each other. What makes this novel remarkable is how much people can relate to it. Everyone has experienced the being in love feeling before which is what brings this story more to life and if someone has not experienced love then that makes this book even greater. This novel is so descriptive that it makes you feel exactly what the characters feel. It brings you into the story and makes you a part of it. This book also shows you the do’s and don’ts of a relationship. It teaches you to let your guard down and take risks that come with falling in love with someone. “Breezes” teaches you that everyone fears rejection and not being loved in return but to take that leap of faith and just hope that the person will feel the same in return. You will never know unless you go for it! “Breezes” is overall a greatly written romance novel that will get anyone to feel the love of the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves poetic type of novels and who love romance! I cannot wait to read more novels from Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri!

    Idaliz Morales

    • Breezes by Wafica Monsour AlDoueiri is a book that is initially seen as just multiple poems however the poems share a similar topic throughout. It is originally written in Arabic but is translated into English. When you begin to read it you quickly realize it is a love story in the form of several poems but still has the flow of a short novel. When I first saw the book I skimmed very quickly through the pages and was not very impressed, the idea of reading one poem after another was not at all appealing to me however when I started reading it I was immediately hooked. I finished the reading in a matter of a day, it is very easy to follow and the imagery the poems set is great, you can literally picture the actions and their emotions as you go along. I found it very interesting because it is very relatable. The way their emotions are portrayed such as the jealousy and the insecurities are things we face in our own lives at one point. The book basically speaks about the two main characters that share a love connection and as you are reading you are being let into their minds to see what each of them are thinking. They have known each other since a young age but they never really pay much attention to the admiration they have for one another until later on in their lives after a long separation. They always spoke about what they loved about each other but inside they were insecure as they didn’t think they would feel the same way; you are surprised to find they share the same thoughts of insecurity at one point. They were both so madly in love with each other but both were too afraid to admit it. The love they share is such a true and honest love that why it is so captivating and interesting to read. “Why is he so hesitant? Is he just being loyal to his family? Is he afraid of a negative reaction from me? Or is it that the beauty he sought in me no longer matters to him after all these years? After all these years? Isn’t he old now too? Has time stopped for him to preserve his youth? While I march towards old age?… Then he won’t reach any of the mutual feelings. (24-25)” This part specifically from the poem caught my attention the most, the fact that all of these things are running through her mind in such a short amount of time is incredible. This part I believe gives an insight on what goes on in a person’s mind when they are in love with someone but are questioning the love their partner has for them. After this they both discover they still have the same innocent and passionate love they once had even after all of the years that had passed. I think the best part of this story is that it can be relatable to any reader, it is not exactly the typical love story where there never seems to be any issues in the relationship it is realistic and they face hardships just like in real life. Overall, this book was a sensational read. Since the book is written very poetically, the reader is not always given direct answers for everything, it is up to the reader to decipher the reading and interpret how the man and the woman end things. I personally enjoyed all the imagery and nature that was described throughout the story, it added to the story and gave emphasis on what the narrator was trying to get across to us the readers. The imagery was also very interesting, to the point where you feel you are part of the story, it creates great excitement to continue reading. Another thing I found interesting, was how the book was organized, it definitely was different than most books I have read in that aspect because it is written in reverse you can say, maybe because in Arabic you read from right to left instead of the normal left to right. I also felt that the main themes presented in this particular book were love and loyalty, added to what makes this it relatable to us. AlDoueiri makes a private and intimate connection with the reader by showing the man and woman’s thoughts about each other, giving the reader an inside look. In conclusion, I LOVED reading this book and it is most definitely worth the read. It takes a romantic relationship, demonstrates the positives and negatives and gives the reader a great insight on it.

  4. In the magnificent love story “Breezes” written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is of a couple who were truly meant to be after finding their way back to each other after being separated from one another. The main theme runs through the bond they have and how the world revolves around it. It is a beautiful and romantic love story and shows what real love is through two characters and their words and thoughts. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri chooses to section it as “chapters” I would say with a heading about what will be talked about. The format of the book is different since it is an Arabian story translated to English. The book is opposite the direction that we read it in English so it was a good experience seeing and having a book like this one. It was not difficult to follow and was not confusing when trying to read. The left side is the literature in Arabic and the right is in English. The sections of chapters that Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri wrote seemed more poem style rather than an actual story. This gave a feel for the imagery and metaphors used in her writing. She used a lot of imagery of nature around her to set the mood of the story. The beauty we know nature to be is the beauty that can help us seen love through words. The story revolves around the love of the two characters: how they came to be, how love was lost, and how love was found. They made the decision to reunite their love after hearing the truth about each other’s feelings about everything that had happened when they were together and apart. I like how the translation was in different prints, some in bold, and two other different fonts in order to tell who was speaking in the story. There is a narrator in bold uses metaphors and imagery to portray the love of the couple through the world around them and you can tell the difference between the girl character and the guy character through the different fonts. The author wanted the readers to feel what the characters felt in order to get us in the mood of the story. During most of the story you, yourself feel like the character in the book, you feel everything they felt it is incredible what the author did through her work. It allows you to escape from reality. The best part of this story is that it is relatable to our relationships that we have and makes us more connected to the story and we get addicted to the reading. This is why she connected the world’s nature with what was happening from the very start of the story and she ends with it too. It was to different ways of the world: how it flowed when they were away from each other and how the world worked when they were together in the end. This is what connects the title “Breezes” to the story line. The theme of the story is the deep love the two main characters had for each other. Their bond was strong even when they were separated. They had both thought about each other but had negative thoughts about each other and thought that their lover hated them only they both felt the same way for one another. They were both afraid of being rejected from one another. The story has good lessons behind it that helps couples in relationships. Some lessons include trust, rumors, overthinking, and more. Through this story you can lean what mistakes not to make when it comes to any relationship you have. You can never been too trusting in any person because all people fear lies and getting hurt and most of the time we want to keep our guard up. With this story we also learn how to take risks because we never know if the other person feels the exact same way we do. We are allowed to see in the minds of the characters. Some things that were difficult were hard at times to understand what the author was trying to say through her use of imagery and metaphors. Personally, I am not good when it comes to poems, which is what her writing was partially poems. However I was still able to follow along with the story and was able to understand the morals and lessons behind her writing. I recommend it for those romance and love themed lovers that just love a romantic story. It is a good story that allows readers to see how love can actually be the same no matter what part of the world and no matter what race or ethnicity you are and also for any age. After reading this book I realize that love can conquer anything if the love is real.

  5. Wafica Mansour AlDoueri’s novel Breezes is a tale of love lost and found again. This story is one that appears to move beyond time, place, and culture in that it is relatable to everyone. AlDoueiri is a lawyer, educator, and activist for human rights. Breezes, her first novel explores the effects of societal pressures on romantic relationships. This novel is most easily described as a cautionary tale that rises against faithlessness and rigid social rules. Breezes, is a story that we have all heard before though presented in a manner that seems fresh and page turning.
    This novel follows two whom have loved each other since they were young schoolmates and acquaintances. It opens with them meeting much later in life; our lovers are now white-haired though just as bashful as in their beginning. A history of their relationship is then presented to the audience. There was attraction, and even a culturally acceptable courtship. However, division ensued as a result of jealousy and mistakes of youth. The pair reconnects later in life and discusses their own rise and fall until the end of their days.
    One of the themes of this novel includes faithlessness and it takes many forms. It drives the story by being the reason our pair is split. While are characters are still in their phase of courtship our young man is reported to have been flirting with a girl other than the one he has declared his affections for. Rather than inquiring him of this, his girl choosing to believe the idle gossip and end their relationship. This demonstrates her lack of faith in her beau and begins many years of longing and suffering. In addition to this lack of judgment he does not pursue the relationship or deny any claims against him. Later he declares he was afraid that she would shun efforts to clear his name. This shows his faithless attitude in the one he claims to love. A French proverb within the novels states “If only youth knew, and if only age were able (96).” This reflection made by the female character demonstrates remorse in the folly she displayed during her youth and the wish that she could alter it later in life.
    Another theme of this novel is the effect of socio-cultural values and mores, which, are attended to by our characters during most of the story. The young man is known as being well mannered and polite. The young lady is “the very model of a polite girl /Who would not allow any young man to demean her (24).” These titles carried by our characters have restricted them to the point that they are unable to chase their own source of happiness in favor of being viewed as upright and proper. Towards the end the female character, then a mature woman expresses shedding these feelings as a burden off of her own shoulders. It would appear that these discarded restrictions have allowed her to find her true happiness without anxiety. She even goes as far as declining an offer of marriage to her partner. She would rather be bound merely by their shared affections than a roof. To her remaining unmarried seemed to offer a sweeter side of love than could be offered within a more traditional framework.
    These themes of the novel were presented in a manner that seemed fresh to its audience though the story itself is a common one. This was achieved through the use of descriptive and illustrious language. Such language allows the reader to view the scenes before them. In addition the use of varying font styles make this storyline easy to follow even without the use of the typical quotations as speaking punctuation.
    While this story was intriguing in itself I would have like to see more detail concerning the years these two spent apart. We as the reader are left to assume that neither ever married or had children. I am curious as to whether this is actually true or if it was left out for literary purpose. We are also left in the dark about of typical aspects of life such as how they spent their time, not even a hint at a satisfying career. I understand the novel’s aim is to explore their lives as they related to each other however, it seems that all these two did for their entire lives was pine for the other. While it seems to add up to a great love story in reality it is a bit depressing.
    This novel included touching emotional aspects of romantic relationships; while challenging the reader to consider their own values that may be holding them back from a fulfilling life. Although a more holistic account of the characters lives would have been appreciated, this story if one of love and wisdom that all can learn from.

  6. When I first purchased “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and opened up the first couple of pages, I was shocked by the format of the book. I had no idea that it was going to have the Arabic version and the English translation. I pictured it would be all in English and simply just a regular old English translated book. I was ready to read this. I knew that the Arabic language is read differently than the English language written. The first couple of pages where the reading starts, it simply talks about the nature of the scene that these two persons were in. The author does a great job comparing certain things with one another, for example, “Approach, draw back, and dance on the water’s surface Like lovers dancing on a clear night.” In this quote the author was addressing the rustling trees. I loved how much imagery there was in describing the nature of the scene. As I continued to read, I already assumed that the theme was going to be some sort of love romance novel. The main plot that I got from reading the story was basically two lovers who reunite after a long time. It started off with the girl just going about her day outside in the nature when all of a sudden she recognizes the voice of the man she has always loved since they were young. She did not believe it was him because they have been separated for the longest time ever. I was starting to wonder what separated them for all this time. One thing about this meeting between the couple that AlDoueiri made interesting was the fact that it was considered fate that these two lovers met in this naturally beautiful place. It shows that they did not plan a meeting or any conversation at all, but they were stuck. They shook hands and really had no idea what to say to one another, especially after all these years they have never seen each other. Then they seemed to embrace the fact that it was indeed the person that they had imagined standing right in front of them. While the two were away from each other, they have been thinking about one another. Both had negative thoughts which led them to assuming they hated each other and they really feared rejection by one another in the moment, but they also had their positive thoughts. A waiter came and interrupted the two’s awkward moment of silence and asked them for their order and they ordered the same thing. The two lovers start to exchange their stories of when they were younger. After a while, the girl really wanted to break the news to her family, but then she thought about the fact that she was a student and how a relationship can only be some type of distraction to her education. The lovers continue on “catching up” with one another, knowing that they were the love of each others lives and they just did not know. I am sure that we have all read the story of the two lovers and we know what happens next. Now I am going to go on to talking about what I liked about the author and her skills. One thing that really caught my attention was how I can definitely image the author in the content of the story. I never heard of Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri or any of the work done by this author, but after reading this book, I think I would enjoy some more of her stories. I really appreciated how AlDoueiri really focused on getting the readers to feel like they are a part of the mood of the story. Every aspect of the story was relatable to real life and typically anyone in life can imagine this story actually happening. The message behind the story can definitely be a helper for many couples in relationships; it teaches that assumptions or over thinking should never be a barrier when it comes to feelings for another. It also shows aspects of trust in relationships. I definitely loved the author’s imagery. It really helped set the mood of the particular setting of the scene. The book overall was a success to me. I definitely did enjoy the story. I really like the main idea that it’s two lovers who were in love since they were in school together
    who finally reunited after many, many years of separation. What I also really enjoyed and found interesting was reading it in the format that it was in. I know it’s weird, but I really liked reading in a different way than usual. I got to experience the feel of reading Arabic even though it was not in the actual language, but just the format. I thought it was a perfect idea for the translator or whoever had the idea of keeping the format of Arabic literature. Other than that, this story was very well written by AlDoueiri.

  7. Jocelyne Sanchez
    Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri
    What do you know about love? You’re just a kid. Have you ever heard that? Breezes was a beautiful tale of a young love turned sour because of miscommunication. The book begins by introducing these two characters and describes their thoughts and emotions of the other. Breezes offers us a peek into both of their heads, there is no doubt or confusion, and we wonder what is he thinking? Just as I wonder the next chapter is his side of the story. Breezes takes us on the journey that these two characters embarked on. It starts as nothing but pure love, which turns into doubt and ends with a reunion of an inseparable love. The book itself was physically heavy, I thought it would take me a couple of weeks to finish, upon opening the book, I noticed it was not like all the other books I have read. The book was backwards as if I was reading it from end to beginning, the left side of the pages once opened, where the English translation, translated by Mouna Mana, and the right offered the original Arabic version. I loved this about the book, though I have no idea how to read it, the written language is beautiful, it looked so elegant and it made me wish I knew how to read it. The pages in the book where sleek and shiny, thus the reason the book was so heavy, some pages didn’t take up the whole page but half or less. The pages where written as poems, the layout seemed very similar to a book of poems. I loved how the book offers different fonts, making it easy to identify the speaker. Every chapter had either her or him talking and if the opposite person were talking they would switch up the font, the size, and the boldness of the words. Breezes was very easy to read, the letters where big, which helped I have horrible vision, it was a quick read, though I thought it’d take me weeks to read because of the weight it actually took me 2 evenings and a day to read. AlDoueiri is an exceptional author, his words where relatable and romantic, he offered wonder and instead of giving answers he would raise questions. I felt like I was watching a movie by reading this book, it was written so clearly that I was able to picture the characters and watch it play out in my head. Love stories are abundant, and I have read many, I have lived some, and when reading Breezes your given the story of a couple, who could easily be you. It is very relatable and for some who may be in a similar situation, it may be just what you need. Though disappointed that the truth is never really revealed, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as well as I did, if he had included it. Miscommunication is a huge part of a relationships failure, communication is key, and when AlDoueiri wrote of the doubt that arose in her mind, I knew that I can learn something from this book. Not every relationship is perfect or has a perfect happy ending as many stories have projected. I put myself in her shoes, I thought long and hard what I would do, she let rumors lead her stray, while he never defended himself against what he was accused of, he questioned her and her trust and belief in him. I found that beautiful, though most girls would want an answer, a very specific answer with many details and a lie detector test as well. He simply asked her if she believed he would do that, and if she thinks he would risk losing her, she had to put her pride aside and dig deep and trust herself and him. In the end they were incapable of straying from each other and their emotions surfaced once again, as in the beginning of the book. This love story reminded me of a circle it started where it ended, and that’s definitely something you don’t see too often in couples, only fantasy movies. Typically, you fall in love and you stay in love, for a while, then you feel as love fades, as the excitement dies, and your put in a situation where you strayed or your partner did, and you end it there. Rarely do I see a true love that ends with the same amount of love or more than it started. Breezes was a lovely book to read, very insightful, and through it all romantic, and inspiring. I do recommend to read, it’s not long, but it’s beautiful. Love can come in many ways and if you find yourself in love at a young age, it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t know what love is yet, it means you may just be the special one who find their one so young, just like in breezes.

  8. The Book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is a story about two characters who were in love, but then separated. AlDoueiri really made each section in the book sound so beautiful and she put so much emotions, that it made the reader connect with the book and the story itself. The only pessimistic thing I would say is that there was so much romance and emotions in one book that I started to lose interest while reading half way in the book. Now it’s probably because I’m not a big fan of romantic genre, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t fully like it. In my opinion there should be a balance in between.
    Now moving on to the book itself, the book has the English translation on the left side and the Arabic version on the right side. It was interesting and fun reading the book the other way around which is pretty cool. Every single section in the book were very detailed and on point. So the book is basically a story about love and it focus from the beauty of love, from sadness on not being loved, from letting going of love, and moving on in life. The book started off with the section titled “Deep Emotions” where a couple sitting across from each and looking at one another. While they are both in a shy and nervous state of mind, they both look at one another wondering what the other person is thinking and questioning their selves on how they will approach the other person. For example, the guy would think about holding the girl’s hand and the girl would think why the guy hasn’t touched her hand yet. So it’s kind of like in reality where you would try to think what the other person is thinking. Also it shows that nobody is perfect when it comes to being romantic and that everyone is always nervous no matter when it comes to situation just like in the story. Throughout of the book it was mostly characters thinking about what the other character is thinking or the one that they are in love with, such as the situation that happened in “Deep Emotions.” What I do love about each section in the book is that they all sound so poetic in my opinion and they have a nice flow to it. Some sections were not too lovey dovey such as the “The Separation” where the couple separated and the girl in the story would question if they made a right decision. Then the story would go from question after question after question then emotions start being released by the girl, but in the end there is a relief feeling to it. So I love how she was every optimistic in the end of that section and I felt she was a very strong as an individual. She didn’t let her current situation affect her and/or her emotions.
    After reading “Breezes”, it really made me connect with the book as if I was in the story itself or as if I was the character in the story. It also reminded me of my pass relationships such as the good moments and the bad moments. The stories in the book were very relatable as if it was a real person trying to relate to me. I think the reason why it made me feel and think that way is because the author AlDoueiri made every section in the book very detailed. AlDoueiri gave you the perspective of each character and showed you their thoughts about the other person. Also, at the same time the reader had a chance to get to know and understand the feelings of the characters. When I mentioned the story “The Separation” about how it would go from question after question and so on, I actually dislike that part. For example, on page 100 AlDoueiri wrote “ Return time past? Can old age fix what youth lacked in experience and knowledge? Dare I even ask? Do you truly still love me?….” It was kind of annoying in way where I had to stop and ask the character in the book, “Why do you have so many questions?” But that still doesn’t take away how good the book is.
    In conclusion, the book is really good and it’s probably the most interesting book that I ever read. Also, I have to say I kind of like the book just because it was very deep and detailed. I still dislike romantic genres or any genres that puts so many emotions in one book; it’s just not my cup of tea. I do recommend “Breezes” to any reader who is a romantic genres fan, non avid readers, love books that connect with you and/or open minded to any types of genres.

  9. The short novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was admittedly not what I had expected when I first started reading. From just a quick glance at the novel, it appears to be just a collection of poems put together in a book. But while the style of the writing itself is done very much like poems, it does still tell a very beautiful story of two lovers. The two lovers meet after years and years apart from one another and recount not only their first encounters but how their feelings for one another haven’t faded, despite the years apart. “The years that separated us…However that didn’t mar the continuing affection in our hearts” (112). Throughout the entirety of this story, the two lovers were both saying how much they still cared for and loved one another. Although there was a deep regret on the part of the woman who had, in her words, boycotted the young man for a very long time. She had heard rumors that he had been seen with another woman, but because there was nothing official between them she had no idea how to confront him about it. Instead she tried to push him away, to trick herself into believing she was no longer in love with him. “There is no point in attempting to forget or suppress feelings…For suppression enflames them” (150).

    So instead of being able to actually acknowledge their love for one another, they suppress it and have to settle for fantasies instead. Of memories of what might have been had they allowed themselves to move past the rumors and be truly together. “They were fantasies we lived as though they were reality” (132). Both wishing to talk to each other and express their true feelings, and yet both were afraid of the rejection they would face if they said what they felt out loud. They did, finally, end up meeting however. Long after they had last seen each other. No longer young, youthful students but now older, graying adults who had seen so much in their lives. And yet their feelings did not diminish at all. “And reassuring to me once more that live is not short lived/And that no matter how much it covered in its sleep/It can once again roar ablaze” (122). This just helps to prove that no matter what has happened to one another, no matter what experiences they’ve gone through or the pain they experience they still do love each other with that same passion and intensity they did as young adults.

    “I now, after our meeting…Dream of a lifetime that is equivalent to time in its entirety” (124). The only thing the pair of them truly regret at this point in their life is that they hadn’t had the courage to tell one another the truth. That they had missed out on all those years together, and instead had been left to dream and wish about the what ifs. And even when she had been upset that one of the few times he saw her, she had been sick he had brushed it aside. “Our intertwined souls don’t know the meaning of illness/And don’t acknowledge age/Because the soul remains in its pristineness, youth, beauty/No matter how surpassed by the days and no matter how long time takes” (108). I particularly loved this quote because it shows the absolute depth of their love for one another, and just how strong it is even after going so many years without one another. And then for the story to finish off as the two of them reading and rereading the story until the end of their days side by side in the retirement home was such a fitting end.

    This story is filled with the overwhelming theme of love, as I have described and emphasized above. But not just the idea of love, but how love can truly overcome all. That it doesn’t matter if you only meet briefly, one time and then don’t meet again for years or never meet again. That love that you can have will still blossom deep within you, just waiting for your heart to reach out and touch theirs with it. But part of the deeper underlying part of this theme is the fear that love has attached to it. The fear of unfaithful love or the rejection to love. But what this story emphasizes over and over again, is it is worth it to take that risk. Because the pain of having that love but only in fantasies and never truly getting to share it with your other half is overwhelming. And no matter how hard you may try to suppress it, or tell yourself that it’s not real or that you can get over it, only strengthens it. And only makes it that much stronger when you finally do admit it to yourself and to them and let your love take its course.

  10. Jennifer Ramirez
    In the book of “Breezes” we meet two characters that after so many years, they reencounter at an older age. This is a love story of a couple that has waited after the long separation between the two. The context is really beautiful; I love how the characters express their thoughts within the lines and how you are able to see two sides to this story. I find it so heartwarming how they have similar thinking. In the book it mentions fears that they both had. Fear in being rejected, that one wouldn’t be worthy of the other, fear that the other would not be happy by their side. They mention their virtues and admiration for each other while they ponder at the thought that they themselves are not good enough. They both had insecurities, and due to how conservative they were back in the day, they wouldn’t dare say it so freely. They were both in love with each other and yet afraid to say it. It delights me how pure and sincere this love is. I enjoy reading novels, especially if its romance. I love how the author makes it possible for us the reader to grasp the feeling and emotion when these two have some type of physical contact. In the beginning of the story it mentions the gaze when they see each other after all these years. I thought it was so powerful and full of passion and romance, and the author gives you those details. Not only is love mentioned in the story, but you also learn to understand the type of life that these two characters have. You have these rules with arranged marriages and also the idea of inequality between men and women and how there is a borderline of the things that you can and cannot do, because in the middle east, still to this day they live in a very conservative and are strongly affiliated with their old traditions. Yet, these two individuals no matter how old they have gotten, the wrinkles in their faces are just the marks that time has left and the patience they have had, but the heart is still young and strong and they still are greatly, madly in love with one another. This short novel was very well put together. After reading it, it filled me with inspiration and a good reflection of love and life. I believe relationships is something that everyone has, whether it be with people you associate at school, work, or intimate relationships with your partner, there will always be a connection that you have with someone. Life is full of many purposes. We can live it in endless possibilities. We also face different elements, like happiness and success, prosperity, the things that we like to be engaged such as hobbies. We also face unfortunate events, the most common, heartbreaks; a feeling that everyone can relate to in one-way or another. Whether it is the loss of a loved one or a breakup, we know of the empty and sadness that is instilled in our hearts. Life can be very surprising as well, just like we question the bad situation that happen to us, we are also puzzled by the good things that happen, it is unexplainable why these things occur and for what reason… We may not know, for destiny has its own ways. It has been to my advantage, to take a course in Arabic Literature and to learn of such great authors and language with this culture. I found it very interesting how the book is set up. Something I did not know was that in Arabic literature they read from right to left. Specifically in this short novel, you see the ‘English’ translation on the left while you have the written Arabic language on your right side. From my knowledge and having read poems and short stories, this book is composed of those two elements, where it is structured as a poem yet also written in a form of short stories. It is a short story that keeps you awake and will make you not want to stop reading. It is not long or hard to read, for the translation is very clear and easy to understand. From past experience I have read similar works of other authors and something that I can infer from comparing Arabic authors is that they all share something in common and that is that their stories are full of meaning and reason. I find it very touching how through their characters they set out their feelings and thoughts and as a reader you admire that because with literature you can express yourself and free everything that you feel or think with just a pen and paper. I recommend anyone to read “Breezes”, it is such a beautiful story and for those who are not familiar with Arabic literature, I feel that they will enjoy learning the work, the art, and the culture that is reflected with stories like this. More especially with this short novel, I appreciate how love is delivered and the words it is used to describe just how powerful and important it is.

  11. “Breezes”, The Story of Two Lovers

    “Breezes” by Mansour Al Doueiri struck me as a book I wouldn’t like when I first glanced inside of its pages. All I saw were pages upon pages of poetry which unknowingly to me at the time, just seemed like many unconnected stories. It wasn’t until I sat down and read the book that my eyes were opened to just how well of a novel it is, telling its story in an intricate format I don’t regularly see in the books that I read. I’ve never been a fan of long poetry that seemingly goes on forever because the words a majority of the time do not set the story nor give any insight into the characters instead reading like the constant ramblings of an insane person with hints of events only lightly touched upon. This is where I feel the novel shines brightest compared to other works of its kind.
    “Breezes” tells the long and arduous tale of two lovers, starting out from when they first met, to becoming closer, to being together, to breaking up, to fighting, to getting back together, and eventually leading on to their inevitable death. I feel one of the novel’s strong points in its story comes from an eventual rift that forms between the two, when a greater conflict is introduced that causes the man and woman to break apart. The way the novel is told though, we never read of the event happening, we only enter after the other finds out about it and how it effects both of them and their relationship. This also shows where the narrative choice of the novel truly shines. The writer decided to create a first person narrative from both sides, all told within a framed novel. The idea is that we hear both the unnamed man and the unnamed woman’s point of view during a certain event highlighted by the chapter’s title while all of this seemingly refers to an actual relationship that has become strained. The one trying to get their love back uses the story as a way to bring them back together. It’s an interesting narrative choice I found to be truly unique and something I can’t recall every seeing take place within the same novel.
    The language of the novel is one of beauty, romance, and heartbreak, themes I feel many can relate to on some level. The way it’s written gives a beauty to the world around our main characters. With how it’s written was gain a clear understanding of the events that happen and how these two fall for each other. We feel the love they have for each other from the words we read but as well, we feel the pain they experience during a major turn in the story. It’s in this that I think the novel takes on a deeper level. It’s a novel of two lovers sure, and it is clearly about the romance between the two, but it happens on such a visceral level that it transcends the written page and instead becomes events that we feel for. These characters feel like people we actually know, possibly more intimately than those we know in real life because of how often we peek inside of these characters lives. Taking into account that this is a framed novel, it adds even more to the story because we also vaguely look into the lives of other characters who feel like they’re meant to be the “real” versions of the ones we read about in the story. It helps to develop four different characters while only covering two of them, seeing the other two as reflections of the ones within the framed story.
    “Breezes” is in many ways a poem for people who dislike poetry, like myself. While it goes on for a while it never feels like it overstays its welcome. It tells a relatable story that so many of us could have gone through in similar events within our lives. We all remember our first love, maybe even our first crush, but rarely do we find a way to be with them forever and this story is on to inspire with its tale. The way it’s written, while seemingly daunting for the poetic illiterates of the world, provides a heartwarming environment while giving us a glance into the lives of these fictional characters. While they remain fictional we still feel like these are people we care about and can relate too on so many levels that they seemingly transcend the work they are written in. The novel’s interesting format, combining two forms not usually, if ever before, put together offer a truly unique experience. That I feel is the best possible way to compliment the novel, “Breezes” is really nothing short of a truly unique experience.

  12. Aliah Barajas
    The book “Breezes” is a very heart warming, visual, fascinating love story written by Mansour Al Doueiri. This is the first book I’ve read by Mansour and I will continue to read many more. It is written left to right because the author is Arabic and it was originally written in Arabic as well. On each right page the story is in Arabic and on each left page it is in English which can be appreciated by many bilingual speakers due to the fact that sometimes during translations the book loses some of its original dialogue but I didn’t find the translations to lack any detail. I found it a lot easier to understand because she told the story from the woman and the man’s perspective, there is no “he said” or “she said”. Although it is not a very long book it is very intriguing, she gives so many details in every sentence it is easy to paint your own picture in your mind. The picture in my head was so vague I felt like I knew what they really felt inside.
    This is the perfect love story for those who are into romantic novels. The book goes on about how deeply in love this couple is even after all of those years being separated and they go on to love each other for what’s left of their lives. It is almost as if AlDoueiri took long hours to carefully develop each line of this book yet each line flows within the next so easily. It seems real as you continue to read it almost feels like a personal journal due to excessive details. The theme I got from this book is “true love waits” because even at their old age they were still more in love than they had been before and many people could relate to this theme. At first I did not realize the title was so important to the detail in the book. It is called “breezes” because they meet on the beach with the breeze in their faces, between their fingers and toes, and between their desires for each other. She also gives it a traditional Arab twist by making the girl more conservative and the guy more outgoing because in the Arab culture it is more likely for a man to go for a woman than a woman to go for man. It also reminded me of an Arab tradition when she revealed they had never held hands before because anything of that sort is forbidden until after marriage. I read this whole book in one sitting due to the fact that I was unable to put it down!
    In conclusion, Mansour Al Doueiri is an amazing writer. I can see her passion for writing through her work and that is what a true writer does. I love the fact that she did not write in third person and gave a tremendous amount of detail in every sentence. I never wanted to stop reading, the book was too good and I continuously wanted to know what was going to happen next. I knew at all times the thoughts and emotions of each character during each conversation. Each question and each comment from each character was just as real as the questions and comments that are in my head. It was as if her characters became a part of her and she gave them life. “Breezes” by Mansour Al Doueiri is a heartwarming, visual, fascinating love story and nobody should be hesitant about this book. I would definitely read it again and recommend it to others.

  13. Breezes by Wafica Mansour Aldoueire is about the relationship of a man and woman throughput their life. They go through periods of being together and being apart. One day the woman is sitting on the side of a river and the man walks up and joins her. They are both nervous, but wanting to be together. The book then explains how they used to be together when they were younger, but they were separated a couple times by the course of life. Eventually, they end up in a retirement home and they read their love story over and over again. The purpose of this story is to show how strong love is and the desire that comes with it. Both the man and the woman desire to be with each other, but it is hard for them to do so and to have the courage to do so until they are older.
    The main idea of this book is the strength and power of love. The author portrays the idea that love will last and it will wait. This is different from the world today because people don’t usually have this idea of love anymore; love like this has become a fantasy. This story can bring light to the reader and show them that this is how true love is, it is something that cannot be denied or ignored, it is always there no matter the circumstances.
    Overall, the content of this book is a beautiful love story. However, it can be hard to follow what is happening because the story jumps to different points in time. There are subheadings, but they are not clear as to what time period the author is referring to. The author does not adequately cover the main idea of love and strength in this book because the reader is too busy trying to figure out what is going on. The ideas of this story are not balanced, therefor making the meaning of the story more difficult to grasp.
    The story is in the form of poetry and this also makes it confusing. There is one part in the beginning where the couple is sitting by the lake and then the author refers to being in a restaurant. There is also dialogue about the thoughts of both the man and the woman. This dialogue is hard to distinguish from the narration and the actual dialogue occurring between the two people. If the dialogue and setting were clear, the message of the story would be more effective.
    I think readers would appreciate this work, especially if they are into poetry. It is a beautiful love story that can be appreciated by anyone. The evolution and growth of the love between the two characters over their lifetime is something remarkable.

  14. Hello, I am reviewing the book Breezes by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri. The book is about the relationship of a man and women that love each other dearly but over the course of their lifespans are separated but eventually come back to each other to try their love again 1 last time. How they meet again is one day a woman was sitting on the side of a river when all of a sudden a man approaches her, and then proceeds to join her. I think both of them were kind of nervous and even a little scared but at the end of the day they wanted to be together. Before that however, they loved each other way back when they were younger and as I said early were separated by life. How they end up is in a retirement home reading a story about their love countless times. I think the purpose of the story was to show that love can conquer anything and if it is meant to be, it will be. The couple had went through countless trials in the on and off again relationships. Another thing I really enjoyed about the book is that the trials they went through were very modernized and relatable. The man was accused of loving or having feelings for another women while they were together, but instead or denying it or admitting to it He wanted to see if the woman trusted him and played a reverse psychology role wanting to see if she thought he was even capable of doing anything of that such. I think this is very relatable because I have even had similar issues like this in relationships and I know of people that have had this issue as well. So I understood where both the man and women were coming from. The one thing I will say is a little different to me is how fairytaleish the book seems to be. It’s almost like in the movies how a couple will end up together if fate brings you together. Not saying anything is wrong with this but I feel like in reality this wouldn’t happen, just my personal opinion. I also will admit that I was a bit confused reading the book because I felt like it jumped around a lot in regards to the timeline of their relationship. I think the dialogue of both the man and women was even a little fuzzy to me only because it was everywhere. I think this made it just a little harder to understand the underlining moral of the book. But I guess as I read on it became more clear as to what the author was trying to do but at the beginning I was a bit confused. I was also a little skeptical when I got the book because I saw it was translated and I was intimidated by the Arabic wording but I believe that Mouna Mana, Ph.D did a great job at translating it, I understood what was going on grammar wise with no trouble at all. Another thing I have noticed after reading a lot of Arabic books is that they are powerful, and have something worth saying. The reader is left with a message about life and love, something everyone can relate to. Nowadays a lot of books don’t have a message to really bring to the table, or at least I can’t figure out exactly what it is. I appreciated this when reading Breezes, I took a lot from the book. I will day, the way the author wrote this book was very different yet similar to other books I have read. Like it is the same because it speaks on how powerful love is and that if you truly do love someone anything is possible. But it is different because as I mentioned earlier in my review it is confusing, because it jumps around from different times and places, writing from both male and female perspectives. The book is definitely vague and yet not very straight to the point, the author provided no names or real locations in the book but at the end of the day you see where the author was coming from and going. The book was overall good but I think it would have been better if I read it all at one time and not over a span of weeks. I say this only because after a certain amount of time it became hard to understand where I left off and therefore the story line became kind of blurry. If I had read it in one sitting I think the story would have been clearer and an easier read for me. The book was a great example though of how through growth, trust and love you can accomplish anything with your significant other. Overall, great book and a must read!
    Raven Norwood ARAB 290

  15. The book Breezes was written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. It was translated from the Arabic language into English by Mouna Mana, a talented teacher, writer, poet, and storyteller. Breezes is filled with poetic and rich language which make Mouna Mana a qualified and well suited translator. Breezes is book that every time you read you can find new meaning.
    The book Breezes is a rich story about two former lovers that reconnected at a chance meeting at an enchanting venue. The author builds the anticipation between the two using rich imagery. The reader is given the impression that the former lovers are guarded and are afraid of getting hurt and rejected. One thing I found interesting is how the man puts his hand on the table, so the woman can hold it. I thought this was symbolic of him exposing his heart despite the fact it has been rejected in the past. Throughout the book the reader is given more and more detail about the history of the two former lovers.
    At one point in the story, the two lovers are sitting at a table waiting for their food. They are unable to speak to each other; however, the reader is able to hear the internal dialogue of their past history and their present emotions. The reader learns that the former lovers had a long and complex history. They went to school together, and that is where they first fell in love. When going back to the beginning of the two lovers story, the author uses descriptive and poetic phrases to describe the intense love they felt. The chapter, “A Farewell on the Harbor Boardwalk,” describes a scene where the woman is leaving to Egypt with fellow students. The man found out about the trip and showed up to say goodbye, but the woman wouldn’t look at him or acknowledge his presence. He is truly heart broken because only the ocean breeze would carry his longing and hope to the woman who has set sail. The reader at this point does not know why the woman was so distant from the man.
    In the chapter “On the Path Back,” the author describes the woman’s memories and perceptions of the past. The reader learns the motivation behind the woman’s actions regarding the incident at the pier. The woman was hurt and withdrew from the man because of another woman’s comments. Another woman bragged about the man trying to pick up on her, and this deeply hurt the main character. Because of this information, the woman doubted the intentions of the man. She also doubted the validity of their love, and in return withdrew from the man in order to protect herself. It was because of this the two lovers broke up, and their future was changed. One thing that I found interesting in the book was how intense and passionate the main characters emotions were after being apart for so many years. I also thought it was tragic how their love ended after a misunderstanding.
    In the end, the author does a wonderful and poetic job of depicting the two lovers being together after so many years apart. The author describes the two lovers spending their last days together blissfully happy reading the story of their love. I wanted the main characters to work out their problems, and end up together because their love was so strong after so many years. So, when they ended up together, I was excited and felt that it was a perfect ending to a complicated love story.
    I enjoyed reading Breezes because of the poetic nature used to depict the interactions of the two lovers. The author builds suspense and anticipation by revealing fragments of the former lovers past. I found myself turning page after page wanting to know the outcome of the main characters. I was invested in the fate of two lovers and wanted them to end up together. The book was full of intense, powerful, and vivid imagery. For example, the phrase, “ I did so to escape from pains that would gnaw at me in my deepest and that would suffocate me” creates strong imagery and intense emotions. The reader is able feel what the characters are experiencing.
    In conclusion, I enjoyed reading Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. The book was filled with romance and suspense. I was absorbed in the past and future of the two main characters. The author does a good job of keeping the reader engaged and interested. I wanted desperately for them to end up together. The translator Mouna Mana did a good job translating the book from Arabic into English. The book was filled with vivid imagery and was very romantic. Breezes is a book that you can read over and over again, and each time find new meaning and pleasure.

  16. Dawnielle Floyd

    The book Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated by Mouna Mana was beautifully written and translated. The story is written about two young lovers whose love turn south do to misunderstandings. The book starts off by introducing the characters and their thought of each other. The book gives us a visual of each characters thoughts without any confusion. The book is written so that you can identify each speaker by the different format in the text. Each section of the book is detailed, it focuses on the beauty of love, from sadness on not being loved, to letting go of love, and moving on in life. The first section titled “Deep Emotions” starts off where a couple sitting across from each and looking at one another. While they are both in a shy and nervous state of mind, they both look at one another wondering what the other person is thinking and questioning their selves on how they will approach the other person. For example, the guy thinks about holding the girl’s hand and the girl is thinking why the guy hasn’t touched her hand yet. It’s just like how now a days we sit and try to figure out what the person whom we are interested in is thinking. It just comes to shows that nobody is perfect when it comes to being romantic and that we all are nervous no matter what, when it comes to situation just like in the story. Throughout the book we see their love for one another, followed by uncertainty, but through all the heart ache they eventually end back with one another. This is a great read for college students, anyone truthfully, it’s written on a relatable topic for anyone, communication and love. Two of the most difficult things I believe we all have or will one day struggle with. Communication is a huge part of any relationship. I was defiantly concerned when I first purchased the book because of the way it looked on the outside, but like the old saying go don’t judge a book by its cover. From picking the book up you can see that the book to us is written backwards, meaning its written left to right and read that way as well. The original text is written on the right side of the page and the translated version is on the left. I wish I knew how to read Arabic it such an amazing language and the literature is written beautifully, and elegantly. The book has many questions which are I believe answered with more questions, AlDoueiri does a great job of keeping us on our toes, because he never really answers what we really want to know but I guess that’s kind of the point. Breezes is an easy read and once you open the book it’s not as easy to put it down, all together it took me about a week to read and that was because of my busy schedule, but I would highly recommend it to any and every one in or considering being in a relationship, or if you’re a hopeless romantic like myself then you will definitely enjoy it as well. I find it very ironic that in today’s generation if we fall I love at a young age people tell us we don’t know what love is, that we are too young and we still need to grow; but it’s funny to think about how some of our grandparents were married with several babies at my age now. I just wonder who are we to question what love is, every situation is different and who knows the person you’re in love with today just may be the same one you’re in love with 20 years from now. This story shows that love can conquer all, is this a cliché, maybe but some of us live for cliché they’re what make life exciting, battling the odds. What I’m really trying to say is each person story is different and I believe it’s best to always do what you feel is best for you because in the end its your own happiness that matters.

  17. I will be reviewing the book Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri which is translated by Mouna Mana. This book was very good and the story is very spectacular. It’s a very basic plot where two people were so in love that they became separated from each other and end up meeting each other when there are old in age. However the way that the story unfolds is amazing because the story is told in reverse. Each of the chapters has a flash back and in every chapter there is a new little story being told. Just when you think you know what is going to come next, the story goes in a different direction. The beginning chapter of the story talks about the two lovers meeting each other after a long time and then the next chapter ends up going back in time where they had a first encounter with each other. I did not see this coming at all. I also like how the chapters had a neat little background story that just let you know more and more about the two lovers. AlDoueiri does a phenomenal job in creating imagery and the feelings of emotions in the story in order to make the reader feel what is going. At times when reading this book I would smile to myself because of how cute the man would be towards the girl by the way he feels about her and the things he says to himself about her. AlDoueiri explains the scenery so vividly, I feel as if I am there with them because I can see the river that the woman is looking at in the beginning of the book or I can see the man waving goodbye to the ship as it floats away. There were no character names in this book, but I felt that there was no point in character names in this story. The only characters that are really important would have to be the man, woman, and I believe the boldest font which is the narrator. I really liked how instead of the character names AlDoueiri used different fonts in the book to differentiate the characters which were very different from other books I read. I also liked how the book was written like poetry with every line having a greater impact on the message that the author is trying to get across. To me it added importance to every line and sometimes I had to go back over what I read to understand the importance. Some things that I did not like about the book were that at times I did not know who was talking. It took me a while to understand who was talking and if they were talking out loud or to themselves. After reading a figuring out what the asterisk meant in the book I could understand what was going on. Being that the story was told through flashbacks kind of made it hard to follow along. I did not know if they were in the present at times or in the past. I also had to read over some lines and even some pages in order to follow along because sometimes I would become lost in the reading. The ending was quite confusing to me because they added another character to the story and I had to figure out who this character was. This threw me off from the story for a bit, but after a couple minutes of detective skills I figured it out. This book was an amazing read. The things that I did not like in the story did not even compare to the things that I did like in the story. I really felt for the man and woman in the story. Every page was just trying to send the message that these two people really loved each other. The emotions that they were feeling, the metaphors that were expressed, and the way they fantasized about each other really connected to me. It just makes me think of being in love and how powerful love is. The themes in this book were very clear to see and were not that hard to realize. The themes for this book would have to be love, desire, and loyalty. These themes are seen in every page and every chapter. This is the first Arabic translated to English book that I read and I was nervous to read it because I thought it was going to be challenging. It was not that bad and I found it to be better than most American romantic books that I read in the past. The book was different from the way AlDoueiri used different font to differentiate the character to the way the story was told in reverse in order to keep me engaged in reading.

  18. First of all, I would like to mention that it is my first Arabic Literature class and I learned many things from it. I learned; the poems, articles, poets, authors and many other people and things which include in Arabic literature. Although, reading is a hardest part in my life and I am not a big fan of reading, but I read this whole book. The book is like poetry book and I am not good in reading poems, as well. However, I was able to follow along with the story, characters, its themes, and the hide lesson behind it. This book is sound really interested to me and it is a great poetry book. The book is written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. Also, the English translation is done by Mouna Mana. Moreover, just like the Qur’an which starts from the right side, the book also starts from right side. Besides Qur’an, it is my first book which I read from right side which is pretty interesting to me and not confusing at all. I really like the pages and the print of book and the writing of Arabic literature and English (translation) which amazed me.

    The book broke down in two parts which the left side of the book is English translation and the right side of book is Arabic Literature. Book contains the great introduction, story, plot and themes. The book is all about love, romance, feelings, emotions and separation of lovers and reunion of lovers. There are two characters in this book and they represent the true love and their pure thoughts and words for each other. There are many sections in the book which seemed like poems are following one another instead of book.

    In addition, Wafica used so many imagery natures to set a plot or the frame of story. There are two settings in this book. The first setting is where Wafica talked about two main characters in their younger years with love and joy. The second setting is where Wafica talked about their separation of many years and their reunion, as well. I believe that Wafica represent the commonplace of today’s society where two people and their progress from friendship to romantic relationship, true lovers and their feelings, their separation and their reunion, as well. The story is all about two main characters a man and a women where how they come together, how love found and how they reunion after very long time of separation. After knowing the truth, they decided to come together and have a date but it was not there first date. Their first date was in high school years. At this time, they both were really nervous since they knew each other. They could not speak to each other. Even women could not recognize the men first.

    I believe that the theme of the story is a deep and true love between two characters for each other. Because of true love, their attachments were too strong even they separated from each other so many years. After separation, they both could not move on in their lives. They could not find any other women/men for themselves. They both were missed each other in every movement, but because of one another’s negative thoughts, they could not express themselves. They both love each other, but they thought they were hated each other from lover side.

    In addition, they both were afraid of rejection from one another, as well. Besides all that confusion, true love comes forward and they both gather one more time and live their life with lots of love and happiness. As a conclusion, the story teaches really good lesson to those people who are in relationships. In addition, it also teach lesson to every one of us to be loyal in relation, to have a trust on one another, to not cheat, and little mistakes can ruin our relations.

    After reading this story, I also realize that what mistakes not to make when comes to any relationship. I do recommend this book to those readers who enjoy reading stories of love, romance and joy. I realized that the true love never ends and in some point in life people gather once again and have wonderful life with lots of love.

  19. Overall I would say that Wafia Mansour AlDoueirir’s book Breezes is an intriguing story. It tells a story of two people that had fallen in love with one another when young but as they grew up they lost touch and their love for each other stayed a secret. Until they finally get in touch when they are both of older age and from there they learn of each other’s feeling learning it has been mutual for a long time however they still do not officially say it to one another they just go on as if they never lost touch. The story does ends on a happy note as they go on to discover their love for each other on a new journey together. Throughout the book there is no saying as to what their names are it instead identifies them as “he” and “she” to let the reader know who they are speaking of or referring to. This story was intended to originally being written in Arabic however it is translated to English for our reading pleasure by Mouna Mana Ph.D. who does a great job in doing this. Mouna does a wonderful job by keeping as much as the information possible to fully describe how the two individuals are feeling throughout the book. Another good quality that this story has is that it focuses on telling the story using both the girl and the guy’s point of view allowing the reader to see into their thought and feelings as the plot plays out. The theme that I saw was one you could probably guess after reading this reviews and it is love with some fear in it as well. I believe it’s a bit obvious as to why it is love because that is what the whole story is set around to be focused on. As for the reason that I say that there is a bit of fear in it is due to there being a constant fear with in the two characters in telling how they feel for one another, letting it go on until the end were they are both older now and finally learn of the mutual feeling allowing them to move forward together. Like I said before the story itself includes the views of both of the main characters and refers to them as “he” and “her” you may think this is a bit confusing when reading it but to my surprise it wasn’t. The author was able to use a specific way in which the reader would be able to tell them apart. The form in which this was done was by including different fonts, font sizes, and making one of the characters bold while the other characters is regular. As you can see you will be able to clearly tell the two views apart allowing you to follow along with no confusion. For the physical book itself I would have to say it was very well put together. This book was made opposite to what I would think is normal, Breezes is made to start from the end and you read it with turning the page to the right, unlike with a normal book were you would turn the page to the left. In total the book has 200 pages but the story will end on the 186th page. However the story is not this long it is truly only half of that because like I have said before it is translated from Arabic to English but it still has the story written in Arabic. The way this is done is due to it being split, one side of the page is the story in Arabic and on the other side it is translated in English. Something else that is different about this book is the pages, instead of them being paper similar to your average book they are made of a silky and glossy type paper which gives it a good look in my opinion. This book may be different simply because it is a foreign book but I honestly don’t even mind or care I think it looks great this way giving it something special to stand out with. What also stood out in this book is that with telling the story they would include a famous Syrian poet named Nizar Qabbani. Specifically I liked how when talking they would include quotes from his poems to try and give more detail as to how they were feeling in order to emphasize it to the readers and capture an emotion from them. Overall I would say this is a great and easy read that I would recommend to others to read. It shows the development of a love story taking place between two friends who lose touch but once they are reunited their love remains strong as if they never lose touch. It’s different than your average love story but in a good way, you won’t regret reading it.

  20. Christina Parker, Arabic 290 “Breezes” book review
    I am reviewing the book, Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. I didn’t understand what the book was going to be about just by its cover. Normally I wouldn’t read a book of this type due to not being interested in the cover of it. But I’m glad I had the opportunity of opening up this book and traveling into the minds of distant lovers. This was a marvelous book that left me wishing the character knew what I did.
    The book “Breezes” by Wafica is a perfect example of destiny after a long period of separation they are reunited. Years of time has gone by, but their love for one another wasn’t affected by the duration between when they last meet and when they was reunited. The reader gets to peek inside the character mind, the reader is able to know the thoughts of the individual charters as the characters are clueless to the other ones inner feelings. You can see the deep emotions and repressed feelings in the first chapter. In the being you’re unable fully grasp because your unaware of their history. Wanting to understand more about the leading characters is what makes you want to keep reading. As the reader gets further into the novel the pieces began to connect. I was intrigued by the sequence and transitioning of the chapters and story line. The reader gets to see them first reuniting then the first time they meet. Reading more into the story, you learn more about their connection, memories they share and love for one another. The reader learns that it was love from the moment they walked into one another life. You learn so much about the two characters that you began to feel as they do, you start to emotionally connect yourself throughout the novel. Not falling in love per say with character but with what the character represent. They represent a fairytale about a love story which seems so real you can compare your life to it.
    As the story develops more and more you began to understand the question “why did they depart from one another” which was the underlining question in my mind as I kept reading. Wanting to better understand the reason haunted me throughout my reading, just like it hunted the character through life. “Why did you distance yourself?” “Did you ever love me?” haunted the male character. It’s revealed that the reason she withdrew was from fear of being betrayed. A friend of hers told her that he made advances towards someone who wasn’t her. I feel like that was a mistake within its self. She shouldn’t have let assumption reflect her actions. If she was so consumed by this act she should have asked. In life we tend to do the same exact thing. We listen to rumors, gossip, or make assumption on things we think are to be true. The characters should have expressed how they felt instead of keeping it inside, letting years go by, questioning past moments but never asking out loud. Reading further into the story, the reader learns about how the character felt after the separation, how they avoided seeing one another and the content of their dreams.
    The author Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri uses poetry, and internal thought to pull in the reader. Giving the reading more understanding then the character provides a sense of thrill. It’s sad to see the Characters lack of expression. They both went years without communication inside and outside of being with one another. This book shows the importance of communication with your partner. The majority of the dialogue in the novel was of silent emotion, questions and answers. If the character had been more open, I don’t think they would of stopped being with one another. There was no valid reason the two should have went so long without communication. The reader knows the truth to why everything happened, but unfortunately the two leading Character are left not knowing.
    This is a very easy read, because half of the content consist of Arabic translation and other is English. The book is written in a poetic format leaving more spaces between previous sentences and not entirely taking up the page. I loved how the book used different fonts to help the reader identify the character speaking. I like how each chapter offered a better understand of their feeling in the moment of what was happening. I loved even more that the book left off the same way it started with a flood of emotions. This book offers romance and insight into love. What I received from the story was that soulmates will always find one another. That are decisions thought at the time seemed logical will latter seem pointless. I got that you can’t let fear play a fact into how you act, that assuming isn’t a valid reason to walk away from the person you love and it shows the importance of communication. All in all this was the best book I ever read. I believe this book is relatable to any age group, gender or ethnicity. If asked I would definitely refer this book to anyone interested in romance or fairytales.

  21. I am reviewing this book titled Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. This story is a love story, filled with passionate romance about two people who fell in love as young schoolmates but never acted upon it and after many years pass, they encounter each other again with the same feeling still there. The way this short novel is written is very poetic and filled with romance. It starts with the couple meeting very late in life when they are now old and grey, sitting across from each other, longing to touch each other’s hand, still feeling the love they felt when they were young schoolmates. A third person narrates this story here and there but mainly each one of the characters speaks their part. They each tell how they have had a longing for each other for all the years that past. The word that are used to describe their live are so romantic and anyone who has felt forbidden love can relate to this story. The man asked the women why she denied him so many years ago, she explains that she heard some information from a friend that no longer allowed her to trust him with her love, which she was not willing to risk the heartache so she rejected the feeling she felt even though the love still burned through her. I feel in this story the man’s love was a bit deeper than the women’s only because he didn’t understand why she rejected him since she loved him so much. I love how you get to read each person perspective in this story that the story is a lot like a conversation between two people as they open up to each other with so much love and wanting. When I first started the story I was not that interested until I started to read along, then I could not put the book down and finished it in one sitting. The author did explain well how their love developed between each other. The romance will make anyone melt; they love each other so much but will not allow their selves to tell one another. I have always been a hopeless romantic so I could relate to this story well, it reminds me of a fairy tale, how the love started out so young and innocent but never happen from fear of heartache and that even after so many years have passed their love for each other has never died. During their conversation the man expresses that now is their chance to be together and wants to get married. Once again the women turns him down, stating that they are too old to start something that should have been so long ago that marriage is not the answer, they should just enjoy each other for the time that there is left. I am someone that is not very good at understand poetry and there were parts in this book that was a little complex for me but then they were parts that were so beautiful I felt touched. I do wish the book explained what happened when they were apart for so many years, like did they ever marry another, and have kids, what became of their lives without one another. This story seems like a story of true love that even after so much time love and still conquer anything, true love does exist in this story. When I first purchased this book, I did not think I would enjoy it as much, considering it is a very different book than I have read before on a physical level. It open different from a normal book and is translated from Arabic to English. Mouna Mana did an amazing job translating this book. Over all I would say this is, a good read and think any person who has been in love can relate to this story, because I know I sure did. I never knew how much beautiful poetry there is in the Arabic language, I bet hearing this story in it original language would be beautiful. This short novel is definitely something that is common in this day, love stories are something all people love, I could even see this novel turned in to a short film. I am a hopeless romantic so this short novel was right up my alley but I did not know that until I began to read It. I would say a word of advice would be to translate the summary of the book on the back into English so the read and get a little preview of what the book is about before getting into it because the title does not explain it enough. As you read though you see how the author gets the title of the book, references how their love moves through the breeze.

    Amanda Jines Arab 290

  22. Sandra Mikhail
    “Breezes” is a story written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated to English by Mouna Mana. When I first bought the book, I couldn’t help myself from noticing how heavy it was for a small size book, which gave me the impression that I will not be enjoying this. Then, I glanced into the pages to see what kind of story I will be dealing with and I was struck by pages upon pages of poetry that seemed to be disconnected from each other, it was not till I sat down to read the book only to find out how great of a novel it and how well written and detailed it is and that it is actually a tale of two lovers but written in a different and interesting way. Honestly, The book itself was heavy and I thought that It would take me forever to be able to finish it, but when I once I opened it, it felt different and exciting. To non Arabic speakers or readers the book might seem backwards in which they are the end of the book first, but it was exciting for me to hold and read an Arabic story in the right track. When you open the book from the right end, since the book goes from right to left, you will notice that the pages are split into two columns, in which the original storyline/ poems are on the right side and the left side is for the English translation. Not to mention, the pages were shiny and thick which contributes to the heavy weight of the book. After paying attention to the poems and the wordings, I noticed how beautiful Wafica’s writing was, the language she used was both elegant and beautiful. The story was written in poems in which some pages are more full than the other, so it was not as overwhelming in reading as others may think. It was very interesting to me how there was different fonts determining who the speaker was, if she was talking we would know and if they switched the following part to him, the font and the boldness would change to bring to our attention that a different person and gender is talking now. Aside from how elegant her writing was, I could not help but live the story and feel everything she is writing, it was so clear that I felt that I was visualizing a movie. Love stories can be misunderstood at times, but this time it was so clear and easy to relate to and simply anyone can absolutely feel that they belong to it and it could be applied to their love story. The love story in this novel features multiple themes; it covers love, romance and heartbreak. The story is mainly about the relationship of a man and a woman who fell in love when they first met, and eventually they get closer then they become together which leads to fighting and breaking up, then they get back together and stay together and lived happily ever after. Each character was introduced in the book in their own way, so we do not get confused as we read along the poems. The book starts with introducing how the couple met, showing us that they were sitting across from each other and looking at one another all shy and nervous wondering what could possibly be happening in the other person’s brain and questioning themselves on whether they should take a step forward and approach that person or not. I found it really cute that the boy was so crazy about the girl and he did not want to make any quick moves scared of being rejected. He was described as a well-mannered, polite boy while the girl was described as a bold, polite girl who would never let a man demean her. I also noticed the part where the woman questioned the man’s trust later on in the story. I believe that trust is one of the main foundations in any relationships and without trust there won’t be respect, which will lead to a non-healthy relationship.
    This book has made me ask myself one question; do we really know what love is? Looking at our grandparents and how they had six kids by age now running a round them and how their marriage lasted over sixty five years, I cant help but wonder if that kind of love exists on our generations now. The book is a classic cliché, who doesn’t like cliché right? Even if we all deny it, everyone in a while we want those cliché moments in our lives to remind us of the love that we had for one another.
    Overall, the book is really unique and like I said before anyone can relate his or her relationship to it and I really recommend it to everyone to read.

  23. ********SARJIL HASAN**********

    After thoroughly reading the book, Breezes, by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri, I have concluded that this is one of the most intriguing books I have ever read. I was assigned to read this book for my online foreign language course (Arab290), and I thought it was just going to be another read I just happen to come across by. Wrong! Reading Breezes from the get go had me hooked. From realizing the book opened right-to-left, opposed to most traditional books in the U.S, where it opens from left-to-right. It was unorthodox! But enough of the outside of the book! The book starts off by describing a setting, in detail. At first, I was a little lost on exactly what was going on and then as the story developed, everything became clearer. There are two main characters, who are hopelessly in love with each other. They are both afraid of rejection and it seems that their pride gets in the way of talking to each other, after being separated for so long. They exchange thoughts about their past and the book presents their past by showing the readers both of their (man/woman) perspectives on their history. I found it interesting and romantic how the man was so crazy about the woman, ever since they first met. The man also expressed his fear of rejection from the woman, so he never made any quick moves with her. He was described as a well-mannered, polite boy while the girl was described as a bold, polite girl who would never let a man demean her. This is another reason why I found this book so intriguing. The book presents these two characters as civilized people, who does not have any faults and are meant for each other. The book goes on to tell countless stories about the man and woman’s history of their relationship. It was a good read because I am sure a lot of readers could relate to their relationship. It seemed traditional, yet uniquely romantic. The book really got interesting when the man was confronted of liking another girl while being in the relationship. Despite the accusations, the man reversed his role and questioned the woman if he was capable of doing such things during a relationship, ultimately questioning the woman’s trust for him. This was a vital part in the book and it really brought light upon trust in a relationship. Personally, I believe trust is everything to a relationship. It holds the relationship. It puts away any doubt in a relationship and it makes the relationship flexible. If there is no trust, there is no healthy relationship. If there is no healthy relationship, there is an inevitable end to a relationship. That’s my perspective on trust. So when the issue of trust was being brought upon in the book, I found it interesting how the man went from the person questioned, to the man questioning, Plus how the book shared both perspectives of the man and woman during this obstacle in their relationship; really symbolized their love for one another. The beauty of this book is that there are no names, no labels and no precise definition on anything. So when the readers are engaging with the book, they will realize the two main characters do not have names. I believe that is crucial in a book. But in this book, it was not too crucial because there were no other characters involved, other than a few mentions of friends, family, etc. Overall, I found this book a great read and I personally could relate to it a lot. Like I mentioned before, their love seemed traditional, yet unique and for that reason, I could relate a lot to this book. Books are better when readers could relate to the conflict, plot that is going on throughout the course of the story. I felt like that was one of the major reasons why I was so hooked on this book. I was assigned to read this book two weeks ago and I managed to read it in one day. I recommend this book to everyone who is into the romantic, drama type themes. The book will shine some light on your perspective about love. While reading the book, I thought of most people my age these days, who are in a relationship and how they jump the gun too quick, when they express their true love for their significant other. The book opened up the possibility that you can be set on your significant half from the moment you meet/get to know them and the rest will be history. One con (there’s always one con to everything) about the book is that the man and woman’s history is not in chronological order. I felt like the book would have been a little bit easier to read if all their history was presented in chronological order. But overall, it was a great read and it was one of my favorites!

    ********SARJIL HASAN*********

  24. Adan Mata

    Breezes written by Wafica Manour ALDoueiri, is a story where two people develop strong feelings for one another, disconnect, and reconnect to continue the love they once felt for each other. The book is sectioned into chapters, and in these chapters a new story begins explaining the person’s feelings. Although I may be incorrect or not, I believe this book has a strong plot that true love will never fade away and it could only get stronger. The plot is strongly supported by the chapters and the characters feelings. Each chapter explained the person’s feelings, thoughts, and the actions they carefully chose to show one another that they were interested. When they are apart, the guy desperately and unsuccessfully is unable to get rid of delete the strong feelings he had developed. After being apart, the story ends with them reuniting but the love continues.
    The author did a great job in writing the story. The author use of descriptive writing was well done because images were easily created in my head as I read along. The use of different perspectives was also great because the author allowed us to understand each feelings the character was feeling. It also allowed me to foresee what would happen next or what feelings were going to develop later on in the story. I did notice the characters using quotes from a song, Aladdin, and Nizar Qabbanni, this made the story seem more realistic, which intensified it more, as opposed to a made up story. The quotes also served the characters in helping them explain their emotions to one another.
    Not only did the author did an amazing job in writing the story, but the story itself was very interesting. Reading about love always seems to satisfy as I understand that love is a key feeling in person to live a healthy life and in this book, both characters weren’t able to fill complete without one another. Once the characters are together, they are both happy and try not to make a move that would ruin the chances of being with each other. I was amazed on how the characters personalities were able to be defined by their actions and feelings. This was an important feature to the story because the guy seemed gentle, and respectful which made his actions seem more passionate and sweet. As for the lady, I seen her as an intelligent and respectful woman which made it understandable why the guy pursued her. This also helped me understand why the guy developed such strong feelings for her. The way the guy questioned every move, and the way the lady questioned why the guy didn’t make a move was all too interesting. Their personalities also helped me believe that every action done by one of the characters was done with every ounce of love. Their actions were also done to not only get one step closer to each other but to also make progress for the future. The struggles of both characters made it clear that they wouldn’t be able to live without one another, and even though they tried to get forget one another they couldn’t. The ending was also great. The “met” once again and continued to live their lives together. I did like the story a lot, the story itself didn’t have any flaws. It was consistent and managed to grab my attention without losing interest in the book.
    Overall, the book was amazing. I found it very cool that the book began from the back and not from the front page. It was meant for both Arabic and English readers, so it beginning from the back has its purpose. I wish I knew how to read and understand Arabic literature to see if the story lost any of its meaning. However, I doubt much was lost because the translator Mouna Mana still allowed the reader to create images and feel like they understand what the character are feeling at an ease. Yet, reading and understand the story through Wafica Mansour actual words would have been really amazing. Arabic literature always seems to impress me even more than it already does. It’s rich and full of raw feelings. A Love story that is romantic and full of love. I hope my examples made it clear to why I believe that True Love will never fade away but can and will only get stronger. The story was very well written and I gave this book a good review because I liked everything about the book from the story to the format. I would and am definitely recommending this book.

  25. This was my first Arab book I ever read and it was interesting because I have never seen an Arabic book before in real. I have always seen it in the computer and when I first purchased this book it was pretty interesting that it opened from right to left not like all the other books I have read so far which open from left to right. It was really not that hard to read this book because the left hand side is in English and the right hand side is in Arabic. To be honest, I am not a big fan of reading books or any literature but I gave it a try and read this book and I must say that I kind of enjoyed reading this book. The book “Breezes” written by Wafica Mansur AlDoueiri was translated word by word by Mouna Mana and I think that she did a really good job of translating the book. Sometimes the translator skip some of the main points while translating and it could could give away the interest in the book but Mouna Mana did a very god job according to me. I have seen Arabic writing before too and I have to admit that the language looks so beautiful. The theme that I had in my mind while I was reading this book was love. This book is based on a romantic love story between two people. While I was reading the book, to me the book “Breezes” was more like a poetry than a story. It sounded like a poetry in my head while I was reading because I used to go back and read what the author was trying to say over and over again. I am not good with poetry but just reading throught the chapters you kind of understand what the author is trying to say. The starting was kind of complicating. The author was describing the view of the character where she used to sit etc. I like the way that the author Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri compared the two characters in this story. I think the book was trying to say that the two characters love story and were separated after rumors were said about them and they meet again said how they both felt about each other after they were separated. The translator Mana is quite talented as it can be seen in the description and imagery that she uses in her work. The wordings in this book and the imagery in this book is so vivid. Some of the description that the author wrote were quite on the point that I saw an imagine played in front of my eyes while I was reading the book. The author even describes how the water in the river flowed and looked and at that point reading this description or a passage, I felt the coolness and the sparkling water in the river that flowed. That is how vivid his description was when he was describing the characters feelings and the natures surrounding them. Some of the things that the author was trying to say was kind of difficult to understand because of all the metaphors and similes the author wrote in the book. I think the book was showing both the guy’s and the girl’s perspective. Like for example the guy is on a field trip and he likes a girl but he doesn’t know how to approach to her. He was scared that what if she doesn’t like him or something else, and he was scared to ask his family about her. This book is a love story book but it does show the culture of both characters and it is as important as love is in their lives. The story tell how two lovers were separated from each other due to some circumstance due that time. The two lovers meet up after a long time and they still have the same feelings that they when they first fell in love with each other. Lastly the book showed that in a relationship or in life there are times when difficulty show up and in life there are times when your past is love shows up again after a very long time. This past two three months I have been reading a lot of Arabic literature and I have found a similarities between all of the authors is that all of their writings are so strong and meaningful. I would recommend this book to the people who are a big fan of love stories and who want to give a try to read Arabic literature for the first time because it is simple, vivid, and understandable. I would consider reading another one of the books written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and reinstated by Mouna Mana.

  26. Anthony J. Garcia / Arabic 290
    I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book and it through me off a bit with the right to left verses left to right style of reading. Nevertheless, i throughly enjoyed the writing style and eloquent way the author used metaphoric intertwining of nature and it vast unitarian completeness to express aspects of love and the restraints of explicit expression towards man and woman as two forbidden lovers are yearning to express their love as they are both ready to yell it at the top of their lungs but only in the inside and stay calm and collected inside. Years of fondness from young love to mature adoration but unable to release and confess such things a the culture and beliefs of the world around them keep them imprisoned within their hearts. the descriptive narrative and use of cultural related quotes in the writings brought the characters to life in the pages and within the story as i felt the struggles and pain the author was trying to express. although i was lost in the beginning of the story i quickly grasped the overall theme and implications, i was pleasantly surprised and must say the Arabic style of writing and expression has been an enjoyment to read from this book to other prominent authors and would recommend anyone who looks to read a great piece of literature to read Breezes.

  27. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a beautifully written story of true love, passion and fate. Within the novel, we begin with an insight look of the man and woman’s reconnecting love. The two are both at a park when they finally see each other after years and years of separation, she describes it as a moment of fate where they made an understanding eye contact that prompts him to walk over and sit on the bench with her. Silence is hovering over them but it’s a silence that explains everything, they don’t need words to express their old love, it comes natural like the wind. This unsuspected run in between the past lovers is what gives them another chance as making it as a couple. This novel is beautifully translated into English and was easier to understand than I had anticipated, I mostly appreciated the dialect between the man and woman because it was separated through different fonts, this provided me with a sense of interaction between the characters as I read and related to both. Because the novel begins from the end of their story we get to see what led them up to their current status. I really appreciated that each section of their lives together were broken down and labeled in bold throughout the book, this made it easier to understand the story being told in reverse. Though we hear it from the end, their love is beautiful, the man depicts her with such poise and beauty that you begin to understand why it is so hard for him to stay calm around her. The love they have between them is undeniably revealed through the use of poetic language, Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri opens you up to the characters inner most feelings instead of simply describing them as two people who have affections towards one another. The plot takes a turn for the worst when the man is suspected of being with another woman, all the love they had built between each other was now put on pause by the woman. Eventually we do find out that this was a misunderstanding that costed them their future, both parties were confused and dealt with this in separate ways. He misunderstood her distance for rejection and ironically she thought he had rejected her for another woman. I love this book for its rawness when it comes to the characters emotions, the author doesn’t hesitate to put the man and woman in a vulnerable state that’s generally ignored by society. I have never read a book so honest and open; even through all of the disappointment in their separation you could can’t help but appreciate the elegance of it. This book is not written as a sappy love story gone wrong, it’s written from the subconscious of everyone who’s been damaged by true love. Culturally, the love depicted in this book is extremely different than love stories in America. You can tell through the readings that they had limited physical or verbal interaction when they first met but to them this was normal. It would have been viewed as improper for the two to begin a relationship without their parents’ consent or without a proposal of marriage. In this case they both knew they were in love but they were unable to act on it due to societal regulations within their culture. I feel if this aspect of their story was changed they would have been able to work through the “cheating” misunderstanding but then again without that they would have never been able to meet one another in the park that day. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a love story that’s truly different from the rest. I loved how this novel brought them back together through serendipity and silence, once again in their lives they do not need words to fully understand each other and are given the chance to explore what they couldn’t when they were younger. As a reader you tend to appreciate when an author tries to separate herself from the rest in every way and she has completely surpassed my expectations. Every turn of my page was like watching a movie of their lives; it was the vividness of her writing and the translation that kept me wanting more. I’ve learned a lot from this book and I feel that I can understand the emotional tear of their heartbreak on a deeper level now. Though the characters were never given names it doesn’t harm the storyline in any way, I feel that it helps add to their connection and makes the reader relate more to the situations in play. In every way this book wants you to interact with the characters and Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri provides you with many opportunities to do so.

  28. Affection, love, betrayal, jealousy, stubbornness, and passion were all of the emotions expressed in this book. To begin with, the book “Breezes”, by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri, is a well-illustrated story about love, blossomed from a gaze. I loved the story simply because it expressed the different stages one goes through when falling in love, or being in a relationship in general. The author’s writing style depicts two different people and the emotions they feel as they go through the stages of falling in love. “Breezes” is filled with many themes, but I believe the main theme is within the title itself. The theme of the story reflects how love comes naturally just like as a breeze would. The author depicts the story in a way that flows as if a windy breeze would flow. It starts with the first encounters, which then leads to thoughts, feelings and much more! The book itself is a lovely read! I found myself enjoying every aspect of the story and even relating to the different views.
    In addition, the book is composed of 18 segments. Each segment is filled with a different stage of love. I loved the segment titled “Will My Happiness Last”, simply because it adds the aspect of jealous into the story itself. A real problem in the world that affects many people today would be jealous, which is pointed out in this novel. Jealous can really tear apart love no matter what the situation when it is not faced or talked about. The story itself shows what happens to the couple as if they never confronted each other about what had occurred. This problem is evident throughout the whole story but in the end the couple looks over it, however they are at old age by then. But this aspect of jealous was not the only reason of why I was hooked on reading this short story, the aspect of passion was the true reason of why I was interested to finishing it.
    Moreover, the aspect of passion is covered through the whole story itself. The story shows how one cannot give up on love no matter what the situation. Passion exists within the couple by the thoughts they get when they see each other. This is shown in the very first segment of the story, which is when they first encounter themselves. Thoughts are going through both sides of their minds; again the author shows this in the writing by taking on the perspective of both lovers. They are both nervous but somehow are connected when it comes to their train of thought. It almost feels as if you are on a date while reading their thoughts. The story itself is very well written and very interesting to read.
    Furthermore, The writer includes many themes of love into the short story. I loved when the two characters were finally able to meet up again, however I did not notice that so much time had passed. I decided to reread the story and then caught on that while the couple was avoiding each other, they never met up to get over the jealousy aspect. In the end they waited till they were very old to look over the matter, or that is how I interpreted it seeing how the story ends in a retirement home. At times I wonder what would happen if the couple had talked to each other about the problem that had occurred. Would there be a different ending? Would the couple still be together? It’s silly how jealousy could drive people apart. However it’s nice to see the couple get back together as they resolve the problem they once faced when they were younger. It’s as if the love matures as the mind matures. The lady who fell in love does not get blinded by the aspect of jealousy when she is older, however it is prevalent that she gets blinded by it because she chooses to ignore the man she falls in love with. It’s almost a reputation of a common theme found in ancient Greek writing, where the main character is blinded by something and cannot see what the others can see. An example of this would be a king, who can only see the good he does by his actions but does not see the affect it causes on his people.
    Finally, I loved every aspect of the story itself. It causes the reader to feel the emotions of both the characters. The author really connects with both characters and portrays the feelings of both characters in a way that expresses how one feels when they meet someone they love. The story itself is a story about two people falling in love, however, instead of it being a boring love story where everything goes well, there are problems. It is as if the author relates the story to a real life encounter of people falling in love. In conclusion, I would highly recommended reading this story because of its form of writing and emotion if gives while reading the piece.

  29. After reading the book Breezes by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri I have gained a new appreciation for short stories and the level of interest they bring in each section At first I was surprised at how the book was set up because it was originally written in Arabic and was translated to English and can be seen as the book is written from right to left which is the traditional way to read in Arabic. Also I was not familiar with the work of Mansour Al Doueiri before I saw this book but I enjoyed reading her stories and how she was able to make the characters in the story lovable and relatable. Upon reading the book I noticed that Mansour is a very talented and seasoned writer and can be seen in the descriptions and imagery she uses in her works. She makes sure to make an importance of the scenery she puts around the characters and to make sure that the reader understands the area which they are in and even how important each conversation is to the characters. A short summary of the short story Breezes is that it’s a romantic novel, which talks about two lovers who went to school together when they were younger, who are reunited after many years of being apart. The story starts with a woman sitting outside enjoying the atmosphere when suddenly she hears a voice behind her. She recognizes the voice as the man she once loved but did not believe it was really him because of the fact they had been apart for such a long period of time. As he got closer she realized it was truly him and that fate had brought them together. Once they are face to face they shake hands neither one of them knowing what to say to the other. They fear the other might reject them or that they would not know what to say. As they sat quietly they each had the same thoughts running through their minds about the other person. Soon a waiter came and broke the silence by asking for their food and drink orders and they ordered the same exact thing. They then start to talk about different stories from when they were younger. They start with a story about how the man sailed on ship to agent with other students but left her behind and left her broken hearted because she could not stand the idea of being away from him at all. She stood at the port waiting staring off into the ocean hoping her would come back. She begins to wonder why she did not think of these stories before today as they were some of the best years of her life and they brought her so much joy at the time. Another story she talks about is when she took a trip and saw the man . She wanted to know if someone else had gotten his love before she did, so she followed him around seeing if anyone got special attention from him but she only saw that he was with friends the whole time and gave none of them special attention. She then pondered the idea of revealing her love to her family but was stuck because she was a student also and knew that school was very hard and tedious and chasing a man was only going to take up time she did not have to spare when it came to school. The whole story is smaller stories of an times when the man and woman encountered each other and were to scared to say before but are able to tell each other now because they know how foolish they were after being without each other for a huge portion of their lives. The story touches on many different topics about the love for the person but my favorite part of it was that after all these years and all these feelings being hidden from the other person the are able to talk about it with the other person very easily because they are excited to see the other person. The story is very well written, gives great descriptions of the characters and the background of how they have come to this situation, and keeps the reader interested in the writing from beginning to end of the book. The only complaint I do have of the book was the fact that it is written from left to right and translated from Arabic to English because it is distracting, but this is a minor flaw in which is otherwise one of the best love stories if no the best story I have read in some time. I would definilty consider reading another novel by Wafica in the future if she continues writing on the level of this story.

  30. “Breezes” written by Wafica AlDoueiri is a story about a young man and women who experience love and heartbreak with one another. My first impression of the book is that it was going to long and boring like every other book that professors usually assigned but to my surprise the book was written in such a poem lovers way that it was hard not to fall in love with the book and the characters. It was quite interesting to see how the author used both the man’s point of view and the women’s points of view in the poems it allowed you to get a deeper understanding about each of the characters. It was if you were actually witnessing the two’s relationship and getting understanding of what each one of them felt for the other. Never had I read a book where the novel wasn’t chapter after chapter but poem after poem so the fact that Wafica used that style of writing was really amazing and really made the story really that much more interesting. Wafica gave the reader really emotions and had you feeling so many emotions as you read the poems like love, loyalty, heartbreak, lust, trust, and betrayal ;you couldn’t help but become part of the stories and truly feel as if you were part of the story. I love the fact that throughout the story you feel just how much the pair loves each other. Wafica structures the story so eloquent, she moved you through the process of their relationship from the start till the end. I like how she starts of by them meeting for the first time since so many years of them not seeing each other had passed and how it was a chance of fate that they even meet again they both just happening to be at the same place at the same time. Going through the process where the two having feeling for one another but aren’t sure if the other has those feeling and wanting to tell the other just how much they like each on another, and because so many of us feel the same way before we start a relationship doubting whether the other person feels the same way that I couldn’t help but really feel just as worried and nervous for the two. Then came the process of starting the relationship and becoming familiar with one another starting slowly, getting a feel for one another. To the end were you get a feeling that they will live forever together, you feel so happy that they finally are getting there happy ever after. She put the some factors that like in every other relationship cause problems and issues like family getting involved in the relationship and who to share information to about your relationship. When you’re family doesn’t support your decision on who your with that can cause many issues in a relationship, especially in being from a cultural were you’re taught that family is the most important thing in life and you never go against the family and that is the kinds of pressure that the man was dealing with. His family didn’t want him to have anything to do with the women which was one of the reason and had to be the biggest reason why when they were younger their relationship didn’t work. That it’s what makes this book so amazing and so relatable the fact that the characters go through the same difficulties, loving moments and obstacles as every other relationship, it’s situations that everyone at least once in their life has been through whether because of a romantic relationship or just friendships, were others opinions and two cent come into play. Something else that I quite enjoyed were Nizar Tawfiw Qabbani was added into the story, his words made the story even more relatable. Nazar Tawfique Qabbani is a well-known Sryian poet and publisher, best known for his many writing that had a very feminist feel to them. This I feel tied the concept of love, since many of Qabbani’s work does have to do with love. The thing I most liked about the book has to be the fact that you get to see what everything you’re reading translates to Arabic, something about that I feel like just adds a more romantic feel to it. Arabic writing in my opinion us the most beautiful so the fact that you get to see what you are reading in the Arabic language side by side of each other made the book just that much more enjoyable. I also liked that it was written just as if it was in Arabic with the book opening in what we would consider the back, it make you feel that much more connected with the Arabic cultural. I believe this is an amazing book that all hopeless romantic should at least once in their life read, has to be up there with the very famous books and movies that so many of in America love like Dear John and A Walk to Remember.
    Andrea Rodriguez
    Arabic 290
    Section 71

  31. Before reading this book, I have to admit that I was not a big fan of Arab literature, its my first language but honestly I’m not a big fan of reading books. In fact this book was a great introduction. Breezes by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri is a book describing the themes of love and separation. No doubt, the author is extremely talented. She manages to string two periods together through immense imagery and narration skills. The first setting is of the two main characters in their younger years. Obviously, they like each other as it shows in the story. However, one thing leads to another, and they are separated for years. The second setting is that of the reunion. The most important thing to take away from the book setting is that all this is commonplace in regular society. By talking about the separation of lovers and the progress from friendship to a romantic relationship, Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri provides relevant literature to many societies – intentionally and unintentionally.
    The contents of the story are straightforward. Two people – a man and a woman – meet after a very long separation. The first scene in the book describes the story of a man and a woman on a date. The two are not mere friends. In fact, the two dated back in high school. However, the author goes on to explain the reasons that led to a long separation of the two. Now on a date, the two the two seem nervous on the very first date. Upon meeting, the two are lost for words on the things they should say; it was even hard for the woman to recognize the man at first. Once they get around to ordering, they soon realize that they had the same taste and preferences for many things for them.
    However, the bulk of the storyline is about the newfound love for the two. The author reveals the circumstances that may have led to their long separation. After the man had left for academic reasons, the woman remained home heartbroken. However, she never stopped loving the man. The only problem was that she could not go on and look for the man. Because of her family setting and the fact that she was in school, she could not go out and start looking for the man. Consequently, years of longing went on. Through the skill of Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri, it becomes vivid that the two never actually moved on with their lives. In fact, it becomes evident that they will end up together once again – and they do.
    Generally, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read romantic literature. It was a great read with many desirable characteristics. For instance, Wafica Al Doueiri is superb at description. She is able to offer great insight on the characters on two periods. First, the reader is able to learn about the two individual characters before the separation. It enables clear juxtaposition of the two back then and now after the reunion. If anything, it is apparent that their love is nothing but pure. Also, the description of the setting was top notch from the author. Not only is she able to describe the characters, she is also able to explain other factors like the setting of the environment. In overall, it is a very good book.
    However, it does not mean that it lacks a few flaws. For one, it is imperative to understand that the copy is a direct translation from Arabic. Consequently, it means that some of the material from the original book were lost in translation. Secondly, it was very distracting that the author writes the book from right to left consistent with Arab literature. For someone who often reads from left to right, this will be a huge problem but not for me. I am confident that it would be a problem for other people. Another major flaw on my part was that the storyline was dragging a bit at times. At some stages, one scene could drag on for some pages, which could lead to someone forgetting the main message. At times, the numerous rhetorical questions were also a bit of a bother. Nonetheless, these are minor flaws in a great piece of work.
    In conclusion, I would recommend this book to another reader. The setting and scenery is quite simple but the narration of the story is excellent. It is very clear from the beginning that the two old lovers will reunite. However, one has to stick around to find out how this will happen. The suspense is at times excruciating but worth it. Moreover, the once one gets to the flow of the story, it is no longer a problem.

  32. The short story Breezes, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, was not what I expected when I started reading. My first thought about the book is that it will be difficult to read due to the way it opened from right to left. And judging the book based on the cover, it also looked quite boring. However, it was quite easy to understand and was far from boring. I’m a sucker for romance stories; and I’ve read my share when it comes to stories about love and now Breezes is probably up their in my list. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri did a tremendous job in describing the details about the two lovers and their longing to be together. She also did a great job with her imagery; it made me feel like as if I was part of their relationship. I also really like how AlDoueiri connects both the characters thoughts and emotions together; the details allow you to feel what is really going on in the story and their thoughts and emotions just give it that extra sparkle in understanding what AlDoueiri wanted to portray to her readers. Overall, Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a very talented writer and does a phenomenal job in portraying the love between the man and woman.

    This book is a love story between a man and a woman throughout their younger years, then as the story developed, one thing lead to another, which separated the two. But since their love was fate, they found each other in their later years. The short story starts off with the woman sitting outside enjoying nature, and then suddenly she hears a voice calling. She recognized the voice as the man she fell in love with in her earlier years, however, she didn’t believe it was him due to their long period of separation of not seeing each other. The man walked closer, and it was then she realized it was him and that she believed fate had brought them back together. They shake hands as they sat in silence with the fear of being rejected; however, little did they know they both had the same thoughts running through their minds. Then a waiter came to ask what kind of food/drink they wanted and they ordered the same thing. This started their conversation. They then started to reminisce about their past. The whole story is basically period of times the man and woman stumbled across each other, but they were too scared to talk to each other. Eventually, they realized they were being foolish with not talking to each other, which lead to them not being in each other’s lives for a large portion of the time. Toward the end of the short story, the man and the woman end up growing old with each other in a retirement home. The woman continues to read their love story to him until they memorize it by heart.

    One of the main reasons why I love this short story is because AlDoueiri gives her readers hope, which is one of the recurring themes throughout the story. Like I said before, I’m a helpless romantic; I love everything about romance stories, so giving a reader hope that no matter what obstacles or issues you may have in your life; if you and a significant other that is meant for you, then fate will allow you and help guide you to each other. Another obvious recurring theme is love. The relationship between the man and the woman was lost multiple times, but fate managed to help them find each other. These two themes made it hard to put the novel down, and I thank AlDoueiri for putting her storyline in her reader’s point of view and perspective.

    AlDoueiri did a great job writing metaphors and imagery (especially about nature), which shaped the mood and tone of the story. The metaphors and imagery was usually said by the narrator to reiterate the love between the couple. You could also tell when the woman and man was talking by the way the fonts were used. I think AlDoueiri did this so she could get the readers into the characters perspectives and to also get the readers into the story. The title of the story, Breezes, was also described as the wind you feel. This was another way for the author to use imagery by using nature.

    I’ve never read an Arabic novel, and I’m so glad it was this novel because it was just an overall great read. It was written as different poems; however, it still told this wonderful story about a relationship between the man and the woman, which made me want to keep reading. I really enjoyed this story because it was a realistic love story that anyone can relate too. AlDoueiri did a wonderful job and I hope to read more of her work in the future. I would definitely recommend this short story to my friends.

  33. Bradley Kuwahara

    Upon my first glance at “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueri, I honestly did not know what to expect from it. The book starts from the right and goes left. The pages had both english and arabic text. What surprised me the most though with this book is the actual content within. The book is much like a poem in the way that it is written and the way that it is formed. I believe this is what kept me engaged quite a bit. What kept me the most engaged though was the story itself. I did not expect to read this book and actually enjoy it but it was actually very good. It seemed quite relatable. Maybe not to me or to you but it seems like many would be able to connect with the story. The basics are that its about the love between a man and a woman. That seems pretty relatable. Also I am sure this has you thinking, oh great its just going to be another love story. I can’t argue there but this one seems different. The book isn’t that long so you can read it fairly quick. If you do get the chance to read it you will feel all the emotions that these characters go through. There is much joy and even sadness throughout the book. We have all been where they once were. Young love. Its the greatest feeling ever to share feelings with someone you truly care about. Sadly though, young love doesn’t last for everyone. Most of us have also shared the worst feeling that they encounter too, heartbreak. Coming from young love and moving into heartbreak feels like you will never be able to go on again. After time has passed though, those feelings quickly go away. As time has passes these two were able to come back together though and share true love, something we all hope to find one day. This book really seems to show view points from younger people all the way up to older people. Like I had already said, it seems like most people can relate to this. One thing that I really like about the book was when they met back up for the first time since their days of young love. They probably never expected to see each other again. That is very easy to happen in the busy world we live in. They happen to be in the same place at the same time. At first they didn’t really think it was each other because what are the odds of that happening. It may seem cheesy or like a cliche but I think this is another thing that has happened to us. I think its possible so that was partially what kept me reading. What really makes this different from all other romance novels is the poem aspect. You see both the man’s and the woman’s view points but that is typical. Yes, you get to feel their feelings, which is also typical. What is not typical is all the poem style writing. It really brings out all of the emotions in the book. Throughout the book we see how they feel for each other but they are afraid at first to tell each other and the only thing you can think is for them to just say it already. They were so in love once before but due to some circumstances they were torn apart. Now they are grown up and fate has brought them together again. Not all of us get second chances or at least not often, so when you do you should do what you wanted to do the first time and do it right. Gradually they get their and you really can see the love grow stronger and stronger as the book goes on. You get to share their pain, happiness, anger, joy but most of all love. You see so many things happening but like I already said the love just gets bigger and bigger. True love is strong and if its meant to be nothing can tear it apart. You really get to see a great example of that in this book.

    As far as an actual review goes, i would recommend it. Sure their are many romantic love books but this one is very unique. It is that long and the form of writing was very interesting. I personally am not the biggest fan of poems, however this was a combination of poem and story. Everything thing was linked together so it flowed smoothly. I don’t read very much and i don’t typically review very much so I don’t really know what to compare it too. Though even if I read much, I couldn’t imagine knowing many things that relate to this. One last thing I would like to note that also really kept my interest is that is was a book of Arabic Literature. I really like exploring other cultures and seeing wha the have to offer and this book really shows you what Arabic Literature is about. The author wrote a love story like many other but she added the twist of poetry too it. So far from other Arabic Literature I have read, it is all so unique in comparison to anything I have actually read from our own culture. If you have the time I would recommend at least checking this book out.

  34. Breezes is a short story about a pair of long-lost lovers who stumble across each other in a park near a river or creek. As they are throughout the entire story, they are incredibly awkward around each other and walk on eggshells with each and every word they say, at times at a loss for words because they are so worried about saying the right thing. The following chapters go through various “memories” they have of and with each other. The first is a memory of when the woman leaves for an undisclosed number of years to Egypt, on a boat. They had barely known each other at this point, a simple greeting serving as their sole interaction. Apparently from this one interaction though, she is fond enough of him to bring him a keychain, which he sees as an opportunity to win the keys to her heart.
    The next memory is a flashback to when they were in school together. He catches up with her and one of her friends walking home from school. After they leave the friend at her home, he walks her home, wishes her a good evening, and leaves. She recognizes this situation as the first time they had ever been alone together, and makes it out to be a big deal. It ends rather anticlimactically as he simply wishes her a good evening, and walks home.
    Another memory they discuss is when they visited a meadow with fruit trees and a spring. They spent a lot of time together there that day, sitting and talking, eating the fruit, drinking from the spring. As they rode the bus home, they came to a house where everyone was ushering them in, and was incredibly friendly; it was his house. His family was finally meeting her, and most of his family gave nods of approval, except the older brother.
    Next, they remember a few fond memories of songs they used to sing as they spoke very fondly of their love for each other. After, she shares with him a rumor that a girl told her one time about him. She told her that he was talking to another girl in a very flirty manner, so she decided to “boycott” him. This went on for a long time, both of them describing how hurt they were when they did not talk to each other for such a long time.
    He then kind of hints at marriage, where she promptly rejects him, but says that they should continue their arranged meetings so that they may keep the anticipation of their seeing each other. She tells him that if their relationship can survive this, it can survive anything. She tells him that she wishes she could be happy with him, lay with him, and enjoy life with him; he says he could have given her all that she asked for, and he asks why she did not seek them out with him. She tells him because of the rumor, she thought he was disloyal, and loyalty was one of the biggest things she looked for. He is heartbroken because she never talked to him about this rumor, simply took it to be true because a girl who had nothing to gain from the situation told her so.
    This game of chicken with each other continues on for a little longer until one day he calls her and asks her to meet. She is at a loss for words, but agrees to do so where and when he decides. When they meet, this is when she finally decides that the game she was playing with his heart was over. They spend the rest of their lives in a retirement home together.
    Personally, I am not a huge fan of this work; of the Arabic literatures that I have read, stories of love develop very well, but I feel like this one was incredibly long and tedious. I found it rather annoying how the woman continued to drag things on and on. I feel like the story itself was boring and underdeveloped with almost no flow. The order of the book did not make much sense until about halfway through; it seemed like it was a scattered mess of memories, creating a headache for the reader to piece together the order in which things happened, and what was really going on. The language used is what kept me in it. There are so many beautiful metaphors used when the two lovers describe their feelings for each other. Overall, my opinion of the book is not too high, could have been much better. If you are looking for a good love story, look elsewhere, because this is not what you are looking for. If you are a poet, or looking for a sappy way to tell your girlfriend or wife that you love her, look no further than one of the many metaphors embedded in this story.

  35. I am reviewing the book, Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. This novel is about the love and connection two people share throughout their life spans. Two people that were in deep passionate love with each other then got separated, and eventually made it back to each other for a second go at their relationship. This book is very unique and interesting in the way that it is presented. It’s working backwards over the course of the novel, starting at the latter part of their relationship and working through the ups and downs they have encountered when they were younger. This novel allows you into the minds of both characters, showing different fonts for each of them. Breezes were translated by Mouna Mana from Arabic to English, and although I had severe apprehension towards reading a translated book, it was extremely well written. The book has English on one side and Arabic on the other, the font is a good size and it was a quick read. At the beginning, I must admit I was a little confused with the whole set up, but when you continue to read you catch up quickly and follow who is speaking. The way each character has their own font really makes it more visible for the reader, it’s almost like watching a movie, and it paints the picture in your mind for you.
    One of the major themes in this novel is communication. The male in this novel was accused for having feelings for another girl, which he never admitted or defended. Instead, he reversed the roles and asked the female character if she thought he would do something like that, challenging her standpoint on their relationship. Trust goes hand in hand with communication in a relationship. Learning to express yourself well enough so your significant other understands you and your intentions is crucial. Trust is the foundation for every relationship, and when it’s lost, the relationship is doomed. The best part about reading this novel was how relatable it was. Id say the majority of the population has been through something quite similar. Infidelity has become an uprising trend, which correlates directly with the divorce rate that is at an all time high.
    The couple came to realize that their feelings towards each other are true and undeniable, and they go back to one another. Most relationships that you hear of, if the couple ever breaks up and has distance between them, they very rarely end up back together. This is what makes this tale a special one, because it gives hope to people that were once happily in love, had a turn of events and somehow made it back to their significant other. It shows that love can endure great hardships and when it’s real and genuine, it will never fade away. Real love never dies. This novel leaves you with many questions though; a lot of it goes unanswered. The time period is not mentioned, and it’s hard to even make an educated guess. The characters follow typical Arabic traditions as the girl is more conservative and very polite, where as the male is extroverted and a little more forward- yet still very proper and polite.
    This book is captivating, the way it’s written through different perspectives, the fact that its translated and how the set up is backwards throughout time. The author has a talent for painting a picture for the readers to view.
    A common similarity I have noticed after reading several Arabic books is that they are powerful, and have something worth saying. The reader is left with a message about life and love, something everyone on planet earth can relate to.
    The poetic manner that the author exhibited is truly unique. Like I previously mentioned it is confusing, because it jumps around from different times and places, writing from both male and female perspectives. The book is relatively vague, as there are no names, no real identity about the characters given. But the author goes in depth when illustrating emotion and thought processes. If I have one tip of advice it would be to read this book in one sitting, so you can follow a little easier. I unfortunately had to find time to finish this book, in and out of my busy life I feel I might have lost some keys elements to the book. The way it goes in and out different setting, with different speakers makes for a confusing read. But I believe if you allow yourself time, with undivided attention you will have great success when reading this wonderful novel. I have personally really enjoyed reading this novel and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a intriguing, and different read. Wafica is a talented poet, and I would gladly read any other novels or books that have been written.

    Paige Gordon Arab 290

  36. Natalie Padron
    Remember your first love? What if life distanced you over the years, when you came back together would you pick up where you left off or be perfect strangers? This situation is presented in Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri’s book, “Breezes.” Knowing this to be an arabic written story I assumed it might have a theme of war, but truly the theme was all about love. Not only was the theme love, but it was lovely to read due to the poetic way it was written out. The truest message here is love remains. Life can go on and new love can come and go, but if the love was real, if the love was true, the love will remain the same.
    The story starts out describing the setting and at this point I didn’t know that to expect. Then the story begins to set up tension between two people. You haven’t a clue who the two people are; really all you know is that they are very shy towards each other in a way you know they know each other but there is a certain distance between them. The story reveals their want to touch, but also expresses their fear of rejection. Finally after some time of narration they begin to speak to each other confirming they are who they think they are. They are each others long lost lovers perplexed in happiness to have found each other, sadness in not having each other all this time, and confusion of what had happened to them all those years ago. It’s a beautiful story as they begin to unfold their love through memories. They talk about the first time they met and how they use to hang out and have adventures with their mutual group of friends. Then he finds out why she distanced herself and they keep talking confessing their love trying to make up for all that lost time. In the end after all this time and in their old age they regail in their love until the end of time.
    This book is relatively relatable, because we all either know love, loss, or reunion. I love the message that love doesn’t know time. This could be love of a family member, a friend, or significant other this book has just gone with significant other to share this universal theme. The poetic style of this tale makes it ten times more beautiful and pleasant to read. With lines like, “They sat without a word. While on the inside, talk flowed like a torrent” (12), or when she recalls the time they met and just years later his love dawns on her and she says, “As it grows and grows. And encompasses y existence and reality. Taking on a life of its own- the pictures in it stirring. Mouths on it speak. And music on it plays the song of an eternal love” (40-42), it is hard not to fall in love. There are moments though when you get angry like when you find out why she distanced herself. Some girl made up a rumor about the man and the female lead decided to accept it as fact instead of confronting him in their young age. It’s makes you wonder what exactly is the location and era for this story, because it never really tells you. I have never really been one into the set up and scenery of stories, but now that I have read one that essentially has none it leaves me with unanswered questions. I have no idea the timeline of this story, nor the setting, because one point it describes something that sounds like a jungle and then they’re in a retirement home, so it is a bit confusing. Poets are sure to understand though, and although my confusion I do enjoy the point of view writing style. You are reading a conversation and it keeps you drawn in quite well.
    This lovely book does a wonderful job of portraying love. It is no fairytale, yet it has a happy ending. I am pleased to have heard the message of love knowing no age an no time. Sure, the book could have had more of a set up, but the author intended for it to be a thinker and heart warming thinker it was. In the end I do say it is a must read!

  37. Adan Mata

    Breezes written by Wafica Manour ALDoueiri, is a story where two people develop strong feelings for one another, disconnect, and reconnect to continue the love they once felt for each other. The book is sectioned into chapters, and in these chapters a new story begins explaining the person’s feelings. Although I may be incorrect or not, I believe this book has a strong plot that true love will never fade away and it could only get stronger. The plot is strongly supported by the chapters and the characters feelings. Each chapter explained the person’s feelings, thoughts, and the actions they carefully chose to show one another that they were interested. When they are apart, the guy desperately and unsuccessfully is unable to get rid of delete the strong feelings he had developed. After being apart, the story ends with them reuniting but the love continues.
    The author did a great job in writing the story. The author use of descriptive writing was well done because images were easily created in my head as I read along. The use of different perspectives was also great because the author allowed us to understand each feelings the character was feeling. It also allowed me to foresee what would happen next or what feelings were going to develop later on in the story. I did notice the characters using quotes from a song, Aladdin, and Nizar Qabbanni, this made the story seem more realistic, which intensified it more, as opposed to a made up story. The quotes also served the characters in helping them explain their emotions to one another.
    Not only did the author did an amazing job in writing the story, but the story itself was very interesting. Reading about love always seems to satisfy as I understand that love is a key feeling in person to live a healthy life and in this book, both characters weren’t able to fill complete without one another. Once the characters are together, they are both happy and try not to make a move that would ruin the chances of being with each other. I was amazed on how the characters personalities were able to be defined by their actions and feelings. This was an important feature to the story because the guy seemed gentle, and respectful which made his actions seem more passionate and sweet. As for the lady, I seen her as an intelligent and respectful woman which made it understandable why the guy pursued her. This also helped me understand why the guy developed such strong feelings for her. The way the guy questioned every move, and the way the lady questioned why the guy didn’t make a move was all too interesting. Their personalities also helped me believe that every action done by one of the characters was done with every ounce of love. Their actions were also done to not only get one step closer to each other but to also make progress for the future. The struggles of both characters made it clear that they wouldn’t be able to live without one another, and even though they tried to get forget one another they couldn’t. The ending was also great. The “met” once again and continued to live their lives together. I did like the story a lot, the story itself didn’t have any flaws. It was consistent and managed to grab my attention without losing interest in the book.
    Overall, the book was amazing. I found it very cool that the book began from the back and not from the front page. It was meant for both Arabic and English readers, so it beginning from the back has its purpose. I wish I knew how to read and understand Arabic literature to see if the story lost any of its meaning. However, I doubt much was lost because the translator Mouna Mana still allowed the reader to create images and feel like they understand what the character are feeling at an ease. Yet, reading and understand the story through Wafica Mansour actual words would have been really amazing. Arabic literature always seems to impress me even more than it already does. It’s rich and full of raw feelings. A Love story that is romantic and full of love. I hope my examples made it clear to why I believe that True Love will never fade away but can and will only get stronger. The story was very well written and I gave this book a good review because I liked everything about the book from the story to the format. I would and am definitely recommending this book.

  38. Nhi Nguyen – Arab 290 – Book Review
    The short novel, “Breezes” written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueri has a theme about love, nature and beauty. It starts with two people starting off as friends, they grow more into their relationship, then separated and at the end reunited with one another.

    Not only is their love involved but also nature. AlDoueri seemed to make sure she put emphasis on the settings she was describing when it came to the nature settings. In the beginning of the book it starts off painting an image inside your mind; with trees, a river, and etc. However when it came to settings like school or a neighborhood, the description was very vague. I liked how she had the nature setting so in depth and well described in order for me to paint a picture. It helped me understand where the two were at and what it felt like to be a part of that setting.

    After the two being separated for so long, they are then reunited. This showed the beauty of the theme. It showed their relationship as a beauty to me because their connection was still alive. They did not hesitant to be near each other, because they simply just liked being in the presence of one another. I thought this was a twist in the novel because it showed the purpose of the story to me. It defined their relationship and emotions which overall is the main idea of this story.

    When I started off reading the first couple of sentences of this novel, I felt like I was in the novel. AlDoueiri made it feel so alive in the book. Starting off with describing every little thing into detail. I found it quite interesting how the first few pages and the title of the novel intertwined together, I found that quite clever of her. Also, I like how it intertwined with ending as well. AlDoueiri set it up so well to have everything flow together. It was not jumping from place to place. Everything was well into depth and followed a lot of support to help us go along with the story.

    However, one critic that I do have was there was a lot of “fluff” in the reading. I felt that their was a lot of things that did not have to be in there to get the idea of what she was telling. I felt that It was a distraction because of those details. Although everything flowed into place and nothing was off track, I do feel like things were put in there to add emphasis, but a little too much. For example, I would read a couple sentences talking about one major point of the story, but it would go on and on and I would forget about the main point because it was being dragged.

    This novel does consist as a love story. So if you are looking for a love story to read I would recommend this one. AlDoueiri does an excellent job in making you feel like you are as the character. The way she describes the emotions and reactions of one another, helps you put yourself in that position as well. I was able to imagine myself in the story, as that character because of how well described everything was. I think it is a tough thing to do, to get the reader to feel like they are in the story and I felt like AlDoueiri did well in that area of writing.

    After reading this novel and truly understand the meaning of it, I, myself would highly recommend this to another. It shows little gestures go a long way, love, beauty and nature. I truly enjoyed reading this because of the message the author is trying to send out. Not only does it send a message but the way it is formatted to affect a reader. With all it’s emotions and thoughts in a book, it feels like it is a real life story. I felt as if I were reading this piece out of someone’s journal or diary. Which was also one of the things I liked about this novel.

    I think the audience would learn to appreciate this book because the way it’s written and what is written in it. Aside from the purpose of the book, it is well-written and because it is well-written; such as tone, theme and etc. It keeps you engaged. You would want to just keep reading and reading and when you reach the end, you would want to reread the story all over again. It leaves an emotional affect on you as a reader. AlDoueiri leaves you wanting more, you will ask yourself, “what is going to happen next?”, as I asked myself as well.

    In conclusion, I enjoyed this book. This book showed a calm tone, that kept you engaged and prevent boredom. It showed theme in love, beauty and nature itself but leaving emotion affects on you. Lastly it showed purpose through a story with true love, separation and difficulties in a relationship.

  39. This is the first Arabic book I’ve completely read and it was a great introduction for me. Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated by Mouna Mana is a story about a man an women who meet each other at a young age and fall in love with each other. Soon after they get together the girl leaves and they don’t talk to each other for many years. Finally when they are already old and have grey hair they meet again. This is where the book begins. When I first began reading I had no idea what the book would be about so reading the first chapter I was confused. There was very little dialog between the two. All they were doing were trying to read each other’s movements to figure out what they were thinking. This got me hooked immediately because I had so many questions like how long have they known each other, why aren’t they talking, and why haven’t they seen each other in such a long time? Each chapter thereafter was a different memory but I didn’t realize this until around half way through. I had thought that each story was just a different boy and girl every time. I then began to notice that some stories carried on from each other, and later stories linked objects back to earlier stories like the keychain with keys on it. I thought this was a very interesting way to tell the story of these two. In each chapter it seemed to take the perspective of the man or women. They was very successful at giving the two character and emotion. The man seems to be very respectful and is a gentleman but he is also very afraid of speaking is feelings. He is also very worried about what people think of him, for example he first wanted to get approval from his family of being with her. The women is friendly and is also afraid of speaking her feelings, she is very worried about being betrayed and feeling the pain from this. This lack of communication seems to be a big theme in the whole story. For a while they boy gives a lot of small signs to the girl that he likes her but she never picks up on them. He starts to torture himself then because he cannot stop thinking of her but it could have been easily cured if he had just told her he liked her. After the two had gotten together a friend of the girl tells her that she saw the boy flirting with another girl. Instead of confronting him about it she believes in the girl and leaves him without saying anything. If she had just talked to him about it, they could have resolved it and get on with their lives. Because they never were able to confront each other and communicate the entire rest of their lives were full of pain and sorrow because they could never get each other out of their minds. Another theme of the book is you and you only can cause your sorrows. They always stopped themselves from saying what was in their heart because they were afraid of rejection or betrayal. They thought that it would cause them more pain to do this but in the end they had to live the rest of their life with the thought of whether the other loved them still. Of course it is also possible that this is the only reason why the two kept these feelings for so long because humans are attracted to the unknown. Even when they finally meet and talk all of this through they are still withholding because they are afraid. The man could never give a direct answer of whether or not what the girl’s friend said was true. This is a wonderful that really gets you thinking about love and the joys and tortures it can bring to people. There is never a name given and a lot of what happens is open to interpretation. Looking at the book at a whole it was very beautifully written with many images, metaphors, and personifications. Even though the two rarely say something to each other they still communicate in different ways. It often says the breeze carries their message across the earth or that it creates an image of the other. Other things in the wild also did this like birds and the ocean waves. It compared their love to the wilderness. My favorite comparison was to the ocean, of how it is vast and never empties. The book is able to communicate several audiences because many people experience a first love and the pains that can follow sometimes. Maybe never to this extreme but it teaches a lot to people but leaves much of it open to how they want to interpret it. The last thing I have to say is that I am definitely going to reread this to understand more about their relationship because there is a lot of things hidden that are difficult to pick up. I recommend this book to anyone, even people who don’t like love stories because it isn’t necessarily just about love.

  40. The novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri I would definitely consider a recommendable novel. Aldoueiri in my personal opinion expresses this story upon her audience in such a profound manner that it cant help but grasp your attention. You feel enveloped the story as it begins. The story tells a rather complicated takeoff two lovers who are in attempt to make their relationship work. As the story fluctuates through time and reality through the chapters the audience is truly presented a story of true and hard earned love.
    The tension between these two lovers is presented quickly rather so much so in fact it feels as though your thrown into the situation and the story. However, one can quickly grasp the tale through Aldoueriri’s excellent use of rhetorical language and really manipulating the story to where you are truly inside the minds of the characters. The reader feels the same emotions and thoughts as the characters and creates almost a suspense within the tale. The story tends to jump from throughout different times within the lovers relationship expressing early development of love to the very end that which is symbolic for lifelong love. However, besides the imagery displayed throughout this story is the manner of which it was written. I found it very different form readings I would typically experience because of all the subtle quirks that the novel had to it. First of all, never do I notice the two lovers names mentioned throughout the entirety of the book. I don’t know if this is some sort of literacy tactic but i did find it to be very interesting and mysterious. Also the novel doesn’t just tell a story as simply as telling or showing the tale. The novel does a really great job in having the reader feel the story. The audience when reading is truly placed into the minds of the characters and into every gut wrenching emotion they had in certain situations. For example when in the chapter The First Trip one could truly and deeply feel and also understand the young love that was felt from the young man for her and all the anxious thoughts that were racing though his mind during the process. I feel as though this example as well as many others in this novel are relatable by almost anyone who reads it. To feel true, honest, and innocent love for another is something i think every reader can personally connect to.
    The story is from my point of view, entirely revolved around the challenges mentally and physically towards one relationship and how they not only withstand these challenges but go on forwards without ever clearly knowing what will happen next. AlDoueiri in my own opinion manipulates the intense emotions created from such a circumstance to effectively write a powerful piece of literature. Each chapter is like a new adventure for the couple that involves problems. conflicts, fond memories. Illustrating the highs and lows of the relationship and vividly depicting their true emotions was a very beneficial connecting aspect of the book. Even such things as simply as holding hands or making the decision to talk are expressed in this book in such a way where the suspense is immensely heightened. It is partially for this reason why I would undoubtedly recommend this novel. It delivers a satisfying reading to the audience and a feeling of the reading is definitely worthy of acknowledgment. Another way I could describe this reading as profound is through its story telling in general. And what exactly I mean by this us the method in which the author chooses to present the material. The way that this novel is presented is quite clever and interesting in that when a reader looks upon a typically novel they see a story that is presented of the characters or by the characters through the author. However, I noticed that this novel did neither or perhaps the equivalent of a combination of the two. In this novel the story is indeed of the characters however, its almost like the author is completely out of the picture and there are only the characters who’s thoughts are the display which i found to be a very intriguing quality to the book.
    I immensely enjoyed and appreciated AlDoueiri’s use of rhetorical language throughout the piece it made me enjoy and interpret the characters emotions with more accuracy. The tale suits the ideal interpretation of a true love that is meant to be. Even after the two have been separated it only leads them in the end towards each other and in a touching conclusion it is described that they are together in a retirement or nursing home. Ultimately, I would recommend this book because it will surprise every reader who reads it in full.
    Cory Marietta

  41. The short novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translation by Mouna Mama, Ph.D., was based on the concept of two lovers from the past coming back together after a long time of not talking and not having any contact. The novel goes back and forth between the perspective of the boy and the girl in the novel, eventually landing on when they are a man and a woman meeting in a nursing home after so many years. I could be thinking of this short novel differently than most but I think the main theme of this novel is that one can always find love and even if one tries to push it away it always prevails. During the short novel it starts when they first meet up until the point where they meet again. It has many ways of jumping around and then coming back to the main focus of the story. The author of the book is a educational researcher, poet, storyteller, and writer at heart. She writes poetry about her views and experiences as a minority Muslim woman in the United States.
    This short novel goes into depth the feelings humans have of one another and how the world is smaller than we think. During the beginning phases of the book the boy and girl meet at grade-school, I assume, and they become friends. They have many interactions but always in a group. There is this invisible string attached to them that keeps pulling them together and they cannot resist it. Then as time passes they become closer and closer until a rumor is spread about the boy and the girl decides to pull apart. In the novel names are never given but this is what I like because it gives the reader a chance to make up in their own mind who each character is. During the time that the girl decides to not speak to the boy is when one can see fate is always fate and that in time they will come back together again. For some reason the reader knows these two people were meant to be together and that over time the world being so small they will run into each other again and maybe rekindle what they had before. I think this part of the story is a way of showing that one can always try and decide their own path or fate but in actuality it is already set and that you might as well keep living and just see what happens in life but try and not resist anything. When they tried to resist each other they ended up wanting each other more and wanting to be together that much more.
    The short novel is written in many different fonts and letter sizes. Some people would particularly not like this just due to it not being uniform and always changing but I personally like it. It was easier for the reader to follow along and know who is speaking or who is having thoughts. After awhile the dialogue flows so smoothly you do not even realize you are going from one character to the next you just know. The writer also jumps from past to present in the story multiple times. This was a great way for the reader to see that there were many times the couple had met up and bringing together different parts of the story. It could become confusing at times on what the writer was speaking about and when it had changed to a different part of their lives but once you keep reading it all makes sense.
    The title could come from multiple parts of the short novel. It could be from the way the boy and girl say they smelled the scent of the other on the breeze. I think this one part of the novel is where it came from due to them always longing for the other but never letting go and giving into the longing. They always hold back but at random times they smell the scent of the other on the breeze. The breeze could also be a way of showing that life goes on no matter what your feelings are or sadness you may have. The breeze keeps blowing and your life keeps moving on. During the short novel the word breeze or breezes was brought up multiple times and could contribute to the title of the short novel.
    The short novel has many different meanings and many different themes. The main theme I chose from it was that time will go on but you cannot adjust fate. The boy and girl had many interactions and feelings for each other but always tried to stay away. After a long time once they were old they found each other in a nursing home and decided to finally let life happen and give into these feelings. This is true in regular life too, that many people always try to figure out their life when it might have already been figured out for them. Yes one can decide what to do but if it was meant to be there will always be a way of it happening. During the novel the author used many different fonts and letter sizes and the spacing was different than most short novels but it was a breath of fresh air and an interesting way of changing the dialogue and giving a way of who is thinking and which character is speaking.
    – Erika Newell

  42. JONATHAN ABAD

    Bruce Lee once said, “If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life made up of.” The short novel, “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is an amazing author that has really connected to the audience of life revolved around love, sadness, hopes, and dreams. Multiple themes stream or “Breeze” through the stories and experiences told within this novel. The translations help understand the Arabic culture for readers of all groups, which help us feel the emotions running through the main characters perspectives.
    First of all, Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a very qualified woman with multiple accolades, surprising us as an author with the professional background that she has. She is a lawyer that has also educated many people as an activist for human rights. She has worked with government and non-governmental organizations. Her wise and eventful career has led to her experiences of stories she tells within her first novel, “Breezes”, the first of several books and articles she created. It guides us into the thoughts and words said and unsaid. We are looking through the eyes of another person.
    The short novel, “Breezes” is a love story with passion, love, and sadness. This short novel is the book version of a movie “chick flick” and other romantic love stories in less than 100 pages. This story is not just for people of the Arabic group, for everyone. These stories entail a universal meaning for the multiple themes I discusses earlier. “Breezes” symbolizes the natural thoughts and desires and what us human beings of all ethnic groups go through in our love lives.
    This novel is about two lovers going through the motions of quietness, separation, awkwardness, longing, desire, but are brought together through their strength in love for one another. This love story starts off awkward, eyes gazing into one another unable to make any physical and or oral action with each other, unable to speak or act, but the want and desire for each other is present. Her thoughts are continuously loving this male figure to only be separated by him as he leaves on a trip with some students to Egypt. She was not able to say goodbye to him, hesitating because of her awkward love for this guy. Quoted from the story she says, “And I had no way of saying goodbye other than those furtive glances.” Later on, she mentions of the kind and gentleman-like actions that showed he cared and loved her as she recalls of him accompanying her on the walk home after her girlfriends has left to their own homes. He too is self-conscious of what he is doing right and wrong for her, even asking her if accompanying her was bothersome. She of course, like his company but felt his need to accompany her was not needed. Throughout the story she would imagine her future with him, wondering of the experiences they will do together. Later on she starts to question her happiness. She was wondering that if waiting or if this love is too good to be true. This was the struggle of the storyline as she struggles between her brain and what her heart feels. For example, she says, “I thought our attachment was on the verge….a pulling away that I couldn’t interpret…Did you love me?”. She was very insecure of whether or not this love will last given their situations and experiences of separation and attachment. Eventually, a separation occurred, crushing her heart and giving pain to her life. She couldn’t help but cry a tear a day. She couldn’t help but think of them. It has been years they were separated, but only to be faced with each other again. Although the continued with trials and tribulations, their love maintained intact only for them to settle as the “breezes” of love and hope had brought them together.
    This short novel, was written in first person perspective, through the woman’s mind. She is constantly using “I” within her sentences. For example, “ I stood on the boardwalk…” There are many forms of imagery, metaphors, and similes all throughout the novel. Occasionally they’’ bring up allusions of the Koran or an author. The title “Breezes” has a positive connotation of love. For example, it mentioned in the novel, “Onto the ocean breeze which would carry it to you along with my longing and hope.” That is the theme of the story: love and hope, as both of them continue to separate and attached, then settling at the end.
    This is a story of two lovers together separate through trials and tribulations only to be connected once again. The short novel, “Breezes” was definitely an amazing read. Although is lacked dialogue, the stream of consciousness really intrigued me because I was in the mind of another and I felt all the emotions going through that characters thoughts. Many of us can relate to these situations, although some of its traditions are of the Arabic culture Overall, I understood the meaning of this story. I live in a society, generation that can be labeled as a generation of flings, greed, and short endings, lacking passion, sympathy, and longing for another half. The novel “Breezes” is a challenge to all of you of how much you are willing to pour out your heart and soul into another.

  43. “Breezes” is a short book by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri who is a lawyer and a human rights activist. When first looking at the book there is nothing that is given away. The pages go from right to left (I liked this because I read a lot of manga and it felt familiar) and the pages themselves have a real nice feel to them which made reading it all the more enjoyable. It is also written like a poem, not necessarily rhyming but it has the same style. It is written more toward the middle of the page and is in poem format, which I enjoyed. Personally, I already enjoyed reading and was thrilled to have something new to read. With the sleekness of the book, my familiarity with the reading style and format, and my passion for reading I was given high hopes about this book. I can happily say that I was not disappointed in the least.

    “Breezes” is a love story between a man and woman who deeply love one another but never act on it in fear of not saying the right thing and rejection. The entire story is based on the memories of when they were together or near each other. Within every memory they have, there is something that prevents them from being together. The obstacle changes with each memory. Once it was when the woman goes on a trip to Egypt, another time would be when she was told that he was flirting with someone else and she decided to push him out of her life. The two continue to meet throughout the years and reminisce their past with one another. At some point the main asked her to marry him, but she said no. She claims to say this because she is worried that if they were to marry the passion they currently feel for each other would be lost over time, whereas the anticipation of seeing one another is enchanting, and she does not want to lose that. In the end of the book, they are at a retirement home together sitting on a bench going through the story of their love. They read it again and again until they memorize it by heart. They are finally together. Destiny keeps bringing them together throughout their lives but they avoid it until the very end. Some people say love is the strongest force in the world, and this book proves it because no matter what happened they always ended up together at some point and even though they kept fighting it, their love for one another eventually prevails.

    I think the author does a wonderful job of portraying a variety of emotions. There is hope in the thought that they may one day be together. There is despair when they keep hitting obstacles preventing their love. There is also, for me at least, frustration. They always want to tell one another just what they think and feel but they are both too afraid to say anything because they are worried what the other might think or say but they are both thinking and feeling the same thing. It is frustrating because they genuinely love each other but they both hold themselves back. All of these emotions create a most excellent love story. They share true love, which is something almost every one hopes to find but unlike them one usually acts upon it. It was nice reading a love story with a not overly common plot. I liked that they had many chances to be together but they never were until the end when they are old and gray. They spent their entire lives loving and longing for each other without any real outside conflict. The only conflict they really had was themselves.

    I thought that this book was really great. It kept me captivated and wanting to read more to see if they will finally be together. I would recommend this book. It is short but sweet and it tells a lovely story. “Breezes” is fairly easy to follow and is enjoyable. I have read Arab stories before, like 1001 Nights, but I have never read anything like this before. I can say that I truly enjoyed this book and all of its aspects. It really makes one feel light hearted and happy. With all of the popular love stories that we always hear about, which almost all have the same general plot, this was a much needed breath of fresh air. I would even say those who do not like love stories should give this one a try, it is worth it and not your typical everyday love story. AlDoueiri did a wonderful job with this story of love and she really makes one see the innocence of true love. I plan on reading this book again and recommending it to friends.

  44. Anthony Aguayo Arab 290. Love is the driver, passenger, and vehicle in this short-story poetic justice. Breezes, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is an optimistic filled journey of a man and a woman finding their way back to one another. Mansour AlDoueiri captures this expedition with the usage of literary devices such as rhetorical questions, themes, tone, diction, and allusion. Throughout the book, you cannot help but notice the parallelism occurring. Breezes offers hope to all. I caught myself grasping for deeper breathes, because the power of the reminiscent tone takes your breath away. I, myself, am infatuated with reading love-filled melancholic books. The average person has at least once, in their life, experienced the arrival or departure of sincere love. As I had mentioned, I consider myself a hopeless-romantic at times, so Breezes offered me hope. The special aspect of the book was the author’s ability to grasp the readers’ attention effectively. The book begins with the encounter of the two love birds communicating with one another without speaking. We have all caught ourselves at one point or another doing so with loved ones. This communication is a theme that spans across all short stories within the novel. Other themes that can be found in this novel include wishful thinking, fear of rejection, and lack of initiation. These themes spring the underlying ideology that love will always find its way back if it is fate. I strongly believe this. I found myself at a loss of breath, because this book is applicable to my emotions at the moment. I felt one with the main male character in his fear of his former lover felt the same way she once did when they were young. Another brilliant aspect is the message that love is love; no matter how old or young. In the novel I found a power quote that stated, “We repeated daily that a lifetime is not measurable by the number of years and that youth is the youth of the heart and soul.” This quote represents the foreshadowing of the rejoining of the male and female. This quote is powerful because it does not give love an identity, but rather a spirit. AlDoueiri refers to Nizar Qabbani’s work twice throughout the novel. By doing so, my attention was grasped even harder. Qabbani is considered the father of Arabic Literature, and possibly the Allah of expressing love. Although I have spoken highly of this literary piece, there was one theme that struck me bothersome. I found AlDoueiri contradicting the main character to an extreme. I am fully aware that presenting contracting ideas bring life to the constant doubt displayed, but it was excessive at times. Midway through, I stumbled upon the title of the novel numerous times. I can confidently speak on why the novel received the name it did. A little more than six times can we read about the male individual referring to his lover as breezes. The breeze is an actual representation of what a breeze is. On a casual windy day, we will experience subtle winds that strike us. The breeze, that the main character experiences, varies from the scent of his lover, to constant growing distance. I consider the book genius, because it caused me to ponder love once I completed this translated piece. Love is arguably the easiest message to convey in writing since love is universal, but only a true author causes you to visualize love. This book has the potential to change the lives of people. I found myself considering whether I should hold onto a past love, or act on it. If I was that easily conveyed, I cannot imagine the effect it has on others. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all ages. This book has opened my youthful eyes in realizing that love is beautiful, patient, and kind. Love, as I mentioned, is universal whether young or old. Arabic Literature has become a new passion of mine, and this book has raised that passion much higher. If love is what you seek, read this novel. If love is what you do not know, read this novel. If love is confusing to you, read this novel. Do not be confused by the book’s Arabic wording on the cover, and inside. AlDoueiri has touched my soul, and I know he will do the same for you. This novel keeps you entertained throughout each story told. My last recommendation to you is to sit down and read this whole book in one sitting, by dedicating your full undivided attention. This will only raise the intensity of each passing word. I will leave you with this if you are yet convinced, I was so moved that tears ran down my face as I completed this novel. If my testimony has persuaded you, do the honor of educating others once you complete this work of art.

  45. Two words: “Deep Emotions” (the title of the first chapter of Breezes). Deep emotions is what passes through and comes to mind when reading this very well written love story. From the very first chapter until the very end, I was hooked. I do not usually get into books when I read them, but this was a different story, literally. I have never encountered a book that has a story line so rich and captivating. I could not put the book down. I was able to read the story so fast I did not know I was capable of doing that since I am normally a very slow reader. The fact that the story was written in a poetic style was what made the read worthwhile as well. The book size was not too big of a read either, it was just right. Since the book is not too lengthy it helps the readers have motivation to pull through and finish the book in one sitting. Although poems are hard to understand and analyze as you read, it was not that bad to comprehend what was going on in Breezes. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri knew what she was doing when she decided to write this book. When I first starting reading it I noticed that the story has a lot of different emotions as the story carries on throughout the book. There are themes of sadness, betrayal, happiness, love, infatuation, friendship, and much more. I think another reason why I liked the read was how in the midst of the story there would be side notes to help the reader follow along properly because from past experience I would always get lost translating or understanding what is going on. As I kept reading I honestly felt myself in the position of the characters because of how relatable it can be. It properly shows the different stages we all go through when it comes to relationships or falling and even being in love. With how the love story goes in this book, it has two characters and what the author does is he depicts their emotions and what they feel during the stages they go through with falling in love. Their love story starts like any other story, awkward at first but then its scheduled to change as time passes. They didn’t even know how to interact with each other both thoughts filled with a lot of uncertainty and questions about one another. Falling in love is like a breeze. It is natural and so inevitable. The title is really perfect for the story because as flowingly as a breeze is, so is the story. I like how when you open the book and see the Index, your first thought may be “wow different poems” but no. They are all different segments intertwined into one big story. It’s cool. Each chapter has the types of stages of love. As you can see, from this you can already tell that if a female were to read this they will automatically want to keep reading because it is basically like a film for girls but in book/poetry form. There is a moral to the story, that no matter the circumstance, love never fails, you should never give up on love. Love is stronger than all things combined. I believe that the jealousy aspect that happened to them in the story could have been treated differently and even more properly. It is sad to say but it is true what jealousy can do to us. But it is nice to know that despite it all the conflict was able to be resolved one way or another. In my opinion, I can honestly re-read this book over and over again and I will not get bored of it. It’s an easy read. You can easily “Breeze” right through it without any hesitation. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is taking an Arabic class or just to read for fun. The best kind of reading is when you know the characters can go through all types of trials and tribulations and overcome them in the end. The vividness of the authors writing really puts her writing into life. She was able to write everything in such depth and strong detail that I can literally picture everything as if it were a movie. Lastly, another thing I really appreciated the most was the fact that the characters didn’t even have names but despite that it was still easy to tell them a part in the story and that since they don’t have names you can relate to it by putting yourself and a significant other in their situation as well. All in all, the author does an amazing job with the connection the readers can get from just reading the book.

    Erin Tayag, Arabic 290-70

  46. by‎ Sheren Shihadeh, Arab 290 , Breezes book review
    The author,` Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was‏‎ a Lebanese lawyer‎, President of the Executive ‎Committee of the Family Planning Association in the ‎‏Arabic‏‎ world‎, Vice President of‏ ‏‎ the ‎association in Lebanon, Member of the Administrative Commission in association with ‎disabilities friends, ‎a mother‎, ‎wife and ‎‏finally a writer‎. ‎Her first book is entitled Breezes‎. ‎a ‎romantic innocent love story and a collection ‎‏that she wrote over many years while traveling for ‎work during her free time here and there‎. ‎Breezes ‎‏is a tittle that refer to many poems each of ‎them a breeze itself that refreshed her mind with a sweet ‎‏memory of a meeting‎, ‎talk‎, ‎or a place ‎that she used to share with her lover. Therefore, if you read this book, there is no way to guess ‎that these sweet words and images were written by a lawyer. However, this shows how great ‎women are; no matter their sensitive romantic emotional feminist side would be always there ‎hidden somewhere in their hearts. ‎
    This romantic book was written in a very unique way using a free poetry style to tell a story. This ‎helped to catch the audience’ attention since poetry is a loveable way that has a tone and ‎sometimes a rhythm to express mixed feelings with picky beautiful words that fit the most to ‎reach the readers’ heart and soul before their minds. It was a reflection for the Arabic readers ‎where many of them could see themselves and their Arabic traditions, norms, values, social life, ‎and relationships that passed to them, and they would pass it to the next generations. Every man ‎and woman in the Middle East might experience the same story and same kind of innocent ‎respectful love during their school days where a conflict of love and traditions might exist. What ‎is right and wrong, acceptable and deniable? They probably prefer to suffer and keep their love ‎hidden in their hearts to stay faithful to their partners, respectful to themselves and others and ‎their strict society. ‎
    The theme is recalling the Arabic women to be sophisticated in everything, their love, happiness, ‎morality, and especially their loyalty to their innocent love, families, and Arabic identify. ‎However, many people might not agree with her perspective about loyalty because it seems ‎contradicted and divided somehow. ‎
    The theme of this book is so strange to people weren’t raised and born in the Arabic world or ‎even has a knowledge about the Arabic culture. Therefore, the whole story may seem out of the ‎ordinary cultural context. On the other hand, Arabic readers like me may see themselves as the ‎main character in this story because they simply understand what innocent love in the Arabic ‎cultural setting means. However, it was not a unique or unordinary topic because this innocent ‎pure love existed in the Arabic poetry for hundreds of years and had big fans of Arabs. ‎
    Summary of content: the story started when a woman was sitting on a wooden chair near river ‎thinking about her only love when she was twenty years old, and all the sudden she saw him ‎approaching her to set next to her on the same chair. A hung mixed emotions and fantasies ‎stormed her mind and heart. She didn’t expect this meeting after many years of waiting. They sat ‎without any words, but rivers of flowing words were unspoken. The silence went on for a while ‎before the waitress asked them to order something and they did. He put his hands on the table ‎looking at her; it seemed that he wanted them to hold hands, but he didn’t dare to do it because ‎she refused to hold his hands twenty years ago. They started to memorize every place they went ‎too and every detail about their old school days when they first fall in love with each other. He ‎never knew why she left him alone without a logical reason after he planned to marry her, and ‎told her about how much he cried and suffered without her for many years. The reason was ‎shocking for him. They stayed away for a lie told by an old jealous friend of her about him trying ‎to get her attention to love him. However, he told her that he never did that; it was an evil lie. ‎She regretted listing to her and told him that she was young and had no experience of how ‎people can be hatful and evil. He asked her to marry him and to start all over again, but she ‎refused because she was afraid that marriage may be the graveyard for their innocent love. After ‎he read her book, they met again and sat on the same chair reading the story over and over, and ‎their meeting lasted until the end their lives. They were in the same stunning retirement home ‎until they died loyal to their innocent love. ‎
    The ending in this book was nontraditional ending comparing to other romantic Arabic love ‎books. The main characters didn’t marry and live a happy life, or they didn’t die for on another, ‎or she didn’t regret falling in love. However, the author surprised me with ending to find them ‎siting together in a stunning retirement home.‎
    Symbols, motifs, imagery, and other literary elements were presented in this story. The motif was ‎that an Arabic woman waited all her life to meet her only love and when she met him, her respect ‎to her traditions and norms stopped them from being together, and their innocent love made their ‎soul connected and their bodies apart. The book was full of imageries like on p.80 “your ghost ‎accompanied me …chased me whatever we went” and metaphors for example on p.176 “now ‎that ice covered the mountain peaks” means our heads covered with white hear. Some similes like ‎on p.28 “trembling to the beat of his racing heartbeats, just like the bird shaking himself in front ‎of him now” ‎
    I really enjoyed reading the Breezes story because it was like breezes to my heart and soul that ‎filled of love and wonderful images. I recommended to everyone, and I think that non- Arabic ‎readers would gain some knowledge and understanding about the Arabic culture and values by ‎reading it too.‎

  47. Jacqueline Canales
    Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri’s novel Breezes is a coming of age love story of two characters who discuss through the use of poetry the obstacles that caused their separation. The story seems to take place through many different time periods of their lives. The tale starts off with the woman, who we assume is the narrator, sitting along the side of a river peacefully, acknowledging nature, and over analyzing her surroundings. She is quickly interrupted by a voice, which is later identified as the man she loves. The novel soon takes it course when the male narrator is introduced. They both then start reminiscing about their younger self and how many times they actually could have been together since they always been in love but lost the opportunity to doing so. In the middle of the story she finally confesses what prompt her to leave him when they were young and they resolved the problem. At the end of the story, it is revealed they are happily together in a retirement home and the woman continues to read their love story to him. The novel is separated into 17 section all are set in a different time periods in which the two characters were adolescents, acquaintances, lovers, strangers, and finally senior citizen.

    The obvious theme of this story is love. Love can overcome many obstacles according to these two whom have loved each other ever since they were young and continued to stay in love with the passing of time and eventually to old age. Her failed attempt to delete him from her notebook only shows that after all those years she continues to love him “There is no point in attempting to forget or suppress feelings/ For suppression enflames them” (150). The attempt to forget him only brings back all those feeling she once felt for him. Although, we have already seen this type of love story before in movies and/or novels this particular story distinguishes itself apart from those cheesy portrayals in the media through the use of poetry. AlDoueiri contributes more details of their long awaited love with the use of poetry. The story is written poetically and provides the audience with a deep insight of the narrator’s true feelings. Illustrating the characters fears and regrets.
    The style of the text emphasizes the story in a more literally understanding in which the audience can interpret the story more clearly without the obvious emotional/love phrases.

    Another possible theme is foolishness. This theme drove our two characters to drift apart because she believed a silly rumor/lie that the he was flirting with another girl. She was foolish enough to believe he was unfaithful to her and continued to believe it in her adult life, which lead her to be afraid to ever speak to him because she thought he would hurt her again. The lack of communication between them was one of the major problems; she decided to leave out the reason of their separation and made him believe that she didn’t love him no more. “Did you love me? / You showed no indication to that effort” (80). Without an explanation what so ever she was naive to believe that rumor. “ I was short of experience in life/ And so my reaction matched the narrowness of my horizon/ Which led me to consequences/ That an adult would not want after becoming wiser” (154). These lines of the novel demonstrate her regret in believing those lies, the lies that made her lose her trust in him and wasting away a lifetime worth of happiness. After long amount of time these two characters still had love for one another even if it pains them they still longed to meet again.

    I personally enjoyed the novel although I would have loved to know more of the two characters besides their experiences between each other; for example their jobs, past relationships etc. and a better insight of what their lives were all those years they spent apart. This novel gives the audience hope for lost love and a learning experience that a simple rumor can destroy a perfectly healthy relationship. Another lesson that can be taken from this story is wisdom and strength. With age comes wisdom and strength so any obstacle that was challenged in the days of your youth can be overcome by experience. Lastly, love can overcome and blossom any obstacle only and if its true love.

  48. Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is a wonderfully written story, which shines light upon many themes each person in life deals with. The story is written unconventionally through prose, which gives the story a light-hearted and almost whimsical feel. The story is also is divided into two sections, English and the native language of Arabic. I enjoyed seeing the two languages side by side because it reminds me that literature is universal and enjoyable no matter how many cultures it crosses. Even though this story was written in a different language, and through the lens of a different culture than mine, I could still relate to and thoroughly enjoy they short story. This message is important to the story as the two lovers’ in the story transcend age with their love and continue to see each other how they had many years prior.
    The story builds on the two characters’ love in a believable and heart warming way. The way the two lovers initially speak to each other in an almost reluctant way resonates with me. When you first show interest in a person it can be very awkward and nerve wracking which this story articulates well. It also shows the development of their love in a fantastic way. Going from young lovers to elders and still loving each other shows you how powerful love can be. AlDoueiri depicts love in a realistic manner, which I greatly appreciated. The story of the two people is not flawless; they fight and separate at times. I appreciate this because too often do I see other forms of media depicting love as something void of issues. The title of the story being “breezes” is also significant. I see it as a metaphor for how love can touch you and then pass right on by as easily as it came. Love can come from unexpected places and you never know how strong it will come. Although relationships can have issues, love may prevail at the end of the day as it did for these two people. AlDoueiri also does a great job of showing how love can be manifested into someone. Even though the woman had not seen the man for many years she still recognized his voice and was drawn to it.
    I also found the writing of the story interesting in that each chapter acts as a different stage of love. I’ve never seen love broken down into the parts such as AlDoueiri has done. This gives the story ups and downs as you can anticipate what will happen in each chapter because of the name. I thoroughly enjoy how the story was written in this way along with the prose style. It gives the story a unique tone that I have seen in very little literary works. With the story written as a poem of sorts, it reflects the love they have. It makes their story seem like an old tale, which is supported by the fact that the woman is reading her husband the story. It makes their love seem like a important history.
    Although the story is mainly about love, I think that the lessons this story touches on can be applied to every facet of life. Being that AlDoueiri has experience in human rights, I believe this story is not just about the love between two people, but a demonstration to its readers that love and harmony is possible in life. Peace and love is possible only if we accept it and manifests it into our own lives. The two main characters can be seen as an example set for the reader, while love like this will not always occur, Wafica shows that it is indeed possible.
    I am not usually fond of stories in this genre however the way it was written captivated me. I enjoy the broken down nature and flow of the story. I read the story in one sitting, which I feel like the author had in mind. The story comes and goes almost how love can. Had the story been a full-length novel I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much. The way the characters are abruptly introduced and fills you in to their back story is done well in a shorter setting.
    Breezes is a great story which is poignant even outside of it’s native language. By this, AlDoueiri shows that love is a universal language and that every person in the world is capable of caring and loving. The prose style lends itself to the story helping create a cadence throughout which reflects the theme of breezes. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri has crafted a great story. I would recommend this story to nearly anyone because it is a universally reaching story. Regardless of age or culture, any one can enjoy Breezes.

    – Nick Ruvolo

  49. By Dayan Padilla.
    After reading breezes by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri I have felt more of a connection with the author. As this novel is about a Wafica and a man who I believe, after reading this a couple times, is named Salaam are in love but have never been able to truly be together, get married or have interment relationships. A little background on the Wafica, she is an accomplished lawyer and she has lectured over 30 training workshops around the world.
    The novel begins with a deep emotions poem that then transits to Wafica and Salaam talking and they are both eating somewhere in a fancy restaurant. At this point they are much older when they first met as children. They are both really timid and are afraid to put a “move” on one another. Then they both wondered is the other is shy or why he or she is hesitating on trying to grab the others hand or if one or both of them no longer like the other half. After that it was just awkward and they kept on talking…well not each other just through thoughts.
    Next chapter we see them both younger and Salaam leaving on a harbor heading off to Egypt with a group of students to go to school and study. She however wasn’t informed when he was leaving so could not say goodbye; she however, wished she could have gone with him. Next chapter we go even further back when the two of them where just children. Wafica remembers when they were both walking home and it was awkward and she did not want to walk with him which Salaam responded with, “Does my accompanying you bother you?” (Aldoueiri, 44). She quickly responded, NO, NO. This shows you how they have matured over time.
    We skip a couple of chapters and now we are where they were in school and on a field trip to a snowy town. In which they both are holding hands and Wafica says she wished that hand had touched her chest. She says that she loved those hands, loved them! The next chapter, Will My Happiness Last? After reading we come across a point where she says that a friend of hers said that Salaam made an attempt with a lady friend they both knew. The news to Wafica where shocking, strange and painful. She begins wondering why she ever loved him in the first place, if he was a player or looking for someone better or if he no longer loved her. She wanted to find out the truth just to make sure but she did not know who to ask. Wafica then comes to terms and says her decision was made that it was time for a boycott. In the Separation chapter we go to Wafica who is very sad and depressed. Well the whole chapter is basically Wafica sad, crazy and wanting to get the answer. The chapter ends with, “Pains are erased and wounds heal” (Wafica, 102). I believe this means that she will be able to move past the accident but will never forget the tragedy.
    The Dream encounter does not have that much information besides that Wafica would keep dreaming of Salaam and how she wants to meeting so very much. However, at the last page, page 110, the second line on the second paragraph has a name which I believe is the man that Wafica has been in love with this whole time. Please comment if I am right or wrong. In the impossible attachment not much happens besides Wafica dreaming and wanting Salaam more and that holding each other’s hands they would disappear in to a dream. Now we skip a few chapters and are now in…The Years Pass chapters. Where they both admit that they both wanted to avoid contact with each other. But later we see them both in an elevator by themselves which was super awkward as they both just stood there looking at the floor and in silence. Wafica says she saw a peek of Salaam and that that was very comforting, then they both just ran out of there.
    This next chapter if my favorite, The Impossible Deletion, where Wafica tried to removed Salaam from her life by removing his number and everything about him and to try and forget about him. This only lasted a couple of seconds for it is very hard to remove a loved one from your life. Later we transition to both of them talking and Wafica asking him about the woman but she realizes how can he make sure this happened without any proof? Now the Salaam begins to talk and he says that he say Wafica walking on the opposite street and wanted to say hi but she ignored him. He said that this made him feel very sad and thought she did not like him anymore. Wafica begins to talk and she says the reason why she ignored him was because she was scared that he will be busy and she will bothered him. Wafica now asks Salaam on what she heard about him he told her the truth and said he slept with two ladies at the same time. Wafica forgives him. The novel ends with both of them in a beautiful retirement home where they were together and until the end of their lifetime.

  50. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is a love story that leaves the readers intrigued. The writer writes in a way that is clear and understanding. The book is translated very nicely by Mouna Mana. The left side of the book is written in English and right side is written in Arabic. The book is written backwards, and by backwards I mean the first page is what we would typically consider the last page. It took some time to get used to flipping the pages backwards. The book is divided into subsections and in with every subsection, we read about a different part of the characters love story. Throughout the book we get to read from both characters perspective. The size and font of the text divides the characters lines.
    As I read this book I found myself trying to figure out the meaning of the story and what the characters were actually trying to convey. The love story of both characters leaves the reader wanting to keep reading. The subsections allows the reader to understand what is happening in each section and what to expect as you read. The meaning behind this love story was a little confusing at first because I was not sure if both characters had ever communicated any words with each other. At first I thought that the characters had fallen in love without speaking to each other. As I continued to read the story I found out that it is a continuous love story where two characters fall in love and later separate but in the end the two lovers reunite again. I did not realize this until half ways through the story, because the beginning was a bit confusing. When I read the first chapter I thought the book was a book of different poems since there were sub sections that divided different stage of their lives. It was not until the third sub heading that I began to realize that each section connected with the previous one. At this point I had to go back and start the book over because I was not understanding anything. I did however like how romantic the book started off. Many of the lines that were written makes an almost real life connection with the reader. The author really knows how to get the reader’s attention by carefully choosing his words.
    The author uses figures of speech to describe the love story between the two characters. The book is written almost like a poem containing similes that help you understand how much love the two characters have for each other. One section in particular that stood out to me was the section titled “The Dream Encounter”, because there are lines in this section where the man is describing how bad he felt when he was sick and how he did not want his lady lover to see him like that because he always wanted her to see him when he was happy and healthy. This part of the story makes you realize just how much the man cares for lady and how he would do anything to make her happy.
    Throughout the story I noticed that the two characters lacked communication. The lack of communication made the book even more interesting because it had me thinking a lot about the couple. As I read this story I found myself analyzing everything and asking myself many questions that were unanswered, like why is it so hard for the couple to communicate. It seems like the couple is scared of rejection and they fear losing each other. Lack of communication is a big theme in this book because it is what makes up the couples problems. Problems that we get to read as the story progresses. Problems that eventually lead to the couples separation all due to lack of communication. A problem that can be fixed if the couple learned to communicate better.
    Overall, “Breezes”, is a wonderful book full of emotions and romance. It is a beautiful story that warms your heart. The author helps the reader connect with the story in a way that it makes you think about your own love life. The story also makes you wonder how culture plays a role in this story. Culture such as the characters religion and beliefs. The book is very easy to read once you start it. You can tell that the author really enjoys what they do by reading this story. This was the first Arabian novel that I have read and I must say it was a really good one. After reading this book I would not mind reading more books written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. I would also recommend this novel to anyone interested in reading a love story full of emotions and figurative language.

  51. Seth Clemen Saludez
    The Book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is a story about two characters who were in love, but then separated. AlDoueiri really made each section in the book sound so beautiful and she put so much emotions, that it made the reader connect with the book and the story itself. The only pessimistic thing I would say is that there was so much romance and emotions in one book that I started to lose interest while reading half way in the book. Now it’s probably because I’m not a big fan of romantic genre, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t fully like it. In my opinion there should be a balance in between.
    Now moving on to the book itself, the book has the English translation on the left side and the Arabic version on the right side. It was interesting and fun reading the book the other way around which is pretty cool. Every single section in the book were very detailed and on point. So the book is basically a story about love and it focus from the beauty of love, from sadness on not being loved, from letting going of love, and moving on in life. The book started off with the section titled “Deep Emotions” where a couple sitting across from each and looking at one another. While they are both in a shy and nervous state of mind, they both look at one another wondering what the other person is thinking and questioning their selves on how they will approach the other person. For example, the guy would think about holding the girl’s hand and the girl would think why the guy hasn’t touched her hand yet. So it’s kind of like in reality where you would try to think what the other person is thinking. Also it shows that nobody is perfect when it comes to being romantic and that everyone is always nervous no matter when it comes to situation just like in the story. Throughout of the book it was mostly characters thinking about what the other character is thinking or the one that they are in love with, such as the situation that happened in “Deep Emotions.” What I do love about each section in the book is that they all sound so poetic in my opinion and they have a nice flow to it. Some sections were not too lovey dovey such as the “The Separation” where the couple separated and the girl in the story would question if they made a right decision. Then the story would go from question after question after question then emotions start being released by the girl, but in the end there is a relief feeling to it. So I love how she was every optimistic in the end of that section and I felt she was a very strong as an individual. She didn’t let her current situation affect her and/or her emotions.
    After reading “Breezes”, it really made me connect with the book as if I was in the story itself or as if I was the character in the story. It also reminded me of my pass relationships such as the good moments and the bad moments. The stories in the book were very relatable as if it was a real person trying to relate to me. I think the reason why it made me feel and think that way is because the author AlDoueiri made every section in the book very detailed. AlDoueiri gave you the perspective of each character and showed you their thoughts about the other person. Also, at the same time the reader had a chance to get to know and understand the feelings of the characters. When I mentioned the story “The Separation” about how it would go from question after question and so on, I actually dislike that part. For example, on page 100 AlDoueiri wrote “ Return time past? Can old age fix what youth lacked in experience and knowledge? Dare I even ask? Do you truly still love me?….” It was kind of annoying in way where I had to stop and ask the character in the book, “Why do you have so many questions?” But that still doesn’t take away how good the book is.
    In conclusion, the book is really good and it’s probably the most interesting book that I ever read. Also, I have to say I kind of like the book just because it was very deep and detailed. I still dislike romantic genres or any genres that puts so many emotions in one book; it’s just not my cup of tea. I do recommend “Breezes” to any reader who is a romantic genres fan, non avid readers, love books that connect with you and/or open minded to any types of genres.

  52. My book review was on Breezes and it is by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. The translation that was presented in the book was by Mouna Mana. This book was about 186 pages long. On the left side of the page is in English and the right side is written in Arabic, best of both worlds for the reader. And the style of reading is read like if you are reading poems. As poems can be difficult to read at times, this style of poem reading is not difficult at all to comprehend. I already like reading poems, so it was very interesting to read in this way. A little information about the translator and author: The author, Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was an successful lawyer, educator, and a community activist. Wafica did advocate for human rights, and she conducted workshops all around the world, mostly in thirty countries. As for Dr. Mana she is a teacher educator and a educational researcher. Her writings are from research articles about Arabic language in hip hop lyrics to poetry about Muslim woman in the United States. Mana focuses on interpersonal relationships, directly aiming towards Muslim men and women. The book, “Breezes,” shows a creative and unique to show an inspirational experience between man and a woman in love, a love that has never been dwindled. To firstly describe my book review, I must say that, when I first got this book, it caught my interest right away because the book was in backwards. So while reading this book, it was interesting going backwards, but I didn’t understand why this book was made this way, until going further into the story. Don’t let the backward reading discourage you; rather take its uniqueness in a special way. The reason this book was made this way, because it starts off that these two individuals meet at an older age, and these two people always had love for each other at a early age long time ago in their lives. The confrontation between the two was very quiet but intense. Because of their past history they start to let their memories overcome them, and spoke without words. I was a little confused at first in the beginning but as they story went along I started to understand it better. In this book it doesn’t have chapters; instead they have subsections for the reader. It made more sense on why the book was like this because as the couple in the beginning of the book (at the end) start to reminiscence about their past, the book starts to go backwards, so in a sense it’s like flashing back to their history, going in detail of their most important and beautiful memories they had together, but also shows how they became separated and be apart from their love. As it gets towards the end of the book, it shows that the couple are actually together and story is at the present time of their life. I thought was interesting too. In the beginning was the present, through the book about their history, and then at the end it was back to the present. I really thought this was interesting dynamic aspect of the book because I’ve never read a book that has its own style, a way that it can capture the reader’s interest easily. Also, I believe that reading this book, it does tell a lesson about life. It is a life lesson, especially when it comes to love. Love is not easy and it can be painful. Especially when people know that they love each other but for some reason it could never work out and be together. I feel that this book also, gives us a glimpse of hope that love is possible, even it takes years for people to come back together, if they are truly meant to be together. Maybe these moments happen to people because they need to go through life experiences to become a stronger person and to see if they are ready to be together. Sometimes I think people can relate to why things don’t work out, for example: in the section labeled, “Will My Happiness Last?” and in this section it seems that their relationship was on a verge on a breakdown because of the way things were going , and seemed the sign of jealousy was a question and that it might be possible that jealousy can grow worse and this cause major pain and tear their love apart. And for this lesson, this is why I love the book so much and these memories because it does tell life lessons and sure anybody can relate to this. Jealousy can be a root to all problems but at the same time it can a beautiful blessing, if people can learn from it. Overall, this was a great book, and I do highly recommend that people to read this book. This is a great love story but it wasn’t easy path for these two people to be together. Some people don’t even find love, not even in a lifetime…. My grandma was one of them.

  53. Breezes by Wafica Manour ALDoueiri, translated into English by Mouna Mana, Ph.D., is to me, ALDoueiri’s twist on the Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. The whole novel consist of short stories of this couples life together. Stories from when they first meet, to dinner dates, to the times that they went their separate ways but still had this unspoken love that they always kept for one another.

    The book is split into seventeen different chapters, each chapter being a different story about their love story. The stories show the emotions from both people and their personal thoughts from hurt to love to acting content around each other when the were not together. The novel shows a TRUE love story. Everyone has their own definition of true love but my definition which I stole from the great Lauryn Hill, is that it’s that love that hurts to have but no matter how much it hurts it’s always there. In this case I see it in some of the chapters when they aren’t together, it hurts to see each other because they have so much love for one another but they we not together. No matter how much an effort is put into it, the feeling can not be pushed aside. The novel came to an end with the two in a retirement home together, reading a story of their own love. The read their story to memorize it. This was the ultimate ending to go with the theme of true love. Through all they went through through all the love and hurt and desire they are ending their lives together as peaceful and loving as possible.

    Definitely a job well done making it clear to the readers what was going on in the story. The use of descriptive words really helped me picture what was going on while reading the novel. I also loved the fact that AlDoueiri allowed us to read the novel from both sides of the story. Most love novels are one sided, from one perspective, but here we got to read and understand both people’s feelings. This really let ,e in and helped ,me actually feel the love and hurt from both people. If the novel wasn’t written this way I don’t think it would’ve been as great as it is.

    Personally i do not enjoy reading books especially those about love, but this novel was like no other. The whole story and the way the author went about telling it really made it worth reading. I am not going to lie i probably would have many other reviews and put them all together and came up with my own but i decided to give the book a chance, and to be honest i could not stop reading. I read the book twice both in a day. For someone who definitely has no motivation to open a book to read this book twice and within the span of two days really says something. I dont know if i am over exaggerating or if any of my fellow classmates enjoyed this book as much as i did. There’s something intriguing about this story, and i’m pretty sure thats the story i would want for myself. A love so true it would never fade i honestly dont know but the novel was amazing. I also think i was able to get into the novel so well because the author really let us see the personalities of both characters. For me it seems that in most books the authors just scratch the surface of the characters personalities but this author went deep into both characters which helped me to relate and actually picture myself in the story. The end of the novel was my absolute favorite. Just because it was a happier twist on the notebook. In the end the two characters are together and are living their lives out together. It was the perfect ending that brought the theme of true love together. Years and years went by and the two are sitting in a retirement home together reliving their long life love by reading their own story.

    When i first got the book i was weirded out that we started reading backwards, it really annoyed me to where I would look at it and get annoyed that it was like that until i gave it a chance and just read it. I also love the fact that they had both the arabic and english translations side by side on the two different pages. It was amazing to read it in english and then look at the arabic characters. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a great book to pick up and read on their spare time, especially those who are into reading love stories this would definitely be the perfect short novel for that.

  54. “”Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, was a very detailed and capturing story. The book was written in more of a pome fashion then just a regular book. The overall theme of the book would have to be love.The book starts off as the cliché of two best friends be coming more than just friends, starting a relationship. Then whats a love story without it troubles between the couple? How to separate and five at times but find their way back to each other. This makes the love story even more realistic. I like how the author doesn’t try to sugarcoat love she lets you see the hurt of love also. This gives more reality feel to the reader and makes you feel more connected to the story. I greatly appreciate the reality of the stories and all the ups and downs the couple had to go through. The Author also connected there love with nature a lot throughout the book. When describing the setting of the story she used a lot details describing the nature. For example in the beginning of the story is talked about See Katie and the rivers, trees, and even how the weather must’ve been that day. The way the author described it so much actually help me understand the story better. Author had a way of making you feel personally connected to the love story. The reason I found a connection with the characters in the story was because its told through the characters eyes. Since you get to see the story Do the characters perspective, you understand both sides of their stories. I don’t feel the story would’ve been the same or as good if it was told in third person view. It really captures your attention and make she really attached to the book. I love her style of writing, how she never tells too much but tell just the right amount.

    But, what I also really loved about the authors writing was how she broke up the chapters into stages. By stages I mean the stages of their love it is really exemplified the meaning of the story. This is another way the author keeps you entertained throughout the whole story. Even though the story was mostly about love and other things were taught throughout it. For example the author talks about human rights and how I love is not only just between people. Also the book shows how much communication can really affect your relationship. Is the coupling in the story would’ve simply communicated better I feel like half of their problems wouldn’t have occurred. The two people in a relationship was so worried that the other person would reject them that they didn’t go after what they wanted earlier in life. If they would’ve just simply communicating with each other they could’ve been together a lot earlier in life. This listen even made me reflect on my personal relationships throughout my life, and how I communicate better.

    The book was rewritten from Arabic to an English version. I honestly wish I knew how to read Arabic because I feel like you would be able to get a better story from reading the original writing. This book is so good and I’m afraid that when it was being rewritten not all of its context was taken with it. There were even some parts of the book where I was a little lost, and I think that was because of the miscommunication between it being rewritten in English. From just reading this book has given me can you go on learning Arabic. I would love to read more love novels in the Arabic culture because I feel like you to their culture they have a whole different perspective on life. I personally feel that The aerobic culture has a beautiful outlook on life. I would just really enjoy being able to read more, not just love stories but spiritual and good random stories in Arabic. Just being able to look at how different culture these things is very informational and enlightening.

    This book overall was very good! I’m not usually into love stories with this one I will have to say I actually like. Just the way the author me the tone and the story flow made the book very appealing. I believe that the reason boom is good so is because it took so many different things and connected to love. It goes from eight to appreciate love in the concept of it more.I also learned more about myself and the way I connect with love just by reading this love story. I would recommend it to a friend if they are look for a good book to read. It’s one of those books where when you start the book that you can’t put it down. Even though the sign in a class I would read it on my free time.I also look forward to looking for more books by this author that are translated in English.

  55. In the novel, “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, an Arabic novel translated to English, about a couple who reminisce about their past relationship. The Theme that is presented throughout the novel is love. Throughout the book there were also plenty metaphors as well as imagery within the first few pages that described the nature and the way everything felt. which was sort of strange part of the book because then it continued on to mostly the conversation between the two people. This was my first book that I read that was translated, although I did find it very enjoyable. It is very unlike the books that I usually read, I liked that the text in the book was really big and spaced out almost like a poem. Not only was the text huge but it also had the Arabic text on the other side of the page. Also, in the usual books that I’ve read, it says “he said” or “she said” after they have spoken then describes the way the spoke and how they gazed out a window and so on, but in this book Wafica gets straight to the point when they are talking. Also within each chapter it was like you were able to read how each of them felt and the way they thought about the other. Which was interesting because most books only gives you one sided of the story and you are forced to think only one way about a person, which is biased. While reading the book Wafica signifies with different symbols who is speaking, which I thought was interesting and quite different. I don’t know if that is a usually common in Arabic books but I liked it.
    The story is about two people who have not seen or spoken to each other in many many years after their failed relationship. During the time in which they haven’t spoken they are both thinking about what is wrong, she feels like he doesn’t want to be here and questions “why doesn’t he want to hold my hand?”. When in reality he is thinking about her saying that I wish that i could hold her hand, but would it be okay if I did. When they do finally speak to each other in the beginning they both don’t have many words to describe what they are thinking. Then finally they speak of what went wrong in the past in their relationship. She talks about how that she wished that she could talk to him and tried to talk to him by “coincidentally” bumping into him walking the streets but she couldn’t bring herself to talk. I enjoy that both of them have something about the other they didn’t know about, it makes two different sides to the story. Throughout the story their love is constant, not always the same but contrasting ideas about love, fear of love, and how she thought he wasn’t committed to her love. Although they don’t stay together they know for themselves what exactly went wrong and how much pain they both brought to themselves after they split up. However, it’s almost like their love was still alive for those moments while they were together talking about their past. After talking about the past either of them both realized that they are not the same person anymore since they have grown she has learned and has become wiser from the decisions she made about him.
    Overall I loved story, it was straight to the point, yet painted a very clear picture like that I could almost see the couple doing specific things or see her walking down the street not wanting to make the first move to talk to him. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story or even if they didn’t. I also strongly encourage others to check out translated books, because it is a nice change from what we are surrounded by, translated books don’t really get the time of day that they deserve. If you have never read a translated book why not start with this one. Also it isn’t a very long book at all I was able to read it in one sitting in about an hour, so now there isn’t an excuse not to read this book. Now I just wish I could read Arabic so I can get the raw feeling of the story.

  56. The story Breezes by Wafia Mansour AlDoueiri’s was overall an interesting and captivating storyline. The story was basically about two people, a man and a woman, who fall in love together at a young age and as they grow older they eventually start to lose touch with each other and go their separate ways. Even though they lost touch their love for each other always remained the same and was a secret until they rekindled again in the long run. As they grow older they both eventually learn that the feeling has been mutual for each other for quite some time. Although they felt it was mutual they both never really expressed their feelings for each other they just continued from where they left off from when they lost touch but they continued as if they never did. Overall this book really reminded me of the storyline of the notebook. It was pretty much very similar or the same in a way. Two people fell in love and they separated and fell off but always still had love for each other and thought about each other all the time but even after all the years they kept their love a secret as well and did not tell anyone about it. Then eventually re connected and she left the guy she was almost about to marry and be with for her original first love. The story Breezes was suppose to be written in the Arabic language but instead was translated and written in the English language as well for other peoples enjoyment too in the long run. I feel that the translation was done greatly so the people reading in English can understand the story just as well. Thanks to Mouna Mana Ph. D. individuals were able to follow the story along really well and know exactly what was going on and know the feelings between the two characters which by the way did not have specific names in the story. Instead of given names, they were referred to as he or she throughout the whole book. I feel like it was a good idea to use that so we did not constantly have to hear the characters names over and over again making it sound repetitive. He or she made us know exactly who was being talked about which was a plus in my eyes. Normally it would probably get kind of confusing to people but it never really got confusing once to me. I was able to stay along with the story and it was actually pretty fun to read and it kept my attention the whole way because I love corny or just even love stories in general. It really sucks when you have to read something that does not grasp your attention because I cant focus when things are boring and then I have to keep reading things over and over but when reading Breezes it definitely caught my attention and made me want to keep reading. The story was also easy to follow along with because beside just the he and she the author changed the font sizes and made one bold so you could distinguish who was who. As far as the book itself I thought it was really different and cool because it was not like a regular book. This book was backwards meaning you would have to read it from the end to the front. So instead of turning the page to the left it was turned to the right instead which was different. I never really recall reading a book like that so it was cool. Another thing about the book was it was about two hundred pages but in actuality it didn’t even seem that long because it was split in half. On one side was the English translation and the other side was in the Arabic Language. Overall I think the theme of the story not only had to do with obviously love but also fright. It was always love throughout the whole story but when it came to some fear was when they never really expressed their feelings to each other of how they still felt. They just let it go along. The ending really brought the whole meaning of true love together by showing us the two sitting in the retirement home reading the story of their very own love. After all the fright of loving each other that the author shows us through out the novel it has obviously been overcome and they are together. I would definitely recommend this novel to all readers. Not just because the story is wonderful but because the author did such an amazing job writing the story in a way that allowed me to picture myself actually living this life that he tells us about, and for all readers like myself that is what makes a book great.

  57. I wondered why the title of the book was chosen. It wasn’t until the end of the book that it became clear. The short novel, “Breezes” composed by Wafica Mansour AlDoueri has a topic about affection, nature, and beauty. It begins with two individuals beginning off as companions, they become more into their relationship, then isolated and toward the end rejoined with each other. So many metaphors and similes are used, which make it easy to paint a picture based off its descriptive nature. The book begins off painting a picture inside your mind with trees, a waterway, and so forth. (Won’t tell you the rest so you can enjoy). After the two being isolated for so long, they are then rejoined. This demonstrated the excellence of the topic. It demonstrated their relationship as a delight to me in light of the fact that their association was still alive. When I began off reading the first sentences of this novel, I sensed that I was in the reading. AlDoueiri made it feel so invigorated that I started remembering my past relationship moments along with the characters. Although the details painted sceneries I still connected the surrounding to my personal environments which made it feel much more alive and realistic. I discovered it very fascinating how the initial few pages and the title of the novel entwined together, I found that truly cunning of her. AlDoueiri set it up so well to have everything stream together. It was not bouncing from spot to place. Everything was well into profundity and took after a considerable measure of backing to assist us run with the story.

    This novel does comprise as an adoration story. So in the event that you are searching for an affection story to peruse I would prescribe this one. AlDoueiri makes a superb showing in making you have a feeling that you are as the character. The way she depicts the feelings and responses of each other, helps you place yourself in that position too. I had the capacity envision myself in the story, as that character on account of how all around depicted everything was. I think it is an extreme thing to do, to get the peruser to feel like they are in the story and I felt like AlDoueiri did well here of composing. I myself would profoundly recommend this to another. Breezes is for any reader who has ever been in a relationship. It demonstrates how “little” emotions go far, like affection, lust, and nature. With every one of its feelings and contemplations in a book, it has an inclination that it is a genuine story. I felt as though I were reading this piece out of somebody’s diary or journal. Which was likewise one of the things I loved about this novel.

    I think the crowd would figure out how to admire this book in light of the fact that the way it is composed. Beside the reason for the book, it is elegantly composed and on the grounds that it is elegantly constructive, for example, tone, subject and so forth. It keeps you locked in. You should read this book a chapter at a time and let it sit in overnight before you sleep. This novel is almost like meditation in a way. I read one to two chapters per night before bed and let it sink in overnight. When you achieve the end, you would need to rehash the story once more. It leaves an enthusiastic influence on you as a spectator of the everlasting love and all the other positive and negative feelings that come along with it. Taking everything into account, I am delighted to have read Breezes. Breezes is a mix of poetry, dialogue, nature, and full of human emotions. Breezes demonstrated a smooth tone, that kept you connected with and avoiding fatigue. It indicated topics in affection, nature and beauty. Multiple breezes of intimate romance, division and challenges in a relationship are intertwined in this short keeping. My top three chapters are: Deep Emotions, The Years Pass, and The Impossible Deletion.

  58. BYRON DOSS

    The novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a book that I would defiantly recommend to anyone who likes love stories, poems or creative writing. The way that this novel is structured is sort of like a very lengthy poem. A poem that I enjoyed reading from start to finish. The novel contains 17 chapters, all of which are very interesting to the story. The whole book is written in stanzas which reminds me of a poem. I feel that since the novel is written this way, it gives it more metaphorical value to the overall story. This novel is essentially about a women siting on a bench who is overlooking a lake, hears a whisper of her college sweethearts voice, which leads them to reflect and reminisce about their past along with trying to piece together how they first met. So being that the novel is written as a poem, could be interpreted as the best means of communication for the main character to tell her story which in strongly upholds the values and sacredness of love, loyalty and family ethics. Poems are the best type of creative writing template for those exact topics.
    After reading this novel it is quite clear that love is the main theme that drives this novel. AlDoueiri does a great job going chapter to chapter, telling us the love story of this couple who are now much older. I feel that this is a very relatable novel because it is a subject that many of us either want to learn more about or already know about. From this novel, we can find out what it is like to find the love of your life at a young age, lose them due to inexperience and just life obstacles. That lead us to wonder if that person will ever come back into your life. This novel expresses just that because in this story, she hears her past lovers “whisper” and begins reflecting. At times that is all it takes to remember about the person you were once madly in love with, a whisper, a song, a certain restaurant, street name, there’s always something that will bring you back to your first true love.
    One thing that I really liked about this novel was this phrase, “And a dialogue that stayed repressed…transported only by thoughts…not by speech” (pg 32). The phrase stood out to me because it helps set the tone of the overall story by letting the audience know that this story has dialogue but it isn’t moved by speech by merely thoughts. This makes a lot of sense because the story is about a woman reminiscing and reflecting on her past relationship. So the only way to talk about the past is to awaken suppressed memories, these are thoughts are essentially what bring out past to life. She might remember a certain conversation that she had with her lover, that doesn’t mean that she is speaking directly to him. Another aspect of the novel that I found interesting was the chapter titles. It seems as if each title is certain memory that she brings back to life. From her first trip with her lover, to her contemplating whether being in a happy relationship will last, to her separation, to where she reencountered him and to finally believing that her love for him will last forever. I believe that the last chapter of this book seems to have the most significance to the over ally theme of the sacredness of love and loyalty. Throughout the novel you can tell that the two had trouble with communication. Although everything else was great, they couldn’t seem to be on the same level in terms of communication. Communication is one of the key components to having a long lasting relationship, which is probably what lead to her losing her lover. It seems not until she begins reflecting on their relationship, is that she finds a way of communicating, through memories.
    Overall, I feel that AlDoueiri’s translation of this story is amazing. This is defiantly a book that I would recommend to someone who wants to begin learning about Arabic literature. This novel shows us how much they value their culture. Every story, novel, poem that I have read from Arabic literature has left me mesmerized. I never knew that a culture that is seen so negative could have literature that is rich is creativity and expression of culture. I feel that this novel gave me a better understanding of Arabic literature. Every chapter that I read just kept me wanting to read more. The fact that it was written like a poem makes it an easy read. Not only that, but I also felt that this novel embodies the themes of values and sacredness of love, loyalty and family ethics very well.

  59. To love someone – one of life’s most important journeys – is what Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri, Ph.D. expresses in her book Breezes. This book is a parallel text in Arabic and English with translations by Mouna Mana, Ph.D. Dr. Doueiri is an accomplished lawyer, educator and community activist who has made a career out of advocating for basic human rights. Although, she is well-known for her published books and articles on legal and social topics, this book departs from her usual fare in that it is very emotional and poetic. Far from her focus on human rights, this book focuses on a courtship taking place within the boundaries of Arabic culture in the Islamic World.
    In Breezes, Dr. Al Doueiri reveals her deepest feelings through poetic inner dialogue during their first encounter, after their courtship begins and toward the end of the book she evokes her feelings of being with the same man in retirement. Through various poems written throughout her relationship, she helps the reader imagine what it must be like to love someone and grow old with them. While the inner dialogue is entertaining for the reader it does not match up with reality. Most people, who have thoughts about different things, don’t usually use abstract thinking and describe the world around them. I would think that if anyone were to do this, society would consider them insane. Dr. Doueiri, however, is able to pull it off in the book to create an emotive work of art.
    In the beginning, her poem “Deep Emotions,” draws the reader into the beginning of a love story by comparing rowboats on a river in the moonlight to future lovers on a first date, the happiness of ducks and other animals alongside a river to the emotions of falling in love but fearing rejection, and then describing the emotions that one feels when trying to feel out whether the other person is as into you as you are into them, saying a lot through body language and gestures while not saying anything at all with the mouth. Unfortunately, the waiter interrupting her inner thoughts was captured in the Arabic version but the mistranslation of the Arabic word for waiter (nadl) into water through a typo made this part of the poem lose its luster for those who don’t read Arabic.
    Toward the middle of the relationship, the poem “Will my Happiness Last” hints at possible infidelity by the man based on testimony from another woman. She then goes through a series of questions of why he chose to be unfaithful and most of those questions dealt with her appearance and not being enough for him and finally, her decision to leave him. The next poem “The Separation” discusses the feelings she has after she decides to leave aka “boycott” their love and he agrees to separate from her. She discusses how the separation was painful and did not allow the pain of longing for him to go away. She second guesses her decision to leave him and decides that they will be together again one day but does not make any overtures toward fulfilling that dream.
    The second to the last poem “Overcoming Oneself” brings them back together in their old age. Finally, she sums up the whole relationship with her poem “Until the End of a Lifetime.” Through describing a scene with a man and a woman sitting next to each other in silence, she leaves the reader with the impression that this was a lifelong love that other than the interruption based on hearsay, never ended.
    There are two main influences that Dr. Al Doueiri drew from to write this book: the feminist poet Nizar Qabbani, the Q’uran and French Proverbs. In the poem “Impossible Deletion,” she discusses the cultural practice of hiding emotions through silence by quoting Nizar Qabbani, “How often does a female show non-inclination while the burning heat of passion dwells inside her?”(Al Doueiri, 162) In addition, during “The Separation” where she is questioning her reliance on the word of another woman regarding the man’s infidelity, she quotes a French proverb which says, “Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait” (If only youth knew, and if only age were able). (Al Doueiri, 96) Dr. Al Doueiri focuses on the story of unrequited love within the Arabic culture and her reliance on Islam to get her through the emotional turmoil from loving, losing the same love and then regaining that love again.
    In conclusion, Breezes, aptly named in comparison with love since loving someone and having them love you back can be a mild, easygoing breeze or it could be a strong gusty breeze with turbulence but either way, it is something that fluctuates and could be never ending. Dr. Al Doueiri takes the reader through a rocky courtship that through trials and tribulations and strong emotional issues, ends on a good note as the love continues to burn bright into their future.

  60. In the novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueriri, translated by Mouna Mana we come across two characters who define the essence of true love. The author establishes this concept by adding a poetic feel to the story. The novel begins with both a man and a woman on a date. These two love birds did not just meet each other but were actually in a relationship in high school. Although, the author goes on to further explain what led them to the date in the first place. The reasoning for it defines the true meaning of kismet. On the date the two characters couldn’t find the words to express how they were feeling, both nervous as if they were both strangers, the woman almost didn’t even recognize him, yet at that same dinner table they realized the similarities and likeness they still acquired for each other. Through this setting, the author explains why the women almost didn’t recognize the man, it was because of their elongated separation. After the man left the women because of academic difficulties the women couldn’t chase after him due to family funds and her schooling. Their separation left her heartbroken, in a place where the memories she had with him still dwelled. Although she couldn’t chase after him it was evident that she truly never stopped loving him. As the years went on and days came to nights the author makes it known that both characters never stopped loving each other. The author expresses how the women and the man didn’t prominently move on. It must be difficult to separate from a person you truly love and then wonder if the person even loved you at all. This was one of the many struggles the character had faced throughout the novel. Unfortunately, there are also times when love emanates, insecurities, self-doubt, and pain, but it’s good to know through those trials and tribulations love has no bounds. Which is what the author meant by the title Breezes, the yearning to stop feeling pain and hope that two people in love can one day reunite again, “onto the ocean breeze which would carry it to you along with my longing and hope.” In this novel, the author demonstrates what many people go through when they’re in love when the person they love dearly has to move away. Through a first person point of view, the author connects these experiences to create a very fulfilling piece of literature. As she symbolizes “Breezes” something natural in nature to also mean emotion, hope, dreams, and happiness. Although this novel was translated from Arabic to English there was never a disconnection between the reader and the author. Therefore, this novel would be really enjoyable for readers who appreciate romanticism in literature and poetry. The author never stops conveying insight and imagery to the reader, it almost makes it feel like you are in the characters place. Both characters were sought to be afraid to express how they really felt towards each other. The woman in the story was more afraid of being hurt and betrayed. While the man was mainly afraid of what people thought of him. In a sense, we could see the similarities and differences the couple had towards each other. The author made it clear that despite the differences these two characters had they still loved each other; although these same insecurities affected their relationship. There were many times in the novel when both characters let what people said or did affect the outcome of the story. The author makes communication a huge theme in the novel. The characters never communicated with one another, instead they buried their feelings deep inside them. Which brings me to the way in which the author uses the characters sorrows to express how the characters felt towards one another. Since the two characters never expressed how they felt it left them both hurt and broken. The author did an excellent job with connecting the feelings and emotions the characters had with love. Although love is not pain or hurt, the author makes a disconnection between what love truly is and is not. The author didn’t attain much dialog in the novel, but she didn’t need it, in order to make a very relatable piece of literature. This novel will be very heartfelt towards readers who have been through a heartbreak, due to that heartbreak and pain there was a moment of love and happiness. This novel came to show me that if love is truly meant to be love will conqueror all. Despite the challenges and difficulties loving someone brings just like in the novel. If you’re willing to give your all to someone else the challenges faced will not mean anything compared to loving and being united with someone who means so much more.

  61. Angelica Layones
    When I first came upon reading a few pages of the book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri, I kind of got confused on what the author is trying to say. It was the mixtures of emotions that I could not decipher even though the translated text was there for those who do not read Arabic. I already knew the theme was love because of the hint of words in the book. The story goes from young to teenage years to mid ages to the most recent, as they grow old. By they, I meant the two people who fell in love. The story happens to be like any love story out there depicted in other books or movies but something in the story that Aldoueiri wrote made it really different from other love stories. The book goes all over the place and it reminds me of a book I just finished reading for my English class. Aldoueiri basically wrote the book in a matter of smoothness in the beginning but going towards the middle parts of the book, it turns into some wild goose chase all over the book and the end is like the beginning goes back to being in the flow. Once you get to the end of the book, it will all make sense. I honestly had to read twice from some parts to finally understand and make sense of it. In cultural aspects it was different. Those people who fell in love with each other cannot be changed because love is love. Love is unique, sensual, and mixture of emotions. Not anything can change love. Aldoueiri wrote an excellent love story of being together, separation, and reunion. How the couple in the story expressed their love for each other was like in poetic terms and it was really beautiful. The story for them is their love poetry letter. There are times in the book that they gave up on each other and suddenly some time later they get reunited and that spark comes back. The reason for their separation was of rumors and gossip about them that made them feel really uncertain about being together. The part about the book that got me somehow related to how they were feeling was when the man shut down the woman. I felt like it was a sign of saying, “I’m so sorry but I am not ready to face you, I am not ready to love you again.” It made me tear up in that part because of personal relationships in the past. The woman had past relationships and I can relate to her in some way. There is a saying that something will eventually bring you back to the one you loved the most. It is most likely happening to the woman. The last chapter of the book was really surprising and overall the theme of the book as well as the explanation of miscommunication with each other. I know that the man truly loved that woman, and the woman truly loved that man. I really love reading books with romance in it especially this one. It was captivating, very moving to your heart. It surely moved my heart and made me cry. Aldoueiri used a lot of metaphors, similes, analogies, and others defining his own meaning of love and life in his way. Love has its ups and downs, tragic events, and even misunderstandings of each other, but it’s something nobody can ever fix perfectly. Love is just a flaw when it comes to two people and it is universal. As for the couple in the story, their love sparked again and continued their journey together. If you love reading romance stories with a bit of flaws about love, trials that happens within a relationship, and somehow relating to the story, this is a perfect book I would recommend reading. I got to see some of the Arabic culture into this book and really loved it despite the confusion of the book going all over the places.

  62. The book ‘Breezes’ by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was a very interesting, although sometimes a little confusing, novel. I say that it was a little confusing for me because I felt that it jumped around a lot and sometimes I found myself a little lost in what was happening and what was going on. The book is an Arabic book. What I liked about it was that it was also written in English as well as written in Arabic. I thought that was pretty cool because it does not just appeal to only one set of readers. Although it’s written in both languages it would be nice to know how to read the Arabic language because I feel like this would have made the book so much more intense. Since the book is translated I feel like things could get misinterpreted or said in different ways, but this may not be the way the author intended it to be. Either way, the story itself is very captivating. When reading the book, I felt like it was more like a poem than it was a novel. I think that Wafica wrote it this way because she wanted us, the readers, to feel many emotions toward it. I feel like poems are short but so powerful in their meaning and the flow that comes with it. You can feel what the author is feeling and I think that the author here wanted the readers to feel her emotions. The story is a love story. Much like any love story, the lovers have their ups and they have their downs. The author is not afraid to make the readers get a feel of what real love is which is something that I also really liked about this book. It lets you know that love isn’t always going to be rainbows and butterflies. There are stormy days as well as sunny ones. The book goes on to show the struggles that the two lovers face but something that is also very interesting, and another thing that I liked about this book, was how it was written. It is not just the author writing about a love story in third person like most novels are. It actually shows both sides to the love story. I think this was a really smart move by Wafica because this also helps the reader get more interested in the book. Instead of the story being just one sided and being from just one point of view, you see it from both sides. This is important because I feel like it helps you to relate to the story more. It helped me to feel a lot more emotion than I normally would have so I really liked and appreciated it. One thing that the two lovers had issues with were communication. Throughout the story we see both sides of them feeling a certain way about one another. They were both very scared of what the other person would think that it caused a lot of conflict between them. Instead of simply just talking about their feelings towards each other and just in general, they assumed certain things about one another. I think the author really wanted to show us here that communication is key to a successful relationship. The two lovers could have easily talked about their feelings way earlier and have not had as many issues as they did. That definitely made me think about my own personal life and how beneficial communicating all the time would be in my life. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book! I thought at first that I was not going to be interested in it and that reading it was going to be difficult but after really getting into it I felt myself getting very interested. I’m a very big fan of romance and love stories already so once I figured out this was a love story I was a lot more interested in the book. My favorite thing about it was seeing both sides to their story because I feel like often times love stories are just so one sided, and it can be really hard to know what is actually going on. After doing all the readings for this class I feel like Arab culture is so interesting and I would love to learn more about it. Reading about the struggles and the other literature that there is in that culture made me relate to it a lot more. I love how passionate it is! Mostly everything that I’ve read for this class was super intriguing but I feel like it also brought awareness to the struggles that this culture faces every single day. The news does not really portray much of what is happening in other countries so I was very happy to get a glimpse into Arab culture!

  63. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri’s book ‘Breezes’ is one very beautiful and well written story. It can be assumed that the main theme of the story is love and hope. Breezes is a very story that can be read at any time of the day. It is a story that is easy to understand and the reader does not need to be prepared to read it. It is a ‘pick up and read’ kind of story. Breezes is a story that inflicts emotions towards the reader and makes the reader feel how the protagonist is feeling. The story is not hard to understand, which is a really good thing as it keeps the reader hooked on to the book until the end.

    Breezes is a story written in the first person perspective. The reader gets to read through the perspective of the woman’s mind. She is the protagonist of the story. Her name is not disclosed in the book, and neither is the man’s. Anyways, the story is about two friends who come close. Their love story starts off in an awkward manner. They look into each others eyes, but are never able to talk or do anything else with each other. They know that they like each other but they are never able to express it, maybe due to the fear of rejection. The protagonist always thinks and dreams about her life with the man she loves. But then they are both separated since her lover goes to Egypt with some students. She was unable to say goodbye to him. However, that is not what this story is all about. Breezes is about the the thoughts of the protagonist. After her lover leaves, she still hangs on and keeps on imagining a future with him. She dreams of all the things they could do together. But after a while, she starts questioning her love for the man. She start thinking if loving this man was a good idea. She thinks if her love will last, given the circumstances they both, her and her lover are in. They aren’t even close together, and hence her thinking about her love dying for the man is not wrong. They both separate later and that totally breaks her heart. She now could not stop crying everyday. She keeps thinking about them together. But then they both meet after many many years, and then they realize that they both still love each other very much. It can be said that the ‘breezes’ of love and their hopes brought them back together as they were meant to be. Hence, the main theme of the story is love and hope.

    The story might seem cliche but the audience has to read the book to understand and experience the story. The way the author wrote this book is a completely different experience than the brief of the story written above. Waifica AlDoueri had written this story in a very detailed manner. The way she describes everything in the story is beautiful. She uses many metaphors and figure of speeches to explain the emotions the protagonist feels and experiences in the story. Also, since this story is written in first person perspective, the reader can really have a personal bond with the protagonist. Also, the author has knowledge and experience in human rights. This might mean that she is trying to convey a message that peace and harmony is possible no matter what the circumstances are. That might be the message she is trying to convey with this story.

    This is a book that can be enjoyed by anyone. The story is beautifully written and will make the reader feel good about reading the book. It never makes the reader feel stressed out like many other stories do. As said before, this book is an easy read. It is meant to be enjoyed. In the end, “Breezes”, is an amazing book riddled with emotions and romance. It is a gorgeous tale that will make the reader happy. The author has written the story in such a way that it makes the reader think about it even after the book is over. The story also makes the reader think how culture plays a role in this story. The character’s beliefs and culture is what shapes the events that occur in the story. The book is very easy to read and the story it finishes fairly quickly. But that is what makes this story so great. Had it been longer, many readers would have lost interest in the characters after a while. Stories of this genre should not be long as the events in the story may get repetitive. Breezes is a story that is perfect for the genre. Breezes is a book that is highly recommended to casual as well as active readers if they are interested in the ‘Love Story’ genre.

  64. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a very intriguing story of two people who fall deeply in love with each other. I felt that this book was very absorbing. It was easily able to grasp my attention because I always love a good love story. There are many other books and love stories that can be compared to this story because it had a common theme. Through thick and thin this couple continued to love eachother. Even though there were times where they thought they probably didn’t love each other because they weren’t together they still had so much love for one another. This story is about a young boy and girl who fall madly in love with each other. After being together for a while and almost seeming to be inseparable the girl leaves and they soon completely stop talking to each other. When they age and are both old they soon meet again. After meeting they look back on their old love and passion that they once shared together, and it was nothing but good times that they had and they end up together once again. The man in the story completely cherishes this women, it is almost unbelievable to think that they were able to live without each other for so many years from the love that they once shared at a young age. The title of this book is “Breezes” and I believe that it has a lot of significance to what the whole concept of the book was. The definition of breeze is to “come or go in a casual or lighthearted manner.” This foreshadows what the women in this story was to me because she left but in not in a abrupt or angry fashion but she left with a friendly and in an unconcerned manner because she knew that the love was still there with him but she knew there was no possible way that they could still say together. Although they knew that they loved each other, both of them knew what was best from them. When you love someone, sometimes it isn’t always healthy depending on the circumstances. Them being away each other didnt mean that it was going to impossible to stay together and continue to love each other but it just meant that it wasn’t the best way to go about the situation so they parted their ways knowing that they would still continue to love each other but just not be together. I really enjoyed how the author illustrated the book in such a way that it allowed the reader to comprehend what both people in the couple were thinking. I noticed that there was more of thoughts and feeling of the characters in the book then actual dialogue and that is something that i really like about the book. I was actually able to relate the women in a way because my thought process was somewhat similar to hers. I loved the way that the book had a poetic tone throughout the whole thing, I thought it added yet another beautiful asset to the book. Something that made me view this love story as being different is because they never had a sexual encounter yet still had so much love each other. They did not need that to define themselves because they knew that the love that they had for each other was enough. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers not only for the story line but also the way that the book was written as in the style of the way that it looked. It was written in Arabic and lso translated into english, and the way you read it isn’t like a normal book from right to left. I thought this was a very unique way to write the book and also the one of the first times that i have a read a book like this. Another very thing that i found very distinctive was the way that the two characters in the book were never named. There couldve been a numerous amount of reason why the author did this, but to me i thought it gave the book almost an element of curiosity to find out. Naming or not naming the characters would have not defined the book to me in any way because the journey of the characters and the story that they had was what really captivated me. Every single part of this book was great to me, I was able to understand what the characters felt at ease and I’ve always been the type to enjoy a good love story. Through everything this couple was able to never lose the love that they had for each other and I thought that was beautiful. It very rare when two people can still love each other after having to endure something like that but these two did. -Briana Owens:Arabic 290

  65. Kayla McKinley

    After reading the novel Breezes, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, I was completely speechless. This novel is simply amazing, meaningful and deep, and has you hooked from the first page to the very end. It is full of deep emotions such as love, yearning, and passion. AlDoueiri is a lawyer, educator and community activist who has lectured and conducted training workshops on human rights in over 30 countries across every continent. Through AlDoueiri’s descriptive language and structure of the novel, she exemplifies the power of pure and true love between a man and a woman.
    Breezes is about a man and a woman that meet as children in the school yard. Throughout their lives, they are brought back together and always thought about in each other’s minds. Now that they are both older and have grey hair, they are once more brought together in a nice restaurant to get reacquainted, sharing memories from their past. AlDoueiri divides the book into half Arabic and half English. This makes it easier for me to read and focus specifically on what the text says. AlDoueiri breaks the novel down even more by making the story into a collection of poems that tell the story out of order. Each poem presents a new memory that helps piece the previous and current memory into one big picture. Each of her poems are made up of similes, metaphors and personification to exemplify the deep emotions that the man and the woman have for each other. For example, on page 156, the man says, “And you continued on your road like a breeze on a hot night…” AlDoueiri uses this simile to exemplify how she passed right by him completely ignoring him, and how it upset him that she completely shut him out and didn’t take any notice of him. The novel starts out with the man and the woman sitting in a fancy restaurant, both too shy and scared to say anything or make any movements. The man keeps trying to reach his hand out for her hand but is too afraid of being rejected by her. As they slowly begin their small talk, they start to open up to each other. They recall back to their childhood, when they met each other on the playground. They recall that that is where they first shook hands, however she did not know that was what they were doing for a long time because he was shaking so much. This is where their love and passion started. The memories continue, jumping back and forth from child hood to adult hood, starting with her trip to Egypt to study with other students, the class trip to a snowy town where they held hands with her, wanting to put her hand on his chest, back to when they were children when he walked her home from school every day, her dressing up really nice and visiting his family’s house, and many more. The one of the most critical memories in this novel were when he made an attempt with her lady friend, in which she didn’t respond to him. This really hurt her and caused her to withdraw from him to help her spare her own pain. However, her withdrawal not only caused her pain, but him too. He bought prayer beads to help him through the pain of her leaving him and she cried over him, read verses from the Qur’an and prayed. They both yearned for each other. The second most critical memory was towards the end of the novel when she deleted his name and phone number from her notebook, so that she could hopefully delete everything about him, all the memories and the feelings and to suppress him. However, it did not last long because she found a picture of him and she wrote it back into her notebook, unable to keep him out of it. Her deletion of him reminds him of when he passed her in the square and she completely ignored him, which both really hurt him. Finally at the end of the novel, ended up in the retirement home together until they died. One theme in this novel that I have really noticed is love. The whole novel is about love between two people, but their different memories and dreams express their love and the purity and passion that never went away throughout their lives, but only grew stronger.
    AlDoueiri uses great structure and descriptive language to show the pure love and passion the man and woman have for each other. Over all, I really loved the novel! I thought that it was really deep and really spoke to me. I would definitely recommend this novel to others! It is a great read and AlDoueiri really knows how to speak to her readers!

  66. The novel, “Breezes”, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, consists of many poems that tells a meaningful love story between two individuals. It’s a story of heart break and passion. The nice thing about this novel is that it is written in Arabic on one side and has English translation on the other. It is also written in first person. At first, I was dreading to read the book because I don’t interpret poems that well. However, as I started reading it, I felt as if I was a part of it because it was written very intimately, which is also why it caught my interest.

    This love story starts off by describing a woman sitting by a lake. All of a sudden, she hears whispers of her college sweetheart. The two lovers finally encounter each other after many years of separation. The way they communicated was through their thoughts. They knew each other so well that they just let their minds speak for them. In each section, AlDoueiri writes in a unique way by being very detailed about the characters’ thoughts and actions. This caused me some confusion because their thoughts were connection so well that it seemed as if they were actually verbally communicating. As they communicated, the man would misunderstand the woman’s distance for rejection. This confused the woman, so she wondered why he was backing away. In her mind, she hoped for him to continue approaching her. She did not want him to think that she was no longer interested. However, she was too afraid to initiate how she felt. The author wrote in both the woman’s and man’s perspective and point of views. I was able to connect with both of the character’s feelings. As the story goes by, they start to talk about the stages of their relationship, the moments that they shared, and what happened over the years in their college life. And it all leads up to their current status and where their relationship stands now. They explain to each other how there were many factors in their relationship that caused issues to arise, such as family getting involved and the rumor that was spread about the man dating another girl during their relationship. This rumor was a huge factor and almost costed them their future. However, she came to figure out that the rumor was not true. The two lovers dealt with all their difficulties and went through obstacles, but still managed to care for each other by putting in effort.

    The difference between their love story and most teens these days is that the affection that they showed each other was limited due to their culture. They are forbidden from doing certain things with each other. And if they do, it would be done secretly. Many things would have to be kept from their both of their families. I know how this feels because I am Muslim myself and I am restricted from performing certain actions. For us, family does have an impact on our own relationships.

    Some of my favorite parts were “It was a picture that carved itself into my memory. Days couldn’t erase it and it will continue to be a never wilting rose blossom”, “You ask me why I withdrew fearing an inferno that would flare up deep inside of me. As a result of a betrayal that might emerge or appear from you” and “From a jealousy that would eliminate my sleep, and darken my daytime”. I think the title relates to the novel because the moments that the two lovers shared went by like a breeze. To me, each poem and section was a breeze. This well-written story can relate to many young adults in the modern world today. This novel can teach many people a lesson as well. I have never read a book with words so deep and that is what surprised me while reading it. The phrases have so much meaning behind it and makes the audience think and analyze. One of the many things I love about this novel is that it gives an image of reality when it comes to love and commitment. It is definitely different from your typical love story. It is likely that everyone will go through something similar to this at least once in their lives and this book assures us that is it okay to feel that way. The two lovers were brought back to each other, so it was destined and they were meant to be with each other. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone because it is worth the read and time. It can definitely be relatable. There is so much emotion throughout the novel. It makes the audience feel like they are living it. The author writes in such a way where we can feel what the two characters feel.

  67. Atoshi Khosru, Arabic 290-section 70
    The novel, “Breezes”, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, consists of many poems that tells a meaningful love story between two individuals. It’s a story of heart break and passion. The nice thing about this novel is that it is written in Arabic on one side and has English translation on the other. It is also written in first person. At first, I was dreading to read the book because I don’t interpret poems that well. However, as I started reading it, I felt as if I was a part of it because it was written very intimately, which is also why it caught my interest.

    This love story starts off by describing a woman sitting by a lake. All of a sudden, she hears whispers of her college sweetheart. The two lovers finally encounter each other after many years of separation. The way they communicated was through their thoughts. They knew each other so well that they just let their minds speak for them. In each section, AlDoueiri writes in a unique way by being very detailed about the characters’ thoughts and actions. This caused me some confusion because their thoughts were connection so well that it seemed as if they were actually verbally communicating. As they communicated, the man would misunderstand the woman’s distance for rejection. This confused the woman, so she wondered why he was backing away. In her mind, she hoped for him to continue approaching her. She did not want him to think that she was no longer interested. However, she was too afraid to initiate how she felt. The author wrote in both the woman’s and man’s perspective and point of views. I was able to connect with both of the character’s feelings. As the story goes by, they start to talk about the stages of their relationship, the moments that they shared, and what happened over the years in their college life. And it all leads up to their current status and where their relationship stands now. They explain to each other how there were many factors in their relationship that caused issues to arise, such as family getting involved and the rumor that was spread about the man dating another girl during their relationship. This rumor was a huge factor and almost costed them their future. However, she came to figure out that the rumor was not true. The two lovers dealt with all their difficulties and went through obstacles, but still managed to care for each other by putting in effort.

    The difference between their love story and most teens these days is that the affection that they showed each other was limited due to their culture. They are forbidden from doing certain things with each other. And if they do, it would be done secretly. Many things would have to be kept from their both of their families. I know how this feels because I am Muslim myself and I am restricted from performing certain actions. For us, family does have an impact on our own relationships.

    Some of my favorite parts were “It was a picture that carved itself into my memory. Days couldn’t erase it and it will continue to be a never wilting rose blossom”, “You ask me why I withdrew fearing an inferno that would flare up deep inside of me. As a result of a betrayal that might emerge or appear from you” and “From a jealousy that would eliminate my sleep, and darken my daytime”. I think the title relates to the novel because the moments that the two lovers shared went by like a breeze. To me, each poem and section was a breeze. This well-written story can relate to many young adults in the modern world today. This novel can teach many people a lesson as well. I have never read a book with words so deep and that is what surprised me while reading it. The phrases have so much meaning behind it and makes the audience think and analyze. One of the many things I love about this novel is that it gives an image of reality when it comes to love and commitment. It is definitely different from your typical love story. It is likely that everyone will go through something similar to this at least once in their lives and this book assures us that is it okay to feel that way. The two lovers were brought back to each other, so it was destined and they were meant to be with each other. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone because it is worth the read and time. It can definitely be relatable. There is so much emotion throughout the novel. It makes the audience feel like they are living it. The author writes in such a way where we can feel what the two characters feel.

  68. If AlDoueiri wanted to get one point across to the reader in her collection of poetry titled Breezes, it would be this, that love is a complex issue, that it is not simply penned, over, and dealt with. AlDoueiri deals with all angles of this difficult topic, from romantic relationships, to the heartbreak of breakups, boycotts of love even. The series of poems follows the love life of two people, never named. The set starts off with their passionate interaction, moves through the many trials that come with any committed relationship, and comes full circle with the two being strengthened, even resting in the love that they have, one for another. The passing of time plays a major role in the plot of this series of poems. Throughout the book we see the passing time strengthen the bond between the man and the woman in some areas, in others we see the loneliness and despair that comes with the passing of time. In the end, the love that they have for one another is the thing that assures their relationship.
    I thoroughly enjoyed AlDoueiri’s Breezes. It was a lot of fun to read and to put yourself in the situations of the two main characters, their thoughts and the scene soon became very real and captivating. AlDoueiri made it very easy to do so with such descriptive writing. Each line was colored with added detail to help in the process of becoming close with the characters. It was extremely easy to be so captivated by reading these poems. The thing I love most was the rawness of it all. I think our view on love has been so damaged and corrupted by the likes of Nicholas Sparks and others like him, we need more people out there like AlDoueiri. We need people who won’t just drum up some fairy tale story and pawn that off as reality, the reality of how love is and works. AlDoueiri accomplishes in his book the reality of love. The poems Will My Happiness Last and The Separation deal with this very thing. AlDoueiri deals with the heartache that comes from love. Mainly when the two characters are away from each other. “Was it true that emotions that find themselves a way to breathe melt or slim away with days…”
    One of the things that did throw me off quite a bit was the bouncing back and forth between what seems to be one of the lovers and their thoughts (I think that is what the asterisk throughout the book is signifying). AlDoueiri’s characters are constantly having this inner battle within themselves and its gets quite confusing. Several times AlDoueiri completes the characters thoughts in this fashion, which is hard to comprehend because it is all internal. The inner voice did help me to understand some of what was going on, and at times was even pretty funny.
    I did enjoy the fact that the characters were never named. I had never read a book where all the characters were never named. I believe this book pushed for the goal of projection. I think that AlDoueiri left character names out of this set for a reason. She wanted to let the reader project him / herself into the scenarios the characters had to go through. Having anonymous characters made it easy for me to step into their shoes. At points it bugged me because I would get lost as to who exactly was talking. But after looking into the tings said and the context, it became clearer.
    The commonality we have in how we think about love and relationships in the U.S. and how the Arab world views it was amazing. I could easily see an American writer penning many of the things in these poems. From other works we have read in my college Arabic class, I kind of had a bias that people from the Arab world thought about the emotions that come with love differently. With less emotion even. But, I was wrong, AlDoueiri’s Breezes is packed the last page with intense emotions, and real ones to boot.
    As for a recommendation, I would most definitely push to see this book read more. It was fascinating to say the least. AlDoueiri’s Breezes is a great read for anyone, but especially for the hopeless romantic, even the heartbroken. Be prepared to put a lot of effort into deciphering who is telling the story, either dialogue between the man and the woman, or their conscious’. This book also has a great linear plotline. It follows the story of two lovers, tested by both themselves and their surroundings to put their relationship on the line. I had a really good time getting involved with this book and putting myself in the characters’ shoes. I’m not usually into poetry at all, but I give this collection of poems 10/10. It accurately portrays love in its entirety, complex. Challenge yourself to see the tough side of love.

  69. Chad Nicholas Reyes
    Arabic 290 (section 70)
    004998340

    The book Breezes is not a typical love story you hear about every day. Breezes by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri is probably one of the best love stories I head/read about. This book is made of 17 chapters, of two people that fall in love, which can relate to different moments of love for each other, the desire for one another and the memories they had throughout their life. This book clearly shows who is speaking or thinking by having different text/font to distinguish from one another. This helps out a lot because, throughout the books they are explaining their thoughts or speaking in a conversation.
    By the title you cannot determine what “Breezes” is about. However, after reading a few pages of the first chapter “Deep Emotions,” you know it is of two people that are in love. As she is sitting by the water enjoying the view, she realizes that there is a man in the distance. Soon after she realized it was a man that was her long lost lover. They haven’t seen each other in years and everything started to come to her. They sat there awkwardly know knowing what to say; soon after they went to a restaurant where they got a bowl of soup. While they were sitting down, they didn’t know how to say or do. The guy eventually reaches out his hand to the girl, her not knowing what to do or to accept or reject him, she eventually reaches over and holds his hand. While this scene is happening, they feel all the years that they were separated, just washed away.
    To not spoil the book, the following chapters are memories that they had. Such as when the girl leaves on a trip to Egypt thinking she will never return. However she does many years later. The chapters after “Deep Emotions,” I feel, are events that happened previously of the meeting by the river. Each paper is a different stories when they were younger. While you are reading each paper, the narrator writes in first person, so you can read their thoughts and feelings throughout the book. There are other situations in the book that almost test their love. Like not wanting to gain a title of “husband and wife” or when she hears of a rumor. This “rumor” turns the story around. She heard that there was another women he was flirting with. This rumor got to her head, and she believed that he was unfaithful. After this they separate, she tries to forget about him by “deleting” him from her life but she can’t. She is Too in love to forget about him. After they separate for a few years, they do happen to run into each other, realizing they can’t get over one another. They love and feelings will forever stay the same. Eventually she send him a copy of a love story that they can relate possibly too, soon after he reads the book and ask meet up. She was shocked and didn’t know what to do. However they do meet face to face, spending the rest of their life together.
    Breezes by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri was a well written book that can have almost any reader relate. While reading this book, I realized how strong love can really be. No matter the distance, like going far away not knowing if they are coming back, rumors and road blocks.
    Breezes was many quotes that stand out. However, there was on quote that stood out and made me stop reading just made me think. The quote was “Of them are those who are truthful by nature, And those who are truthful for a goal of their own, And of them are liars who take pride in themselves and their capabilities, and of them are liars for a goal of hurting other,” when you think about it, everyone falls into one of these categories. This book can teach you so much more than just powers love and faith, but there are lines in this book that get you thinking.
    Even though this book might be a little challenging to read, if you take the time, you get to read a great story and learn about yourself in a way. If your love life is rocky or you don’t know where you stand in your love life, this book if for you! This book will make you a believer, sometimes distance and space is what you need in a relationship to realize that two people are perfect for each other. How do I know this? Well I seen this story happen In real life. My parents got back together after being separated for 15 years of separation. Both of them had their own happy lives but secretly always knew they loved each other. but me going into high school, they realized I needed a both parents in my life. So, this is a great book for anyone to read, very easy for people to relate to in many ways.

  70. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri’s book Breezes, translated by Dr. Mouna Mana is a great love story full of fantastic imagery and enticement. The story really draws in the reader by the explicit use of dialogue between the two characters. We begin the story by two people meeting after some time apart. They’ve always been in love with each other, yet have never quite found a way to express it to one another. This draws the reader in as something that is very relatable to our own hesitance and scattered thought process as we try to confess love in confidence without showing fear of rejection.
    A large portion of the story is about the two lovers looking back on their past and remembering how their love grew for each other until some incidence of betrayal occurred. This is where their connection fell apart and they stopped seeing each other, despite the constant urge to forgive, the many questions that were left unanswered, and the deep, authentic love that remained persistent throughout the years. Now that much time has past and they’ve grown older and wiser from experience. They’ve had time to reflect and both realized that the reason they were split was so childish and avoidable, however, they still seem unable to fully express how they feel for each other without reverting back to these past situations.
    All of these aspects of the story are just so real and arise from authentic feelings that everybody experiences as part of uncontrollable emotion. AlDoueiri succeeds in reaching our to the reader by writing about the conflicts that many people face in relationships. Betrayal, miscommunication, and finally coming of age and learning that true love is something that can never be forgotten.
    The story does end somewhat abruptly and leaves the reader with sort of a lack of closure. After all this time away from each other and finally confessing love for one another and clarifying all the times of miscommunication, one would expect something more than just a “goodbye” at the end of the story. But again, this is how AlDoueiri portrays real life and this lack of closure is something that could happen between two people with an overwhelming fear of rejection. This story surpasses any love fantasy or fairy tale, its very authentic and describes a situation that can happen every day to anybody.

  71. “Breezes,” the novel, written by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri reminds me of an old love story, The Notebook. In the beginning we meet two characters who are on a journey to finding one another. All though the characters do not have names, I feel that this only makes the situations in the stories more relatable. Interacting in silence as two hearts beat as one makes for a better bond; a connection.
    The characters in the book might not have names but it will remind you of an old love story about your parents, yourself, or maybe a novel/ movie you’ve read and seen. The characters of the book are relatable to any couples true love story. In the beginning two young souls meet and feel like the two of them can connect so they don’t even have to say anything to know what they are thinking. Their thoughts connected so well to the point where their thoughts intertwined and without saying a word they felt like they were living in each other’s world. As they began their journey into adulthood and became aware of things like jealousy, faithfulness and passion they began to question little details that were not brought up as a problem in the beginning. Suddenly those high school sweethearts fall apart and take separate roads to maturity. By doing so, true love never fails, and they meet again which they talk again, mostly by their thoughts.The characters of the book made me feel as if I was in the middle of their affections for each other. The author puts both the man in the woman into a vulnerable state which is likely to be ignored by the public. This book brought back emotions of when loving someone had failed and it hurt the thoughts of even once thinking of a person to be with.
    The past, future, and present infuse the book in a sense of you actually being there. The beginning of the book takes place by a river where present thoughts come to play. She is greeted by that familiar voice, that beating heart, the figure, those memories; him. The middle of the novel introduces the past before our eyes into people longing for love but are unable to maintain the emotions that surround them. She and he talk about thoughts of their past encounters and how they were never said a loud. The author allows the reader to narrate the thoughts and feelings of the characters before they speak out loud. We as readers are able to see the real world in forms of thoughts, doubts, and uncertainty that occurs in every relationship. Constant struggles are portrayed by not having said what needs to be said and keeping them as thoughts for the future.
    “Love conquers all” is a cliché theme that has ran though my head as each page turned and true feelings were exposed. The difference in all of us are what makes us human and what makes us want to love to complete our dissimilarities. The goal of him and her was to see if their love overcame those differences in circumstances that was not able to change. Where faith and fear were both at your side and enemy. When two people go separate ways but still, after many years, continue to have thoughts and feelings for one another. Not giving up of that one hope that he or he will still be there waiting for you in the end was worth holding on to. When reality takes a hold on you and you don’t know if you’ll still make it through but still progressing, hoping for that one future with your one true love, “until the end of a lifetime.”
    In my opinion this book was overall great. At parts of the book I had hoped that I would’ve understood the writings more thoroughly but in the instance that I didn’t, I did. Maybe not how other people would interpret the true meaning, but I made my own definition. This novel is very powerful in the sense of that you never want to stop reading. You want to find out what happens next, do they get together or not?
    My favorite chapters in the book include, until the end of a life time, will I have a clear answer, the impossible deletion and the years pass. My favorite quote from the book said, “I deleted your name and number from my notebook. Hoping to delete you from my existence, my dreams, and from being stuck to your ghost at all times of my life” (Wafica 150). This, and I’m sure some can relate, is the story of my high school life. I too have done this with my past relationships hoping it would help me deal with the fact that what we shared was no longer available; disconnected.
    I would definitely recommend this book to people who just want to have an easy, go-to book, for the non-romantics, the young and wild, and especially for those looking for a chance to hold on to hope I finding the one.

  72. Erika Sebastian – Arab 290 – Section 70
    “Breezes,” the novel, written by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri reminds me of an old love story, The Notebook. In the beginning we meet two characters who are on a journey to finding one another. All though the characters do not have names, I feel that this only makes the situations in the stories more relatable. Interacting in silence as two hearts beat as one makes for a better bond; a connection.
    The characters in the book might not have names but it will remind you of an old love story about your parents, yourself, or maybe a novel/ movie you’ve read and seen. The characters of the book are relatable to any couples true love story. In the beginning two young souls meet and feel like the two of them can connect so they don’t even have to say anything to know what they are thinking. Their thoughts connected so well to the point where their thoughts intertwined and without saying a word they felt like they were living in each other’s world. As they began their journey into adulthood and became aware of things like jealousy, faithfulness and passion they began to question little details that were not brought up as a problem in the beginning. Suddenly those high school sweethearts fall apart and take separate roads to maturity. By doing so, true love never fails, and they meet again which they talk again, mostly by their thoughts.The characters of the book made me feel as if I was in the middle of their affections for each other. The author puts both the man in the woman into a vulnerable state which is likely to be ignored by the public. This book brought back emotions of when loving someone had failed and it hurt the thoughts of even once thinking of a person to be with.
    The past, future, and present infuse the book in a sense of you actually being there. The beginning of the book takes place by a river where present thoughts come to play. She is greeted by that familiar voice, that beating heart, the figure, those memories; him. The middle of the novel introduces the past before our eyes into people longing for love but are unable to maintain the emotions that surround them. She and he talk about thoughts of their past encounters and how they were never said a loud. The author allows the reader to narrate the thoughts and feelings of the characters before they speak out loud. We as readers are able to see the real world in forms of thoughts, doubts, and uncertainty that occurs in every relationship. Constant struggles are portrayed by not having said what needs to be said and keeping them as thoughts for the future.
    “Love conquers all” is a cliché theme that has ran though my head as each page turned and true feelings were exposed. The difference in all of us are what makes us human and what makes us want to love to complete our dissimilarities. The goal of him and her was to see if their love overcame those differences in circumstances that was not able to change. Where faith and fear were both at your side and enemy. When two people go separate ways but still, after many years, continue to have thoughts and feelings for one another. Not giving up of that one hope that he or he will still be there waiting for you in the end was worth holding on to. When reality takes a hold on you and you don’t know if you’ll still make it through but still progressing, hoping for that one future with your one true love, “until the end of a lifetime.”
    In my opinion this book was overall great. At parts of the book I had hoped that I would’ve understood the writings more thoroughly but in the instance that I didn’t, I did. Maybe not how other people would interpret the true meaning, but I made my own definition. This novel is very powerful in the sense of that you never want to stop reading. You want to find out what happens next, do they get together or not?
    My favorite chapters in the book include, until the end of a life time, will I have a clear answer, the impossible deletion and the years pass. My favorite quote from the book said, “I deleted your name and number from my notebook. Hoping to delete you from my existence, my dreams, and from being stuck to your ghost at all times of my life” (Wafica 150). This, and I’m sure some can relate, is the story of my high school life. I too have done this with my past relationships hoping it would help me deal with the fact that what we shared was no longer available; disconnected.
    I would definitely recommend this book to people who just want to have an easy, go-to book, for the non-romantics, the young and wild, and especially for those looking for a chance to hold on to hope I finding the one.

  73. The novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a love story that is very poetic and full of imagery. At first the book was pretty hard to read given that it is written like a poem, the narrarating was also a little confusing because at times I didn’t know who was talking but once you actually get into it, it starts to come together. I enjoy reading love stories because I am a hopeless romantic in some ways. But what I really liked about this particular novel is that the relationship the two people had wasn’t perfect. The story was about these two people that fall in love when they are very young and they eventually get out of touch and their lives go on but they find eachother as time goes by and pick up right where they left off. They loved then lost then loved again then lost over a span of a lifetime. The biggest theme was obviously love and romance. Because love overcomes all things. And even though they did not end up together in the end, it still shows you that love endures in their hearts. The two lovers had a hard time communicating with one another which had a lot to do with why they didn’t work out. The woman hid her feelings from him and when it really counted it was too late. On the other hand, the man loved her so dearly and was more upfront about it. And in any relationship this is always a hard problem because communication is the main focus for it to work. They each love eachother so dearly but express it in different ways. I honestly do not know what true love is. Ive been in love before and I am right now, but I couldn’t say if its “true love” or not because I feel I havent an experience like this couple has. In this novel I believe what these two people have is true love because after so many years they still reminice and think of that one person that made them feel alive and have so many emotions for them. It’s beautiful to read the ways that they thought of eachother. “To graze the green the of the blessed earth And sip from its rivers and pure springs… Holding each of life’s hands… Holding your hands… And we would disappear into a dream we wove with the threads together” (page 124). The emotion and pure passion for each other is admirable. The book is a little repetitive because they are constantly going back and forth but I guess that’s the part that makes them soulmates because they never let each other go. It reminds me of that saying that says “If you love something let it go, if it comes back to you it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.” This is a hard thing to do in real life because you don’t know whether it’s the right thing to do to let someone go or not. And that’s what she deals with, to let go of your true love. This novel is so relatable because we all in our lifetime will be in love if we aren’t already, because not all relationships have happy endings. For reading this book for an Arab literature class I thought it was the best read we had. This book is originally written in Arabic and the translation was great because it was so full of imagery, sensory details and beautiful words. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves real love stories because you can feel what the characters are feeling. The credit definitely goes to the authors writing because she really reached deep down into her heart, which is so pure and real to portray two peoples love for eachother. While reading this book you will feel love and sadness and a lot of emotion, but that comes with the subject of a love story. I don’t know how anyone feels about reading translated books because poeople say that you lose a lot of the meaning when things are translated but I feel like that wasn’t a problem with this book. It also wasn’t very long so it was an easy read for the most part. After reading so much in this class, I really have come to appreciate Arabic culture because there is so many life lessons that I learned and I gained a better understanding of the people and lifestyle they live. Although we feel like we cannot relate to people that live half way across the world, they are just like us. They are human and go through the same things as we do. I am now able to say that I learned about another culture through their own words, through their stories of struggle and sacrifice, and now love.

  74. Juan Rodriguez Arab 290

    It was a great and wonderful surprise to see that they kept the traditional way of reading and writing Arabic from right to left on this novel. My Arabic language book Ahlan Wa Sahlan uses the same format and I think it helps to keep the story within its heritage and setting. If I have learned anything in my studies and experiences with Islam and Arabic culture, it is that it they revolve around one similar idea of love. This book embodies that idea. It develops this theme so well that the reader can empathize the hope and “real love” that the main character portrays. It is a very simple read but really draws the reader in with a sincere appeal to emotion. The characters are very relatable and embody the story of true and everlasting love that it meant to be. It reminded me of a sort of fairy tale happy ending story, but without all the magic. The magic came from the realization that she would always love him and that if it was meant to be then it would be. That is exactly what happened. When meeting years later after being separated, they realized that they still loved each other. The protagonist has to overcome her own struggles within herself about how she feels about the man.
    The book was very beautiful and very moving. I like how easy it is to relate to it. Like how at the beginning of their relationship they cannot seem to find a way to tell each other how they feel. They both like each other, but either through fear or shyness or because of their friendship, they were deadlocked in want. Given their current situation, the girl continues to dream about her life with the man. How they would be together. How happy their life would be. The book uses many beautiful metaphors and imagery to depict the story between the two soulmates. The author employs the use of memories between the two characters to show the road that led to where they are now. From thinking she would never return to Egypt to then coming back years later. Separation and rejoining later on.
    It makes you really believe in soul mates or something of the sort. That some people are just meant for one another. Like a lock and key that only fit with one another and need to find each other no matter the distance that needs to be traveled or the hurdles that have to be jumped. The attraction is there and the love is strong enough to bring them together. It’s a really magical story that you would think only happens in books and movies, but the sort of raw grit that the author uses bring it down to Earth and makes the idea more tangible and credible. The only thing that may make this book challenging to read is that it does not go from left to right, it starts at the back instead of the front, and it does not have a traditional chapter sense. Instead it uses a compilation of memories and stories to tell a story of a journey of never ending love that surpassed everything that was thrown at it. He tells these stories through a series of poems, 17 I believe, but they all go with one another. It’s not just a collection of different poems. It is like one breathes life into the next one and the next one and the next one, where each poems adds itself to the last one resulting in a grand story at the end.
    I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any reader willing to go through a magical journey of ups and downs, twists and turns, laughs, and cries. This book will hook you and keep you wanting to get to the end.

  75. My initial impression of Breezes was that it was confusing. I wasn’t sure whether the separate poems where about different people but still pertaining to love. I just wasn’t used to reading a book that uses separate small pieces of work to collectively tell a story. There are 17 different poems that tell the story of two people that share very strong feelings for each other but struggle to completely embrace it. It is as though each poem addresses a different aspect of relationships of love. While some deal with separation, others deal with reuniting together. Some also are set around different interactions between the two lovers. It also is very different in the way it changes between multiple perspectives. It varies from the guy, the girl, and a third person narrator. It does this quite rapidly as well, giving a very deep reading experience. To me, it does at times feel stagnant in the development of an actual plot however. It emphasizes every little detail about how the characters feel and doubles them with a huge variety of metaphors and imagery. It is a book that is very expressive and dense with pathos. I do feel this is appropriate, as it is in the form of poetry and also focuses on the topic of love, but for me personally, it is something that would take multiple read through to fully appreciate. I am biased however, as romantic poetry just isn’t a genre that I enjoy spending time on. If you like knowing inside and out how someone feels on the inside and the thought process that they go through when in a very passionate state of love, than this is an excellent work to read.
    As you read, you see both of the characters thoughts develop and even react to one another, simultaneously. You quickly see that AlDoueiri is very in touch with her emotions. She uses many different metaphors to describe her emotions and how she views certain feelings in her life. The ocean is one that she uses multiple times. Its vastness represents the distance between the two lovers. However, it still holds the same water, representing the never ending connection between them. It seems easier for AlDoueiri to express her true feelings through her poetry than by just saying what her feelings are. The ways she compares love to real world objects and scenarios is very interesting and even a little hard for the reader to follow at times unless they themselves are a very passionate romantic. I, for instance found the drawn out use of metaphors and constant self-reflection of inner feelings quite tedious to read through. At least with love, I feel that emotions and actions should maintain a certain level of spontaneity. It is something that should feel natural and happen with less thought. What you get when you think about love to a certain level complexity and depth, is a situation where you get locked up by your own fears and hypothetical situations that have been created from within. This is something I deal with in my own life, and if anything, it is the strongest message I got out of this story. When you constantly rip something apart and piece it together again in your head in order to understand it, you run the risk of developing a great sense of hesitancy when it comes time to approach it in the real world. The book starts with a quiet meeting filled densely with inner thought by both characters. Their heads are running like crazy wondering ‘what if’ and questioning everything, while on the outside nothing is developing. Then by the end of the book we make a full circle with another quiet encounter wanting to explode with true feelings. I think another theme that can be observed in the story is just the sheer strength of love and how even through the difficulty of fully expressing themselves as well as their time apart, the two characters have held the same feelings their entire life. She again uses the ocean when is referring to the man’s goodbye where it states, “Onto the ocean breeze which would carry it to you along with my longing and hope.” Overall the theme that encompasses the more specific one dealing with just being able to tell the person you love how you feel. In fact I think the clash between the two ideas is what gives the story its effect. They are gripped by an incredible feeling that consumes all of their thoughts, yet there is always that uncertainty of what will come of the relationship. Overall, I think this a very well written book and an excellent example of poetry. But I do feel that it is a tedious read if you are not someone into very gushy romantic poetry.
    Dakota Daugherty

  76. I read Breezes as part of a class assignment and I have to say that it was truly one of the most memorable novels I’ve ever read. I have never read a novel that was in a poem form but it was originally in Arabic so I guess I can understand it. I know that most Arab poems tell legendary stories and epics but it isn’t quite as often in the English language. The author AlDoueiri has quite an impressive background. She is a lawyer and an educator which assists her in being a community activist. Her words in Breezes just speak volumes about human emotions and human relationships. She tells the story of how a man and woman can truly devote one another to each other.
    The story follows the lives of one man and one woman. They have known each other since they met each other in a school playground and it sets off a lifelong friendship and they come across each other throughout their lives. It eventually follows them as they reach their senior years and they meet up in a restaurant where they discuss their lives and share their experiences and memories.
    The story is arranged in quite a unique format. The man and woman meet in a nice restaurant but interestingly they are too shy to speak to each other. It helps add to the fact that even though they truly love each other, they can still act like schoolyard children around each other. Eventually they start making light conversation and it leads to them sharing their memories with each other. Each experience is told in the form of a poem. Each poem tells the story of one of their memories and each one helps put together their life as a whole. Each one just helps us understand the love and mutual admiration they have for each other. No matter what obstacles were put in their lives. Each one of them have lived very different lives from the other. They discuss the travel to a snowy town and that is where theyt held hands together. She wanted so much to put her hands on his big, broad, hairy chest. She discusses her trip to Egypt to study with other students. When they were children he would walk her home from school every day, like many other young boys do when they’re head over heels for the pretty girl. She also would dress up nicely and visit with his family.
    One of the most important memories that occurred was when he tried to make the moves on her lady friend. This was a critical time because it made it clear that he wasn’t interested in her, even though he was. He was rejected and he was humiliated. It was quite heart wrenching to see. I really wanted it to work out between the two of them.
    Both of these characters were very likable. I enjoyed watching her piece all of their memories together to solidify how they feel about each other. At the end of the day, they really do care for one another.
    I don’t want to give too much away because I think the story needs to be read to understand, but that is life.

  77. The story “Breezes” written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a series of poems entailing the powerful story between two lovers. Wafica does this in a very interesting way. Wafica breaks their love story down into poems, each poem tells a section of their complicated story. In each poem I noticed the different styles of writing and how it indicated the different thoughts between the guy and the girl. I found this to be very interesting because I have never read any other work of writing like this. Breezes also contains a lot of bright and vibrant language. Right from the start in “Deep Emotions” Wafica uses plenty of descriptive language. Through metaphors, personification, and imagery Wafica makes the reader feel as though they are actually with the two lovers.
    The structure of Breezes was most interesting to me. Its broken up into two sections with the native Arab language on one side, and the translated English language on the other. I liked this because it reminded me that this story was written by someone who doesn’t speak the same language I do, but that ideas are universal, and much like love ideas have no barriers. Wafica breaks it down into 17 different poems each taking place in a different period of the lovers lives. The story of the two lovers begins when they are younger. Throughout their lives the lovers get separated a few times but in the end the lovers are reunited when they are older and retired. The one thing I noticed throughout it all is that even through each of their lives, the fact that they grow older their lover for one another never dies out, and stays consistent from their younger years up until they retire together. Another thing to notice about the structure is how the thoughts and actions of each of the lovers as well as narrated actions are each written in a different style. I appreciate how Wafica does this. It allows for the reader to see and nitpick at every single detail of how the lovers feel for each other moment by moment.
    The language Wafica chose to use in “Breezes” is extraordinary, the entire book is riddled with personification, metaphors, and imagery by using such vibrant language, Wafica not only tells a story but paints a picture in the readers mind. Wafica gives plenty of detail in each and every one of these poems and never fails to portray the setting of where the lovers are, or the actions happening between them. You can see this right from the beginning up until the very end. The reader never has to question where the lovers are or how they are feeling because the author does a beautiful job in explaining each. At particular times I felt that the language could have an overwhelming amount of detail, but the majority of the time the language was delightful to read.
    The main theme of “Breezes” is love, and through reading this book the audience will see that its much more than a childish thought when two kids like each other. In “Breezes” love is shown as the longing to be with your lover. Love is shown as something that cannot be shaken or disrupted, but something that is infinite. No matter how far apart they were from each other or how old each of them had gotten their love for each other never died down. Plenty of people have false ideas of what love really is and Breezes definitely does a great job in showing that love is not just a word you throw around. Its about being committed whole heartedly to someone.
    Overall I enjoyed “Breezes” it was a great reading. It was a breath of fresh air to see this new style of writing and storytelling which I have never seen before. The combination of language and structure makes this book unique in every way. Wafica did a superb job in capturing me initially, but the one problem which I found with this book was that it failed to captivate me entirely. Although the language, and story seemed interesting at first it seemed very repetitive, and in the end I found that “Breezes” greatest strengths also became its weakness. Wafica’s amazing use of personification, and metaphors most definitely was “Breezes” strong suit. But eventually I grew tired of having to read into every other line. This caused me to lose a lot of interest in what was happening toward the end of the book. I found myself having to continuously go back a reread in order to make sense of what was happening in the story. This book shows just how creative and innovative the Arab culture is. I’ve never read another book that combines structure and language in such a way.

  78. Breezes by Wafica AlDoueiri and translated by Mouna Mana, is a book mainly about love. This book was assigned for me but I am very happy it was because it was really sweet, interesting, and thoughtful. I am not a big fan of reading and usually when I am assigned to read a certain book I automatically hate it just because I hate reading. Which makes me hate the book because I didn’t want to read it in the first place. But this book was different. Throughout this story it is very apparent that love is huge part of what this book is based on. Like the way the book is written because the journey of these two main characters in the book is told through various poems. The poems are written in a simple but very thoughtful way. This was really helpful for me because I always have trouble comprehending poems and trying to figure out what they really mean. I thought it was very interesting how you start reading from what is considered the back of the book in America. I also like how the Arabic is not taking out of the book like most translations do. I also really like the fact that the book was written like a poem instead of just stories being told. It allowed for more vivid imagery while reading.
    The book takes you through the lives of two people who are instantly in love with each other but do not show each other their love right away. The structure and design of this books take you through the journey of their love kind of from the time they realize they love each other even though it shows them when they meet up again. It is kind of hard to describe but the book starts out with the two main characters which is a male and a female running into each other for the first time in a while. At this point they had already loved each other. But from the way the story is told the author is able to show you how they were before they lost connection with each other. Something I found interesting is how even though they continue to lose connection with each other and they know that it is hard to stay together they still love each other. I in a way could imagine people getting a little bored with this book because it becomes a little predictable. Just because of the simple fact that you know they are in some way going to rekindle their love. But I did like that every time they met again wasn’t just a simple “Hi, I still love you” kind of situation. You could tell that there was passion in their relationship and the struggles and emotion were very clear. For example there is one part of the story that the man is hurt because there is a point in time where he feels ignored by the girl when he sees her again. This book made me think about myself and if I was in their situation and I feel like I would have just gave up on loving him. So that’s another great thing about this book. You get to see what they go through to not give up and to almost give up and it shows how strong their love is. This book doesn’t have a lot to dislike but if I had to choose something it would be that the characters don’t have names. The only reason I do not like this is because I feel that it is easier to relate to a character when you know their names.
    After reading this book it has to be one of my favorites now. Not only because I love romance and a good love story that shows the strength of peoples love, but also because of the structure like I stated above. The author uses sentences like, “My visits to all the places I went to meant nothing to me. The image of you overshadowed the most stunning nature canvases.”(Page 120). The author uses a lot more vivid discerptions like that one to show how strong their love is. The poems just make it so much easier to read and feel. Something else good about this book is that it doesn’t make the characters seem perfect like Disney movie. In a way it does have a happily ever after but not to the point where it isn’t able to happen to someone in real life. I also like the metaphors and similes this author uses. As a person who sometimes has comprehending rhetorical figures of speech I actually appreciated the ones this author used because it was easier to feel what the story was about with these strategies in there. I think the author ended the story beautifully and thoughtfully. Even though this book was an assigned read I would still recommend it to people. Overall this is a great book and I would read it time and time again.

  79. When reading Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, one can see that the main topic of this short story is love. Love is an inevitable emotion that we cannot control. This book is translated from Arabic to English. In this story, AlDoueiri talks about two people of age that have been through ups and downs and through happiness and many obstacles. Two lovers meet up later in life after not seeing each other for many years. While reading this story, the reader can get the perspective of both the man and the woman and their feelings towards each other, The story reminiscence the different time periods the two main characters went through, from their youth, middle age, and old age (which is where the setting of the book is at presently). Although the story is about how they are old and finally get together, one must pay careful attention while reading it because it does jump back and forth from time period and from perspective. It was a little confusing for me at first but it gets clearer to understand who is talking and what time it is.
    Throughout the book, one can get to know how the characters truly feel about each other. We, as the audience, know how they feel but because of these feelings for each other they do not tell the other person after many opportunities for them to do so. Neither of them takes the initiative of confessing their feeling due to the fear of rejection. Like most of us, we have all had a love at least once in our life that we were once afraid to tell them our feeling for them and that is what I believe AlDoueiri does a great job at portraying with these two characters. In the many opportunities presented to them, they do not take advantage or the step to answer the “what if” question we have all contemplated. Since none of them take the risk, the boy decides to move on from her and start in new life. When I read the girl’s narration, it seemed like she did not want the guy to ever find out how she feels about him ever. She would always try to hide her true feelings from him until she realized that he was moving on that she knows she must tell him the truth. Although she has this urge to tell him once she found she feels she has no right to tell him. Just because she was hurt by the news, she felt she lost the chance to tell him and she did not want to destroy his happiness. The guy’s narration, to me, seems to fully love her like no other. His love for her seems to burst out but he has to hold it in and control it. I felt that he loved her so much that the reason for why he did not tell her was that he was terrified of being rejected by her. We are always scared of taking the first step all because we are not used to rejection and we view it as a bad thing.
    Breezes to me showed me that we all do have a true life and that destiny plays a big role in this. Before reading this story, I saw that people would fall in and out of love and where happy one minute and unhappy the next. I never really had an example of real and pure love. Once I finished the story, I realized that this can happen. I like the way AlDoueiri puts the characters in many realistic and possible situation that can happen to anyone really. I did not think this would be the topic of the story by the title, but once you read it you can understand that it is a metaphor for love, a breeze can be calm and than and can change in any second. I really liked how the last page ends with them being together after so many obstacles and being calm and confortable. This book has taught me to not be afraid of what life has to offer to us. To take risks even if we are afraid of what the out come can or cannot be. We must not live life asking the “what if” question throughout our whole lives. We must take the first step, be a risk taker and see what our destinies are. We can not hold back our emotions because that is was makes us, us. I would recommend this book to anyone who is afraid of taking chances, to the person looking for love, the person who is afraid or does not believe in love. To anyone who wants to see how with time everything eventually gets set into the right harmony. I really enjoyed reading this book.

  80. When I first started reading “Breezes” by Mouna Mana, I was confused because there were so many things happening all at once and I was wondering where this book was going. I am not going to lie, but the book had me confused for a while until I realized that this book is about two people and their love for each other. I also liked how the book was translated on one side so people who don’t know how to read Arabic language can read this book. I started to get the idea of the book towards the end, but when looking back at what has been read, you realize the true meaning behind it all, which is love. Within this book, there are 10 short stories. They may be short, but they seem like long stories when reading them because there are a lot of things that you have to think about when reading this book. “Breezes” is filled with tons of emotions and feelings and I feel like this book illustrates how to express them. I also feel like this book shows how much love the man has for the woman and how much love the woman has for the man. When looking at all these stories that Mouna wrote, we also realize that she is trying to get the idea of wanting to be you and learn how to not hold back and feel free to express them. She also uses her own emotions to express how she feels with nature. I really did like this book because when actually reading it, I also realize how I can better myself by expressing my emotions to certain people, to better the relationships I have with my friends and family. I feel like I can relate myself to the short story “Deep Emotions”. It is the very first chapter or story that the reader will encounter. Within this chapter, Mouna first expressed her emotions through fate. She talks about how fate chooses whether or not two people will be together for the rest of their lives or not. I think about fate everyday, I don’t know why but I do. I think fate is something dangerous and scary. It is scary to imagine what the future holds for you and only fate can decide where you go. But it is also in your own hands as an individual to decide where you want to go in life. Another chapter that I can relate to is “Overcome Oneself”. That chapter illustrates how the woman receives a call from the man and he asks her if they can meet up. When hearing his voice, she suddenly stops and wonders. Her heart is racing and she doesn’t know what to say. I’m pretty that has happened to all of us before, let’s be honest. To hear the voice of that person you have feelings for is heartwarming and then they want to meet up with you so they can see you in person just has you all over the place and that is why I think that this book is shaped in a way where love isn’t easy. This book gives the reader an idea of how love is because the relationship that the man and woman have in this book are random at times and that is exactly how love is. Love is random, it has its times where it might not be found and if it is not there then leave it, if it wasn’t meant to be then it wasn’t. Throughout the book, you can clearly see how strong their love for each other is. The man and woman never really met, until the end, but before they met, they knew that they were both meant for each other and they really were. That is another thing I enjoyed while reading this book. You are able to see how weird it is for two people to love each other without ever seeing each other in person, but in a good way. For me, I do enjoy reading romantic books and watching romantic movies because love is something that I cherish and hopefully be able to cherish it with that one special person in the future. Another thing that really caught my attention was that, if you are someone who enjoys reading books from different perspectives, then this is the book for you. After reading this, I view love differently from what I viewed it as before. I also like how the book is structured but I think that it would have been good to change how the characters talk to each other at times because there are a lot of scenes in which it makes it difficult for the reader to understand what they are mainly talking about. Other than that, the book was amazing and I definitely recommend those who have time to read, to read this book. This book has provided critical values of love, so if you are someone who enjoys the aspects of romanticism then I highly suggest you order this book. Just a heads up, this book might change how you view love now.

  81. By Dan Gomez
    The book Breezes is a book about love and emotion between a young man and woman and shows how it develops throughout their adolescence and ends in their senior years. The book starts from the woman’s point of view and is very poetic in how her feelings are regarding her emotions toward the man in the story. It appears as if the book is supposed to be poetry with its lay out and its extreme detail in how the thought process continues through the feelings experienced with every thought of the man. The beginning is an internal monologue apparently, due to the prose used since it is not colloquial language, and continues with its romantic tone until another character enters the story. When the man enters the story the text and font are clearly different to depict a character separate from the author.

    The confusing element was whether the author was exposing her thoughts or if she was speaking since there is no difference toward the end of the book. The same seems true for the male portion whether it was his thoughts or if it was his words that were being read. At the end of the book it seemed to be that there was actual dialogue between the two. The colorful language in which they spoke did not demonstrate and ordinary dialogue between people begging the question if they were actually speaking to each other. Perhaps it could be argued that the text we read were the thoughts of each person as they looked at each other. As if there was an internal monologue that was conveyed as dialogue. It is clear the author wanted a very descriptive poetic journey throughout the book but since ordinary people do not come close to using the vernacular depicted in this book, perhaps it was designed in this way to allow something to resemble a dialogue while still using vivid expressions.

    The layout of the book is in both English and Arabic on the left and right respectively. It is possible that the translation from Arabic to English may have not been interpreted while maintaining the integrity of meaning and feeling the author originally intended which could have over simplified the text or over complicated it almost to the point where it was viewed as incorrect or pretentious. The way the book was laid out allowed the reader to look up their own translation and to appreciate the original texts without translation so the integrity of the meaning remained in tact particularly for an Arabic reader. This is very valuable to the Arabic speaker or student that allows extra value to the book by increasing the appreciation for this particular piece of literature.

    The part that was unique to the book was the extreme level of vivid examples and uses of various figures of speech to illustrate the emotions that are often difficult to do. Unfortunately often times the effort to carry the reader along the thought process was drowned out by unnecessary language that is distracting and makes the meaning or intent questionable and confusing.

    The overall critique is that I remained in a slight sense of confusion as to what was really going on, how much time went by, and if I was reading the thoughts of the reader of if it was dialogue. Names were not used in the book so I believe there was a certain degree of vagueness that was intended perhaps to concentrate on the detailed emotion as oppose to the story which would distract from the emotion in this book.

    This book clearly takes place in the Arab world and shows a slight view of Arab culture. This is demonstrated when discussing the introduction of the female author to the family of the boy/man with whom she becomes infatuated and discusses the courtship. This book is not a prime example of love and courtship in the Arab world and doesn’t seem to be a lesson in Arab culture although this may be an example of how young couples court each other in the region. This is generally a situation of a boy and a girl with a strong emotional bond that can be extrapolated to any couple in most cultures.

    The most unique, intriguing, and interesting thing about this book is that it is absolutely unordinary is that it doesn’t follow the same guidelines as a regular book in terms of the layout, the method in which this love story is told as if thought was put into this to give the reader a unique reading experience. This seems to be a cross between poetry and story writing but one dilutes the other so that it can’t really be identified as either. If the intent was to create a type of story telling by keeping the reader intrigued with a vague story with a lack of details to the story but keep us interested with incredible detail with descriptive insight to emotion then the goal was accomplished.

  82. Salvador Ceja
    “Breezes” by Wafica MansourAlDoueiri, was exciting to read due to the content. I had never seen a book that was written in the form that “Breezes” was written, it starts from the back and moves backwards going to the front. The beginning was a lil confusing because it starts by describing a particular place and then it goes into the meeting of the two characters. I enjoyed the comparison writing with different things that AlDoueirie created with comparing different things. The book is well written, I liked how she made two characters interact by dialogue in the entire book. The book is definitely about the love of two young kids who separated due to a rumor and then meet again only to speak about their feelings. I was able to relate myself due to making a mistake when I was smaller with a girl who I had meet, after a few years I was able to find her again and our relationship was able to continue after that. I liked that she was able to reference several poems on the book that reflected the love between the two characters. It was heart breaking knowing that they had ended up in a retirement home but at the same time happy because they were going to spend the rest of their life’s together. I think that the book could be clearer by possibly naming the characters because at one point I got confused as to who was talking. I was able to understand later that the bold letters was the male character and the others were the female. Over all the book was a great book, I also liked how on the right hand side it was written on the original language with the left being translated into English. For some one that knows Arabic this could be a great bonus due to being in the original language and them reading it in that for, because some times books loose some of the original points due to bad translations.

  83. Honestly I am not a fan of love stories but after reading this book I must say I would give an exception. If you are looking for a great love story then Breezes by Wafiea Mansour Al-Doueriri is a great book for you. From the first page to the last word you as a reader are caught in the minds of two young individuals as they describe their feeling and the pure love that they have for each other. This book also is very relatable because many of us have the very same feelings. Reading this story brings that hope that everybody has of finding someone that they would want to spend the rest of their lives with. As well as what the thought process that young couples like the ones in the book might have when they secretly or openly like another person. The second major aspects of this book are the lessons that couples can take from the couple. For starters, the amount of loyalty was amazing. Throughout time the couple could not think of any other person they would want to be with. The second lesson that you can get out of the story is trust. Along with loyalty, trust was another huge factor in the purity and deep love that this couple shared. Another aspect of this love story is the descriptive nature. In the very beginning the first page or so is describing the surrounding areas of where the story of the couple begins and ends. Also throughout the story, the descriptions of the thoughts themselves show how deep the love and meaning each character has for one another. Overall the book “Breezes” was one of the better books that I have read even though it’s a genre that I do not prefer. I highly recommend this book to anyone even if you are not a fan of love stories.

  84. The novel, “Breezes,” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueri as for me it reflected beauty and affection. Story starts by two individuals offering each one another companion. Then towards the middle become isolated but at the end find one other back and get reunited. With this said it was easy to actually picture it, since metaphors and similes were used. Due to this it makes it clear for us to be able to paint a picture in regards to descriptive nature. Once you begin reading this book you can picture waterway, trees and ect in your mind. So, both were isolated for quite awhile but eventually were rejoined with each other. With this it shows the superiority of the topic. It displays the kind of relationship they have as joyful because their attachment was still sparkling.

    As I started reading this book, no lie I thought of me being in the reading. Since, AlDoueri was to stimulated when writing it, it brought me back memories that were somewhat connected to the characters in the book. Even though, the painted sceneries were more connected to my personal surroundings as well as environments. For this reason the story to me it felt more real and alive. I think is impressive in how the title along with the beginning pages are twisted around. As for me I see that smart coming from her. The way Aldoueri appointed things made everything run smoothly together. The story was not bouncing without a flow. Indeed, things were done with wisdom. In other words well written with clear thinking. This story does consist of admiration. If for any reason you are looking or searching for a good story without a doubt I would recommend this story. AlDoueiri has a special talent of making you feel you are one of the characters in the story which is breathtaking. The matter of how she tends to describe the answers and feelings of each other, it benefits you by putting yourself in those shoes as well. Therefore, I was able to imagine myself with this story. I believe this is not an easy thing for a writer to do. In order to be able to do so the writer has to have some kind of gift. In other words, the writer must have the ability for the readers to feel this. AlDoueiri, according to me is able to do this. For this reason, I would recommend this story to other people. This story is for individuals that have encounter a relationship. Breezes, shows or illustrates how emotions go. For example, lust, nature and affection. This story is believe to be a genuine story. While reading this story for me it made me feel I was reading someone else’s diary. This is one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading this book.

    I believe that people are going to be able to see the ways to admire this story. I do have to say that this particular book does have elegance to it. The way that it was written was with class. Let’s start off with the kind of tone that was used and of course the subject. As you read it, you do not want to stop reading it. Indeed, you want to keep on reading it. The way I would recommend for individuals to read this book is by taking the time to read this book by a chapter at a time. Due that in this way you will be able to focus more on the book and analyze things thoroughly. Also, it would be best to consider reading it before going to sleep. Once, you are done reading the end, most likely you will need to reread again. What this story leaves you with is an interesting significance. With a everlasting love connecting it with all the bad and good that come along the way. Putting everything together I have to say I am happy I got a chance or opportunity to read “Breezes.” This book is a mixture of dialogue nature, poetry and human emotions. The tone that was utilized in this book was smooth. Therefore, it was a bit easier to keep yourself connected to it. Meaning you would be able to connect things around in order to make sense out of it. As for me my main chapter that I enjoy reading more was Deep Emotions. I liked how that particular chapter expressed its feelings. The way AlDoueiri goes about deep emotions is very touchy. Overall, I think the technique she uses to write this book is outstanding. Like mentioned before, as a reader to be able to feel that you are actually in the story is fascinating. If you read this book it will leave you speechless because of the way the book is written. Overall, is a great book.

  85. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri opens with the meeting of a man and a woman along a river bed under the shade of a tree. As their story progresses, you find out the two have known each other for some time. Much of the initial text is the internal thoughts of the characters, with very little dialogue. This mirrors their trepidation they had in their youth, where they had trouble talking to each other. A glancing touch, a meeting of their hands invokes memories of the past. As the novel progresses, the characters open up to each other more and we learn about their unrequited love and how rumors can be so terribly damaging. The chapters of the book make them appear to be disparate stories, and to a certain extent, they are. There is, however, the common thread of these two lovers throughout.

    Fear is a theme that carries throughout the book. The fear of rejection weighs heavily on the man. The fear of the future weighs on the woman. Both characters have a constant fear of expressing to each other how they feel. Here is a passage that really shows the shyness of the man from his own lips:
    “Without any sign or motion that would hint to my love
    Other than the trembling of my hand…
    Maybe that would reveal what my tongue failed to utter.”

    Memory also plays a crucial role throughout the book. Many of the chapters harken back to memories from their past. A goodbye from a boardwalk, a walk home together from a schoolyard, several trips together. These past memories reveal how the two came to be on that riverside bench together at the beginning of the story and why their love was never consummated.

    AlDoueiri uses very descriptive, detailed visual imagery throughout the book. “I would swim throughout the stars for infinity” when the man describes his feelings towards the woman and “Now that snow has covered the mountains’ peaks” to say the lovers are getting older and white is in their hair. Her writing style is very strong overall. However, I feel in some parts of the novel AlDoueiri has the characters asking too many questions. An example of this is on page 130, where the first paragraph consists of 9 questions in a row. Parts like these were a little taxing to read.

    AlDoueiri’s view on maturing love is quite refreshing. When the lovers talk about marriage when they are older, the woman said this passage that really stuck out to me:
    “They say that marriage is often the
    cemetery of love.
    So if each one of us has saved for
    decades and for ourselves
    A pure idealistic love…
    Then why try to bury it.”
    Her views on love shift dramatically due to life experience. What started out as a youthful whimsical love transformed into something more mature and defined. The book’s tone and themes reminded me a lot of “The Remains of the Day”. In both stories, manners and politeness force an unrequited love between the main characters. I do not want to spoil the ending of “Breezes”, but it is satisfying in different way than most love stories.

    Here are some thoughts I have on the format and presentation of the book. This was actually the first book I have read that is formatted right to left, with even the spline of the book being on the right side. It was a new experience for me. I feel the parallel English/Arabic side-by-side presentation could be useful for somebody learning Arabic or English, as it would allow for a quick translation. However, reading it entirely in English, I felt the text would have been stronger in continuous blocks going from page to page. This is the format I am most accustomed to. Also, I strongly disliked the use of multiple fonts and type weights in the English translation. On a single page there is what looks like bold Arial, italicized Arial and regular Times New Roman. This constant back and forth is used to convey the difference between the man, the woman and the narration, but it was jarring and constantly taking me out of the story. There is also a typo in the title of page 126 that really bugs me: “Dreams That Could Coult Not Be Realized.”

    In initially reading this book, I had no idea what to expect in regards to the story, as it was chosen as part of my Arabic lit class and I had never heard of it before. Overall, I would definitely recommend the book on the strength of the story contained within, but not the physical book per my critique above. The story is very near a 5, but I’m taking a star off for the issues I have with the book itself. I do feel it is appropriately priced for the quality ($8 at my campus bookstore). The 201 pages are actually a much shorter 98 pages when reading the English translation (there are additional pages in the foreward and afterword, but they are entirely in Arabic). Most of those pages are only partially filled, so it was indeed a very easy read.

    Arab 290, Fall 2015, Section 70

  86. “Breezes” by Wafica AlDoueiri represents a love story between a man and a woman who have known each other since youth and even throughout all of their hardships, their relationship still comes out on top. The main theme revolves around fate; the fate of two individuals who were meant to be together even though they’ve run into many obstacles. It was very intriguing to see the development of their relationship from beginning to end as it was beyond their control of what would happen next.
    The storyline begins with the thoughts of the woman being expressed with her being on the first date with the man. It seems to become very difficult for one of them to carry on a conversation or make any sort of action as fearing that the other individual might reject them if they make a bad move. “Without uttering a single word. Fear of rejection was likely, Or indifference, or a lack of desire to meet…” it seems obvious that even though they both truly like each other, these fears seemed to have seized their interaction (AlDuoeiri 12). They had a difficult time speaking to one another and neither of them had the confidence to speak freely. As the story goes on, it is revealed to the reader that these first few pages are just memories from their pasts. As another obstacle hits their relationship, the man has to go away to Egypt with another student and they are both separated. As the separation expands for a long time, she begins to lose hope in their relationship. Rumors of him cheating, her desperate thoughts about their love beginning to drift away and the amount of time they have been separated hinders towards a break up. After all of these different problems, they coincidentally meet up years later and realize how they still have feelings for one another. From this it’s obvious to notice that they were brought together by fate, their relationship and love for one another was just meant to be. All of the bad signs, problems of communication, long distance separation, and fear of rejection all seemed very convincing that this relationship might not work out but the man and the woman still ended up being together hinting towards an unavoidable fate.
    Even though “Breezes” is not based on a true story, it really reflects what a romantic relationship should be about, especially through commitment and trust. It brings tones of relatable content to the reader, especially when a connection can be made about dating and relationships. Silence between one another, questions of whether the other person likes you or not, what actions should you make next all bring some sort of connection to the real world. Reading this book, teaches a lesson that no matter how shy or different you are from the rest, everyone still has a chance of finding their soulmate. If it doesn’t work out the first time, fate will bring you back together to try again and improve on each other’s love for one another. Obstacles will arrive in every relationship, there is not one perfect couple in the world that has no problems. “Breezes” makes this very clear by providing examples of struggles that can occur in a relationship and how wrong thoughts will come into your head that might not be true when relationship problems begin to occur. It teaches you that you must learn to trust your partner and stay committed to them even if the situation you guys are in makes it really tough.
    Overall the plot and explanations kept me really interested with what the author had to say. AlDuoeiri had very descriptive details of every setting, thought, and action each characters had and it gave the reader a clear idea of what was going on. Personally, I have never encountered a book with so much detail. It brought a beautiful array of words and similes to keep the reader interested instead use dull non-meaningful words. Another reason why I found this book to be interesting, is that the story itself is not the usual love story found in Hollywood movies or other books. Instead it’s something the reader can relate to, and situations you can find in real-life relationships. I definitely recommend checking out “Breezes” as the theme of this book played a big role in my decision. The storyline followed it thoroughly and overall it’s a short enjoyable book that you can’t go wrong with. Plus at a cheap price of $12.00, you can’t go wrong with this buy.

  87. The Book Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a novel that I feel we can all relate to because it follows the stages of love throughout a relationship. In the book Breezes AlDoueiri tells a tale of two people in love, she begins with talking about a young man and woman who have previously known each other both of which had feelings for the other. They come across each other at a park having not seen each other for a long period of time the young man refers to this refers to it as fate that has driven them into being reunited together again. As they come across each other both are speechless, both inviting the other to make conversation due to the pure shock of fate allowing their paths to cross again. The young man remembers the love he had for this girl he finds himself nervous around her unsure of what steps to take next. As many of us have felt before being around our first crush this will lead to a high sense of nervousness we find ourselves with shaky hands, sweaty palms, or even like there is a large lump in our throat all feelings in which the young man was described to have in which many of us can relate to when we are around the one we love. The story continues to follow the story of the young couple following them as they reconnect as just friends and eventually taking their relationship to much more than just friends.
    As AlDouieri describes the couple going from being just friends and spending time with each other she mentions as the young man begins questioning himself as to what he should do next, and how he should approach potentially approaching her about becoming more than just friends. As we read further into this portion of the story many of the readers can’t help but be reminded of the times we were with someone that we had feelings for in which we didn’t know how to go about approaching them about becoming more. Something as simple as just spending time together brings great joy feelings that we don’t have for just anyone only for those that we deeply care about. The further AlDoueiri outlines into the couple’s feelings for each other the ore we are able to connect it back to our relationships we have experienced. Not only Does AlDoueiri follows the couple’s happy times, but she as well mentions the problems that are often encountered in a relationship. She lists an event in which the young man is accused of being unfaithful to the girl leading to a break up between them. Ultimately the couple goes through a separation and in which they are both struggling to let go of the other they try a method of deletion to forget about the other, however it does not work they find themselves being reminded of all the memories they once shared. I believe this was an important to have mentioned in the book because it reminds us that not every relationship is 100% good all the time a relationship does have its ups and downs, however loving someone is the ability to work through the problems that have occurred and to forgive the one we love. I believe this event is what sets this story and a lot of other stories apparat many love stories will not follow through with some type of event such as this; others will just present a “perfect” relationship when in reality there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, in love. Eventually the couple crosses paths again due to the young man reaching out to the girl asking to talk in which time it is revealed he was not unfaithful it was a cruel rumor started by someone who was jealous of their relationship the book closes with the couple recapping their relationship in their later years in a retirement home.
    The ending sends a very powerful message in that trust in your partner is everything. Though the young man had never been unfaithful he never argued that he had not cheated out of fear of heart break that girl would not believe him. He instead allowed her to believe that he had been unfaithful because he found himself in a situation in which he felt would only lead to more heart break. Myself I am not a very big reader however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book because, it can connect to me based off of experience the book does a phenomenal job of following the feelings and events that come when we are with someone that we love. The book doesn’t just provide all the happy moments that follow with relationships it also follows through with the negative effects that can come in a relationship. Anyone can write a happy love story with no negative events however, AlDoueiri includes these negative events to bring us closer to a more realistic relationship that a larger audience may be able to connect to. As well she also demonstrates that if you do love someone you can overcome adversity within the relationship and make it until the end.

  88. Robert Sanchez
    Arab 290 F15
    The Book Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a novel that I feel we can all relate to because it follows the stages of love throughout a relationship. In the book Breezes AlDoueiri tells a tale of two people in love, she begins with talking about a young man and woman who have previously known each other both of which had feelings for the other. They come across each other at a park having not seen each other for a long period of time the young man refers to this refers to it as fate that has driven them into being reunited together again. As they come across each other both are speechless, both inviting the other to make conversation due to the pure shock of fate allowing their paths to cross again. The young man remembers the love he had for this girl he finds himself nervous around her unsure of what steps to take next. As many of us have felt before being around our first crush this will lead to a high sense of nervousness we find ourselves with shaky hands, sweaty palms, or even like there is a large lump in our throat all feelings in which the young man was described to have in which many of us can relate to when we are around the one we love. The story continues to follow the story of the young couple following them as they reconnect as just friends and eventually taking their relationship to much more than just friends.
    As AlDouieri describes the couple going from being just friends and spending time with each other she mentions as the young man begins questioning himself as to what he should do next, and how he should approach potentially approaching her about becoming more than just friends. As we read further into this portion of the story many of the readers can’t help but be reminded of the times we were with someone that we had feelings for in which we didn’t know how to go about approaching them about becoming more. Something as simple as just spending time together brings great joy feelings that we don’t have for just anyone only for those that we deeply care about. The further AlDoueiri outlines into the couple’s feelings for each other the ore we are able to connect it back to our relationships we have experienced. Not only Does AlDoueiri follows the couple’s happy times, but she as well mentions the problems that are often encountered in a relationship. She lists an event in which the young man is accused of being unfaithful to the girl leading to a break up between them. Ultimately the couple goes through a separation and in which they are both struggling to let go of the other they try a method of deletion to forget about the other, however it does not work they find themselves being reminded of all the memories they once shared. I believe this was an important to have mentioned in the book because it reminds us that not every relationship is 100% good all the time a relationship does have its ups and downs, however loving someone is the ability to work through the problems that have occurred and to forgive the one we love. I believe this event is what sets this story and a lot of other stories apparat many love stories will not follow through with some type of event such as this; others will just present a “perfect” relationship when in reality there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, in love. Eventually the couple crosses paths again due to the young man reaching out to the girl asking to talk in which time it is revealed he was not unfaithful it was a cruel rumor started by someone who was jealous of their relationship the book closes with the couple recapping their relationship in their later years in a retirement home.
    The ending sends a very powerful message in that trust in your partner is everything. Though the young man had never been unfaithful he never argued that he had not cheated out of fear of heart break that girl would not believe him. He instead allowed her to believe that he had been unfaithful because he found himself in a situation in which he felt would only lead to more heart break. Myself I am not a very big reader however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book because, it can connect to me based off of experience the book does a phenomenal job of following the feelings and events that come when we are with someone that we love. The book doesn’t just provide all the happy moments that follow with relationships it also follows through with the negative effects that can come in a relationship. Anyone can write a happy love story with no negative events however, AlDoueiri includes these negative events to bring us closer to a more realistic relationship that a larger audience may be able to connect to. As well she also demonstrates that if you do love someone you can overcome adversity within the relationship and make it until the end.

  89. Wow, Breezes is a beautiful tragedy of true love and its misfortune. It’s a compelling story of two would be, should be lifelong lovers who meet at a young age and periodically throughout life yet fail to take the opportunity to express their feelings along the way. The true innocence of their true love could be seen as a very important cause of the failure of their expression. On page ten we get a glance at their shyness yet desire for each other when it was stated: “They found themselves standing before each other, it was a fleeting handshake that camouflaged intense repressed invisible emotions.”
    The lovers faced many other causes for never expressing their emotions towards each other; another cause would be the fear of rejection. It was written many times how both he and she would be worried what the other might say or do and if the other would not accept a specific gesture or feeling. This fear of rejection is beautifully written on page twelve: “The fear of rejection was likely, or indifference, or lack of desire to meet. Their fear seized them…” Following this the author goes on to eliminate any indifference or lack of desire to meet the two may have had yet the fear of rejection seem to stand the testament of their time.
    As with so many lovers, especially those facing love at first sight, these two often found it difficult to even find the words to say. Although having many opportunities throughout their lives to overcome this challenge it would a take a lifetime before the do. The confusion of what to say and how to say it is exemplified on page sixteen: “There had to be someway of untying the knot that seemed permanently fixed on their tongs.” It appears that every time these two are in each other’s presence the words just can’t come out.
    It goes without saying that these two found each other to be absolutely amazing yet the level that they placed on each other’s value was even more amazing. I found that the first hint that the male made at telling her his feelings about his beauty was during the soup ordering scene when they were describing the beauty of their surroundings on page eighteen: “…he replied everything in this place is beautiful as well as those in it.” If that wasn’t a direct hint to his feelings for her, I’m not sure what would have been yet it would somehow go under the radar and the shyness still unbroken.
    It’s amazing how the two would struggle to express their true desires especially since having such mutual feelings for each other. They both swooned over each other and had the same fear of rejection for many years. Their mutual perspectives were nicely notated on page twenty four: “…is he afraid of my rejection, he is right…” “Maybe I should hold off to make sure my gesture would not be rejected.” Both knew that at this moment although the kind of wanted this gesture that it was probably not best.
    I found it amazing just how challenging it was for these two to notice the signs that they were truly in love. One would think that after the meetings and speechlessness that they could have at least known that this was the sign of true love. We would learn that it wouldn’t be until later that this was understood. On page twenty eight we read: “And it took me a long time afterwards to know that it was a sign of a deep pure love.” This would be in relation to the shaking palms while engaged in a handshake yet another missed opportunity to express their emotions.
    Although never expressing their emotions the two went through some interesting situation. On page forty six the author describes a very uncertain moment that showed the awkwardness of these two’s relationship. This was the walk from school where the young man would join the young girl and friend yet once alone the two lovers would once again face challenged with their emotional unknown.
    Through their awkward relationship the two would even experience a moment of jealousy and lies that would cause them to separate for many years. The now lady would realize that the adult her would have never let the lies and jealousy she experienced as a youth get in path of love. As the lady r4eflects back on the incident she realizes that the person who caused the separation was what was described as “Ugly” and not happy with herself.
    During the struggle to try and remove the hurt and pain of separation the young lady describes how she would not only cry and sit in her sadness yet made attempts to delete any remembrance of the young man only to be met by failure. When the young man (now an old man) confronts her she admits just how much of a failure this attempt was because nothing could ever delete him from her mind and heart.

    All in all an amazing story that I really really enjoyed.

  90. Veronica Bermudez
    Arab 290
    Mahbuba Hammad

    Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was such an amazing story about two lover who are meant to be together and yet never had the courage to tell one another their true feelings. Fear of rejection plays a key role in this story, each time they encounter one another they both lack the confidence to Acknowledge each other. In page 12 it shows how they are towards one another, “they sat without a word while on the inside, talk flowed like a torrent.” They both have this strong urge to express how they feel but so much fear runs through them.
    The lovers also faced another obstacle, there was rumors spreading on page 84-86 that the male was flirting with another girl when he had a girlfriend at the time which lead the female to think that he was a player and that she couldn’t be with someone like that. On page 86 she saying “was he a player,” “was he looking for better?” “was he requesting from the other girl what he couldn’t from his own girl.”
    These past lovers had so many opportunities to tell one another how they feel about each other, they first met on a school court yard and you could tell how the guy felt in page 28 it says “do you remember that day you shook my hand in the schools court yard ?” I thought it was amazing how whenever there in each others presence words just cant come out, in page eighteen when there ordering there food the male says “everything in this place Is beautiful as well as those in it.” Honestly I felt that it was a clear sign to her that he admires her beauty but then again females over think things.
    The main theme of this book is fear and memory. Throughout the book is about the male and the female going back to memory’s they had with one another and memories they wished they had. on page sixteen it says, “I wish we could have spent the happiest and most beautiful honeymoon and newlywed could know.” All the memories they talk about makes you understand why they never got together.
    Wafica Mansour AlDouerir uses very descriptive writing and it really makes you have a good visualization in your head while your reading. A few examples would be “And the heat of the sun… a simple extract from the blazes of our emotions. “And the white snow… addresses for our Chasity.” In some parts of the book I felt like the characters were asking to much questions and it was a little discouraging to read because I felt a little bothered by it.
    While reading this book there comes a topic where the characters are talking about marriage and AlDouerir brings out her view on matured love. I felt that, that particular scene in the book had a really big impact and was really good advice in a way. It made me realize that love needs to be matured because immaturity is what ruins that special bond between two people. That scene in the book has to be one of my top favorites.
    While reading this book I honestly got confused in the beginning, I didn’t know who was who, I didn’t know which paragraphs was the female and then I didn’t know which paragraph was the male speaking in, it was just a mess but then I started to read through it slowly and carefully then I came to realize and understand which character was speaking. That was one of the main things I disliked about the book, I felt that it would have been less confusing if the author had put in names for the female and the male. Also I felt that I needed to read the book extra carefully because I felt like the characters were jumping into different memories to fast.
    When I first received the book through the mail I didn’t know what to expect, I opened the packet and I thought that they had made a mistake making the book from right to left, but I had remembered that my friend had told me that sometimes they make a book that certain way because it’s a part of their culture. This was my very first time reading a book from right to left and I honestly enjoyed it, I felt like I was doing something different for a change. I didn’t enjoy the different fonts that the author used I felt that that was very distracting. I also loved how they had a translation in Arabic on one side of page because it amazes me and it makes me want to learn how to read it. I would highly recommend this book because I felt like this was a very touching story it gives a good message during the book and I would honestly give this book 5 stars.

  91. The initial reading is displayed as though it’s a book containing various poems, limericks, and sonnets. As you quickly progress you realize that it is a love story in the form of poetry but still maintains the composure of a short novel. With the original novel written in Arabic and mirrored with the translation in English, it only adds to the depth of the culture and the lovers of this tale.
    Nature makes a profound appearance throughout the novel, displaying for the reader of not particularly a specific place and time but rather how nature is relative to the lovers themselves and the emotions they contain within themselves and what they display between each other. This is the tale of distant and repressed love. The kind you see in movies. Basically the Notebook but instead of rich families and little security, it’s rumors and ignorant youth. It’s the tale of endless amorous longings and the desire to understand and the cliche “what if”. True love is enduring and stays committed to fidelity. That regardless of age or time, love alone is the strongest force. Physical beauty is only short lived and respect and passion withstand the manipulations of physical time. Young adults fall in love only to be broken apart by a faulty rumor. Throughout the years the yearning continues and eventually, when the slow wither of the human body leaves these two souls beyond the beauty of youth do they discover that they love they shared never died and withholding of their feelings only repressed the possibilities of what could have been.
    The writing is absolutely exquisite and sublime. Picturesque and yet simplistic in detail, leaving the reader to decide for themselves the scenery, the emotion, and the connection that they will tie themselves into with the lovers. It gives us a chance to reflect on ourselves of our own experiences whether we are the young girl who felt betrayal or the young boy bewildered as to the loss of his love. We try to understand the complexities of the other person, and this novel gives us the reflective perspective that ultimately allows us to reflect upon ourselves.
    As for the physical book itself, the price is reasonable for the quality. Thick glossy paper with uplifted ink. The mirroring of the Arabic and English is a fantastic opportunity for those learning Arabic or English to pick up on new vocabulary, study grammatical structures, and allow for proper pronunciation. I personally may refer to this book in the future when I want to improve on the speed of mt reading considering that I haven’t taken Arabic language classes in over three years. There were words I still recalled and any that I didn’t know (there are many) allows this book to be a prime candidate for language practice and knowledge extension. It can also be an improvement for those who perhaps use Arabic in their daily lives and gives them the opportunity to read Arabic poetry. I personally have read a few pieces of Arabic/Persian poetry and truly is some of the most divine pieces of written work. Compared to American or English based poetry, Arabic/Persian poetry is heavily influenced by nature and love; whether that love be between two human beings or the love between man and God. The structure of Arabic/Persian poetry is much more fluid and flexible in structure compared to English/American poetry. Breezes alone is a beautiful combination of worldly and human nature.
    Would I recommend this book, absolutely! I opened this book not entirely sure of what to expect. I was informed of it being a novel and in reading the first few pages I felt that labeling it as a novel was what I would say, inaccurate. Of course as the story unfolds we find that it is indeed a novel but with a poetic flair. Unfortunately since my Arabic leaves much to be desired, I can’t really judge on the accuracy of the translation. Translations alone are a difficult task and one finds that there are many ways to translate literary work, especially when that work is poetic. Translations can vary on the translator themselves. Do they want it to be a concrete literal translation but in turn losing the finesse of the original words, or do they translate with the embellishments and begin to lose the meaning and thusly the reader? This is one aspect of the book I alone cannot judge on due to my lack of language skill but I can attest in saying that the message the translator wished to get across was met and easily absorbed if the reader takes the time to engage themselves with it, like enjoying the taste of a fine wine. Something of delicacy should never be rushed through but to be immersed and given proper attention. Ultimately, this is a book worth adding to any appreciative reader’s collection. I know it will stay in mine.

  92. Antonia Gommerman
    ARAB 290

    The novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri reads like a collection of love poems that flow into each other as part of the story line. I am not sure if it is in this format on purpose, or because that’s how the Arabic language works, but it was a surprise to me when it first arrived. It made reading it very quick and easy, and only took me approximately 20 minutes to read. It can come across as confusing at times to someone like me from the United States, given that it is a conversations between two people and not in a typical “conversation-like” format that is used in Western culture. It uses two fonts to point out that two different people are talking, which is helpful but threw me off when I first saw it. There was no “He said this” and “she said that.” It would simply switch between the fonts in order to represent the change of voice. It was also a different read for me since—to me—I am reading it “backwards,” as in the pages turn from left to right, instead of right to left. It was those little things that threw me off at first when reading this story.

    Although the novel is very short and it is very easy to quickly read, I found it quite repetitive and drawn out. As I stated before, the story is entirely a single conversation between two people reminiscing. More could have happened in the story to make it less repetitive and more interesting a read. Since the novel is so short, if you are looking for an extended read this is definitely not the book you’re looking for. If you want something you can finish quickly while on a break at work or something, this would be a good love story to add to your collection. I personally do not enjoy love stories because I find them clichéd and typical, but this one didn’t put me off entirely, despite the fact that it felt repetitive at times, simply because the story is quite different from a typical love story.

    While it is not my kind of story to read, it does represent very well the confusion, anguish, pain, joy, sadness, warmth, coldness, and passion that such a complicated emotion like love includes. The story is between two long lost lovers reunited in old age, exclaiming to each other the feelings that they have shared for each other these many years, and the reasons behind their disconnection. If you enjoy love novels, this is a refreshing story at times because it focuses on sensuality and love rather than sexuality and lust, as so many “love stories” tend to focus on instead. It is also refreshing in that it is the story of an old couple reminiscing about years past and glances missed, although it does come across rather juvenile at times, probably on purpose in order to express how deeply their crush for each other had effected them. Since they never got to act on their feelings, even in old age, they act as young fools for each other. While it is easy to read—easy enough for even a preteen, or someone just being introduced to love—since the story involves older people, younger people may not appreciate it as much. However, as I stated before, there are times when the characters act quite juvenile in their ways, so it may still be enjoyable at times for younger people. There is a point in the book where the characters mention their gray hair, however, at that might be someone off-putting to an immature young person.

    One of my favorite lines in the book included a French quote, “Si jeunsse savait, si viellesse pouvait,” which means “If only youth knew, and if only age were able.” I feel that quote perfectly represents this book, and can be applied to so many topics in life, from love to hate, academia to work, actions to inactions, etc. Youth is full of ignorance, and age is full of regret. It is very quotable, with many original sayings on love written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and also quoting other proverbs and writers, such as Nizar Qabbani.

    Overall, I found the story okay. It’s short, it’s sweet, a bit cliché at times, but still different in its own right because of age of the characters and the topic at hand. If there is a lesson in this story, it’s to not sit on your hands about your feelings and to be open about it. Reach out and grasp the one you love when you are able to, because you only have this one life and it may be your only chance. It made me want to lay in my fiancée’s arms and give him a hug and tell him how much I love him so that he knows how happy I am that we have found each other. It does its job as a love story, making you yearn for your own lover.

  93. The novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri reads like a collection of love poems that flow into each other as part of the story line. I am not sure if it is in this format on purpose, or because that’s how the Arabic language works, but it was a surprise to me when it first arrived. It made reading it very quick and easy, and only took me approximately 20 minutes to read. It can come across as confusing at times to someone like me from the United States, given that it is a conversations between two people and not in a typical “conversation-like” format that is used in Western culture. It uses two fonts to point out that two different people are talking, which is helpful but threw me off when I first saw it. There was no “He said this” and “she said that.” It would simply switch between the fonts in order to represent the change of voice. It was also a different read for me since—to me—I am reading it “backwards,” as in the pages turn from left to right, instead of right to left. It was those little things that threw me off at first when reading this story.

    Although the novel is very short and it is very easy to quickly read, I found it quite repetitive and drawn out. As I stated before, the story is entirely a single conversation between two people reminiscing. More could have happened in the story to make it less repetitive and more interesting a read. Since the novel is so short, if you are looking for an extended read this is definitely not the book you’re looking for. If you want something you can finish quickly while on a break at work or something, this would be a good love story to add to your collection. I personally do not enjoy love stories because I find them clichéd and typical, but this one didn’t put me off entirely, despite the fact that it felt repetitive at times, simply because the story is quite different from a typical love story.

    While it is not my kind of story to read, it does represent very well the confusion, anguish, pain, joy, sadness, warmth, coldness, and passion that such a complicated emotion like love includes. The story is between two long lost lovers reunited in old age, exclaiming to each other the feelings that they have shared for each other these many years, and the reasons behind their disconnection. If you enjoy love novels, this is a refreshing story at times because it focuses on sensuality and love rather than sexuality and lust, as so many “love stories” tend to focus on instead. It is also refreshing in that it is the story of an old couple reminiscing about years past and glances missed, although it does come across rather juvenile at times, probably on purpose in order to express how deeply their crush for each other had effected them. Since they never got to act on their feelings, even in old age, they act as young fools for each other. While it is easy to read—easy enough for even a preteen, or someone just being introduced to love—since the story involves older people, younger people may not appreciate it as much. However, as I stated before, there are times when the characters act quite juvenile in their ways, so it may still be enjoyable at times for younger people. There is a point in the book where the characters mention their gray hair, however, at that might be someone off-putting to an immature young person.

    One of my favorite lines in the book included a French quote, “Si jeunsse savait, si viellesse pouvait,” which means “If only youth knew, and if only age were able.” I feel that quote perfectly represents this book, and can be applied to so many topics in life, from love to hate, academia to work, actions to inactions, etc. Youth is full of ignorance, and age is full of regret. It is very quotable, with many original sayings on love written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and also quoting other proverbs and writers, such as Nizar Qabbani.

    Overall, I found the story okay. It’s short, it’s sweet, a bit cliché at times, but still different in its own right because of age of the characters and the topic at hand. If there is a lesson in this story, it’s to not sit on your hands about your feelings and to be open about it. Reach out and grasp the one you love when you are able to, because you only have this one life and it may be your only chance. It made me want to lay in my fiancée’s arms and give him a hug and tell him how much I love him so that he knows how happy I am that we have found each other. It does its job as a love story, making you yearn for your own lover.

  94. I had to read the book twice (partially my fault) because I thought it was a collection of love poems all made by the same author combined into one book. So, at first I am reading each one thinking that it is a poem book and as I was reading I was getting tired of all the love poems. It was becoming irritating because there is so many love poems! I was thinking to myself ” Yes I get it, you guys love each other a whole bunch”. I’m reading this discontent and I was glad that I finished this so called “novel” and that was the end of it. I went to go tell my friend about it and told him it was a supposed “novel” but just a bunch of poems. He gives it a quick glance reading the “poems” and proceeds to tell me that the book is indeed a novel and that I am an idiot for thinking otherwise. Now I had to read the book AGAIN, souring the tastefulness of the book for me. Now I have read the book as a novel and I still don’t like it but not completely hate it though. It appeals to the masses by conveying emotions that nearly everyone goes through when they meet their first love. I caught myself many a times relating to the guy (because I’m a guy) and reminded me about my youth. However, I can only relate as an adolescence and then the rest is lost to me because I am fairly young myself and they’re almost college graduates and then their age progresses through the book but never mind that for now. This book reads like a Disney movie which to me is very cliche. They start off as friends but very nervous friends who love each other but don’t want to admit to one another, afraid of how the other one will react. They end up loving each other, they go through ups and downs like it is expected of any relationship. They break up, girl cries every day, they meet up again a few years later totally still in mad love with each other. Only after the woman kept dragging things on and on about a rumor who won’t have the courage to face it. Then the book is assembled in memories which jump through time in which many years can go by, which can confuse the heck out of a reader.This book is about as subtle as a slap to the face. The author pretty much tells you how a relationship works and how it teaches you on how to maintain a relationship through two imaginary people in a book. Lots of love cliches in this book, like love is the strongest thing in the universe and how you should always strive for what you love the most. Everyone has ups and downs in a relationship but the downs shouldn’t sour you relationship and you need to talk it over in order o be happy, as COMMUNICATION IS KEY in a relationship. Also you shouldn’t believe in rumors most of the time because what matters most is your heart and your lover and you should talk to your significant other and lay these rumors to rest. Then if you so happen to believe these rumors and break off your relationship but find out that those rumors were totally false then SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE because your’e going to regret it and cause yourself heartache.In the end I read a sappy romance novel that details the life of the most stereotypical, cliched, Disney-esque couple in all of writing history. Due to the most obvious themes and the “subtle” relationship advice I didn’t like this book at all. If you don’t know how to form and keep a relationship with your’e significant other this book is for you. If you like sappy romance novels in which people talk in poetry as in metaphors and the like this book is for you. I gave it a two-star based on Amazon’s rating system which stated “I don’t like it”. Which perfectly describes for the feelings I have for this book. I don’t like it.

  95. I consider myself a hopeless romantic therefore I enjoyed reading this book because it showed how love survives all obstacles including time however at times I had moments of feeling like I wanted to talk to the characters and make them share their feelings with one another. “Breezes” is a book written by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri in Arabic and translated by Mouna Mana in the English language. The book is written in two languages, right side of book is written in Arabic while the left side is written in English. The story talks about two people that have known each other for a long time, since school yard beginning with a simple handshake, however due to life, personal experiences, time and distance they have been separated from one other. I can clearly tell that they love each other very much however neither of them has the courage to express their feelings, instead they dream of what is could be and wish to express their thought and dreams but they can’t.
    The book starts with the two characters spending time together by the riverbank watching the birds playing happily in the water which in a way helps the character forget their worries and instead get lost in its beauty and innocence. The girl is lost in her thoughts and dreams and when they meet in the park , for the longest time they just sit, looking at each other as if they were trapped in a painting. On page 9, it states “They sat without a word hile on the inside, talk flowed like a torrent”, which frustrated me a little bit. I understand that they are shy and don’t know how to share their feelings however part of me wishes that right there by the riverbank both starts talking to each other and have a real conversation about their love for one another. They are both waiting for the other person to start the conversations which leads to silence and staring at each other for most of the time.
    As the story progresses, she thinks these thoughts of “Why is he so hesitant?
    is he just being loyal to his family? is he afraid of a negative reaction from me? or is it that the beauty he sought in me no longer matters to him after all these years?” but she doesn’t dare to speak about them. They certainly have insecurities and constantly question their every move because they both fear they may make a wrong move or action.
    As the story progresses, the girl leaves to Egypt with a group of classmates however it was very hard for the boy to experience and dreams that she will come back to him. When she comes back, she gives him a keychain with the picture of Abdel Nasser however he takes it as if she gave him the key to her heart. Every time he sees her with another guy, he is afraid that she loves that person and has given him her heart and affection however instead of talking to her, he follows her instead. I did like that he decided to tell his parents about her and even go as far as introduce her to them, which I thought was very brave and courageous. I also liked how they even had a song, Abdul Wahhab song, which indicated a special message between them.
    Around the middle of the book, the love story turns sour and unfortunately they split up. He doesn’t understand why she withdrew from him but she finally tells him that she distanced herself because she heard that he made a pass at another girl. She goes on and asks herself a million questions about the reason for him doing this, she cries but in the end she decides to separate and of course he doesn’t want to break up but he continues to love her in secret and from a distance. On page 56, it states “and that the blaze inside of us is not different
    and that the continuous depth of our emotions, will never die down nor stop” and it showed that even though they broke up their love was still strong and burned even deeper in their hearts.
    As the story progresses, after the separation they are avoiding each other although they feel a strong desire to meet and when they finally get the opportunity to be close to each other they avoid making eye contact. She even tries to delete his name and phone number which in turn will delete him from her mind however it doesn’t work instead she asks if he really hit on another girl while dating her. He tells her on page 89 that “no two were with me at the same time” which to me means that he did not cheat on her which makes it sad because she ended a relationship on rumors and tortured themselves by rejecting each other for no reason.
    At the end of the novel, he receives a book written by her and they meet once again but this time they are older in a retirement home where they finally were together until the end of their lifetime. Although I wished that they remained together and openly discussed their feelings and rumors, this kind of situation happens all the time in real life because people are afraid to talk about their feeling to people they like. I enjoyed the descriptive theme in the novel and the fact that they finally reunited in the end.

  96. Breezes is a romantic novel written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated from Arabic to English by Mouna Mana that tells the story of an intense love that endures over time and distance. The first few pages in, I thought I was reading a book containing a collection of poems until I noticed a continuing story forming. It was a very poetic dialogue between the two main characters who in their youth, were madly in love, but separate out of a misunderstanding and youthful mistakes. Later on down the road they meet again and find that they have been still thinking about each other during their separation and still have a yearning for each other just as strong as ever.
    The story basically begins with vivid and quite beautiful descriptions of the location where the two main characters reunite after the many years of their heart aching separation. Their first meeting did not begin with their own words, but long descriptions of intense emotions and a love that’s been held in and stirring and desiring to be expressed verbally. The reason that emotions are so freely described first rather than words are as the book puts it, “When there are a flood of words on the inside, a spring overflowing with expression in succession, where does a person start?” The story continues on with more silent dialogue in which both of them are wondering what the other is thinking or analyzing each other’s actions and words seemingly afraid of possible responses. All along I kept wondering about what must have happened that caused them to separate despite such intense love that has endured even til old age. Once they finally begin to talk, they begin with small talk and discuss topics of little importance like the beauty of the nature that surrounded them, which showed how afraid they were of sharing their true emotions.
    As the story goes on, in what seemed to me a past memory of their younger days, she takes a trip on a boat to Egypt with a group of students, but he was not going on this trip with her. Instead, he is watching her leave from a distance daydreaming that she would return to him. As it happens, she does return and gives him a small gift with which I feel he interpreted to be symbolic of something deeper than it really was. They end of taking a trip on a bus and it ends up to her surprise with a stopover at the home of his family. This little stop over was so that his family could meet the love of his life and gain their approval, which they did end up giving.
    About midway through the book, she begins to distance herself, but he does not know the reason why until she finally tells him that she heard a rumor about him flirting with an ugly girl with a lower status. But unfortunately for him, she never cared to find out the truth which lead her to rather believe what she heard and try to forget about him, than risk being in more pain. I felt really bad for the guy at this point because he was so in love and then because of a rumor, had his heart broken without even getting a chance to defend himself. This mirrors many relationships today where miscommunication and misunderstandings can cause unnecessary stress on relationships and lead to breakups. When people get hurt they tend to act on their emotions and not logically think through situations and instead make hasty decisions to protect themselves from further pain.
    I don’t want to ruin the ending for the reader so I won’t go any further, but one of my favorite passages is found on page 100. Its states “And if only age were capable! Can old age with all of its experience and knowledge and expansiveness return time past? Can old age fix what youth lacked in experience and knowledge?” This explains that she made mistakes in her youth and had she the wisdom of her current old age that she would have not made the same choices that lead to more heartache. This is something I’m sure most people can relate to and have thought about many times in their lives.
    This book is for those who enjoy reading poetry, romantic themes which explore a wide range of emotions from fear to pain, to intense passions and longing. The story is very detailed and descriptive, which allows the reader to experience the thoughts of the characters in extreme depth which really emerges you into this love story. The book was read from right to left with Arabic translation on the opposite of the English and I thought it was a nice authentic touch which I rarely encounter.

  97. “Breezes” is written by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri in Arabic and translated by Mouna Mana in the English language. The book is written in two languages English is on the left side of book while Arabic is on the right side of the book. When I first started reading the book Breezes I figured it was going to be your typical love story. I soon found out I was wrong. This book is not your typical love story. Breezes is a story of a man and a women who have loved each other since a young age. They were really close when they were young as shown when they had their own handshake with each other. You can really tell right away that these two had a strong love for one another. As they grow older they start to become distant and separate.
    The story really begins at a riverbank where they are reunited. They sit and just watch nature and this is really when you start to see this is not a typical love story. Instead of gushing over each other and expressing their love for one another they sit there in silence. While they sit there in silence they both are thinking about how much they love one another. This starts to become frustrating for the reader because all you want is for them to have some courage and express their feelings to each other. In today’s society I feel as if this is common among teenage lovers. Growing up it’s really hard to express feelings to your first love because the fear of rejection and that is what is going on throughout the book. Both of them are just scared of rejection. It really makes me sad reading this because of all the time that passed where they could have been happy and in love but instead they kept their feeling to themselves. Another sad aspect of this is you can see that they both have insecurities about themselves and that is why neither of them want to speak up. If even just one of them had the confidence they could have shared each other’s love from the beginning. As you continue to read the book the girl takes a trip to Egypt. This worries the boy because he does not know if she will come back or if he will ever see her again. Once she returns she brings him back a keychain and the boy views this as a token of her love. As I read I start to get the feeling as if they are opening up to each other and you can see him expressing his love to her a little bit more. He then introduces the girl to his parents to get their approval and they grant it. Just when everything seems to be headed in the right direction it all comes crashing down. Like I said this isn’t your typical love story.
    The girl starts to become distant again and this really confuses to boy. He is really concerned for her as if he did something wrong. She eventually tells him that she heard he was flirting with another girl. Her mind seems to be set to believe the rumor she has heard. This is really sad because I can just feel for this man. I feel as if he was robbed of love. This another theme that is common in today’s time. Many relationships are foiled because of rumors that float around. Instead of being able to talk about problems people tend to just throw the relationship away instead of trying to fix it. This is not only sad in the book but in real life because I feel as if people are starting to be desensitized to the idea of love and that leads to many people never capturing that elusive emotion. So back to the story, the women leaves the man because she cant bear look at him for what she believes he has done. They live the rest of their lives without each other and end up reuniting in a retirement home. At this moment she asks him if he ever flirted or cheated on her and he tells her she didn’t. After reading this it really hits hard because they could have spent their whole life together but instead they wasted it wishing and hoping they would be together.
    Now that the story is basically over it just made me feel kind of depressed because it turned into a story of “what if” for me. I feel like this book can apply to many people lives. It doesn’t even have to apply to the idea of love. It can apply to people taking chances in their own lives whether with their career or with any type of relationship. Sometimes people just need to take a chance and not be scared and that is one of the themes I feel I grasped from reading this book.

  98. Upon reading the book, Breezes, I would not expect to encounter the type of story laid out in this novel. The novel opens with introducing the scenery the two characters happened to meet. The description of their surrounding gives a whimsical feeling to the opening of the novel. The reader is immediately taken into what the title informs: deep emotions. As the woman is sitting down and enjoying life, life seems to stop as the person of her past appears to her, almost like a dream. The paragraph “How can time stop while life continues? / They have to happen in tandem / Either in their pauses / Or their paces” was among the few lines that stood out to me the most in the first chapter. After settling together, they want to decide on what to do (whether to eat or drink), but they are caught up in their surmounting affection that everything else around them goes away. I felt that paragraph was meaningful because it can be applied currently. While life is happening around us (such as considering what food to order or considering the environment around us), time can seem to stop when our attention settles on one specific thing in the environment. This thing happened to be between the two characters and their irrevocable emotion for each other. The novel continues on to tell their story and how their emotions came to be. Then, they continue to exchange memories of their past with one another and to tell some of their concerns over what they said and felt in the past. As I was reading, I assumed the novel would be too drenched in being poetic that it would lose the narrative. However, as I continued, I felt that throughout the story the poetic mood enhanced the narrative much deeply than a traditional narrative could portray by comparison. The characters talk about their trips and what the emotions they felt during their trip meant to them. In the chapter, A Definitive Trip, the paragraph “Because hearts communicating with each / other aren’t limited by distance / And not disabled by barriers / And not prevented by silence and inability / to speak what stirs in the heart.” had hit home for me. The novel began to become relatable to me in that I thought of my own relationship and placed myself and my partner into the characters’ positions, exchanging dialogue as if I were reading myself and my partner. The novel continues to have a feeling of poetry and narrative as the following chapters rely on explaining the emotion the characters felt at the time of their meeting. Chapters such as Dreams of Joy, Will My Happiness Last?, and The Impossible Attachment brought the reader back to a reflective state. The titles indicated the importance of keying into the main concern in each chapter. In Dreams of Joy, they reminisced over the happier moments of their lives where they would exchange music and moments when they first saw each other. After this, the reader began to examine more of the introspective reflection of the characters’ emotions and thoughts. The following chapters questioned whether the moments the characters encountered one another were mutually sought. It becomes clear that both people truly love each other very much but life, doubt, and fear can get in the way of reaching a realistic love. Other than the intensity of emotion both characters felt for one another, the dialogue written produces such a clear message. I appreciate the simplicity in the exchange and the profoundness in its simplicity. For example, in Wishes, the woman recounts her struggle and longing for relief of her pain—which she explains to the man that that is the reason for her separation from him—at the end of the chapter, he asks her, “And did you find [protection from your struggles] away from me?” In my interpretation of the reading, his simple, single question has a kind of “drop the mic” effect, which further enriches the development of the two characters. In one criticism, it was hard for me to follow the timeline of the novel until the very end exposed where the two characters were in terms of age. The reader follows the two characters through the exchange of memories and some time-skip happens by the end of the novel. It is revealed that the characters are now of retirement age and that their exchange of memories are reminisced through a written story that is read aloud. This ending ties beautifully to the reader in that we find ourselves back to page one without actually being one page one. The novel encompasses the complexities, sorrows, aspirations, and overall ambiguity of love. To me, the end points out that their story is not yet over because they continue on reminiscing and living their affection even as the reader themselves have stopped reading the story. In other words, just like the title of the novel entails, the love story of the two passed by like a breeze—unseen but fully and gently felt.

  99. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a short novel that is filled with love, passion, and meaning. It is translated from Arabic to English. I am usually not into reading (especially poems), but this book gives many hope about their long lost love. I’m sure this book will be considered a fantasy to many readers because not many get to reunite with their long lost love in the end. It is something one can only dream of, which makes the novel that much more interesting to read. What also caught my attention was that the storyline seemed quite familiar. The storyline really resembles Nicholas Sparks’s, “The Notebook”. This novel to me is considered an accurate representation of the actual struggles that a relationship goes through. In other words, it’s something many readers can relate to. In the beginning, I found it a little confusing to read because I’m not too good at understanding poems, which is the way the novel was written. Once, I got a feel for the writing style of this novel I was able to take in the full effect of the meanings and imagery. Actually, I feel that the novel being written through poetry really emphasizes the communication of emotions and the theme of love. It creates a much more detailed image in the mind of the reader through her powerful use of figurative language.
    “Breezes” really puts a story behind the saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” It is about a man and a woman who meet, fall in love, and are separated for a period of time due to their own ignorance. The author did not mention their names throughout the whole novel. I think this was to allow the reader to input their own imagination into the story without the influence of any names..It starts off as an older couple who reminisce about how they had feelings for each other when they were younger but failed to express them. It talks about how their feelings for each other developed over time.They are separated, but years later, they meet up unplanned and still have the same feelings for each other discovering that the love they had for each other never died. Realizing that because they held back their feelings for each other they are left with the thoughts of what could have been.
    The novel is written in first person through the man and woman’s point of view allowing the reader to understand the thoughts and feelings of the characters. The reader is able to picture and imagine what is happening more efficiently because of this. Communication is a problem in many relationships which is what leads some to end. I think the author was trying to show love and relationships realistically but still keeping it romantic and fantasy like. It also challenges the reader to consider their own relationships and what values they have that could be helping or hurting them. The theme seemed new or different but the story is something I’ve heard a few times. Although, that did not cause me to dislike the novel at all.
    The book itself was well worth the price. Many people pay more for stories that aren’t nearly as interesting and enlightening. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is looking for an enticing read. This love themed story covers most if not all the bases of a love story with a better touch of reality. The title, “Breezes” initially would not lead someone to believe that it was a love story. After reading the novel it allows the reader to understand why it titled this. A breeze is unseen but we know it is there but we can feel it. Love is an unspoken and invisible emotion, but it is something everyone can most definitely feel.

  100. By reading the book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri and translated from Arabic to English by Mouna Mana, we are able to see an example of true eternal love. The story is told through a conversation between long lost lovers. Through the dialogue we are clued into both of their pasts and the relationship they had with one another. The story begins when the two are reunited after years of separation in a beautiful scene along the riverbank. The mood is tense and strained at first but soon the two are immersed in the beauty of the scenery and of their feelings for one another. They begin to reminisce on the past and expose all of their deepest secrets and feelings.

    We learn that the two met at a young age and fell in love. Both were too reserved and afraid to verbally express these feelings though so they continued their relationship cautiously. They continued to meet casually with one another, never truly showing the passion burning within their soul. Although no words were used to express the deep emotions being felt, they each were aware of the way the other one felt. As things progressed to marriage their lives took separate paths, but they never lost their love for one another. When the two are reunited they begin to tell one another of their feelings for one another. This is a beautifully written story and speaks of the power of love. It is written with such grace and descriptiveness that we are able to feel ourselves being lost in the beauty and timelessness of this love.

    One of my favorite parts of the book was page 108 when the man says to the woman “ Our intertwined souls don’t know the meaning of illness and don’t acknowledge age because the soul remains in its pristineness, youth, beauty.” This is a very poetic way of saying that love is eternal and something felt through the soul which is infinite rather than the body which is finite. This is the main message of the story, that true love can’t be changed by time or separation. It withstands trials and tribulations and is still loyal. Another theme of this book is the folly of youth and the wisdom of age. The whole reason that the two were separated was because the woman in her young age had believed gossip that the young man was a player. Instead of asking the young man or the girl who started the gossip what the truth was, she blindly believed this rumour and boycotted the young man. This is what led to the lovers separation and pain throughout the next years.

    Now that the woman is in her later years she has more experience and better navigates the situation. When the man approaches her asking to marry her she is very wise and says “let us transform it (their emotions) into a friendship….and fill our days with a joy that’s missing from many who are united by a common roof.” I think that this is a very wise and mature thing to say. She understood that what had kept their passion for one another burning throughout the years had been the mystery of each other and the separation. I really liked that she chose to be friends rather than get married because I think that when people live together they do lose some of the excitement of seeing one another and the appreciation for their significant other. I think that this is probably the only part of the story that some people may not like because some people may have wanted them to get married. But I think that friendship is the best option for them to maintain the love that they have for each other.

    When I began reading this book I was a little hesitant because of the way it is written. It is written like poetry but that actually adds to the telling of the story. The way the dialogue is structured is almost rhythmic and is very precise. The sentences don’t drag on, they are very flowing and it’s a quick read. The book is written in Arabic on the right and on the left is the English translation. It is also written from back to front which took me a little getting used to. All in all it was a great book and I loved the beautiful words used to describe their love and emotions. It’s a great romantic novel and speaks of everlasting love. It’s a great read for anyone looking for romance and a taste of Arabic culture. We don’t learn much about Arabic culture in the story, just a little about the dating practices and traditions. All in all I liked it and would recommend it to others for a good read.

  101. The book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri, translated to English from Arabic by Mouna Mana, Ph.D., is a beautifully written story of eternal if unrequited love. The plot is carried on by a conversation between an old man and an old woman who each loved the other. The conversations they have with each other and the internal dialogue they have with themselves reveal the story of their past relationship and emotions for each other. The setting is on a beautiful river bank bustling with lovely natural life and a calming nature. However, despite this breathtaking setting, the man and woman were both very tense and awkward. Neither knew how to begin a conversation with the other or what each other’s movements meant or their intentions. It is mostly through internal dialogue that their character traits and meaning to each other are established before they begin to fall into their love for one another and reminisce on their past and thusly expand on their hidden, deep emotions.
    Through their conversation, it is reveals that both of the lost lovers fell for each other when they first met when they were very young. Despite this mutual affection for one another, neither if the protagonists proclaimed or even hinted toward their true emotions because they were both too introverted and afraid of being rejected by the other. It is seen that even as older people, they are both extremely afraid of rejection and are very calculated and timid to the point that their conversation takes quite a long time to pick up. So, being in this unfortunate situation, the two slowly continued their relationship as friends, casually, but never expanding outwardly on their emotions. Their lives continued to evolve and grow even though their relationship didn’t. They separated over the years after they married other people and moved on. But the fire of their love never was truly extinguished, and somewhere in their hearts they knew that their love was mutual. Once the two meet again and become comfortable with each other one again, they finally express their emotions for one another outwardly.
    This story is written in a very interesting way. It is written astoundingly gracefully and descript and emotional even past a language barrier. It pulls us into it and makes us feel how the characters feel about this strange concept of an eternal and impractical love.
    My favourite live in the book is a French proverb that interrupts a line of questions from the woman. It reads as such from page 96, “The French proverb said:/ ‘Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait’/ (If only youth knew and if only age were able)” This line is later referred in the the thoughts of the woman, but I believe this line can stand for something if it’s own. This line is a perfect representation of one of the major themes in this novel. It explains that although love is strong and is sometimes eternal despite all odds, if it is ignored or hidden, it will go to waste and die. It is like a less cynical version of the American saying “youth is wasted on the young” because it implies that in every person there is a younger self who wish they did things and an older self who cannot do them any longer, but also leaves room for new youth to learn from the mistakes of the aged.
    Another good part of the book was said by the man on page 108. He says “-Our intertwined souls don’t know the meaning of illness/ and don’t acknowledge age/ because the soul remains in its pristineness,/ youth, beauty” in reference to both the soul of a human and the love for another. He implies that love is eternal and that after the body dies, the souls are free to continue to love forever. The major themes in the novel, the wisdom of age and the folly of youth, and love not being subject to time or distance play out in the end of the novel. The woman explains that she believed a lie about the man in their youth that painted him as a loose lover. As opposed to confronting him on this and verifying the validity of the rumor. She believed it blindly and distanced herself from him, even attempting to “delete him” from her life. And this separation lasted for many painful years.
    As an older woman she was able to navigate the painful situation more easily and successfully. The man proposes to the old woman and she uses get better judgement to turn him down because she knows that their time is short and would better be spent as friends.
    I enjoyed the way the book was written, it seemed like a series of thoughts and observations, with pieces of dialogue protruding through the situational analysis, which I like because that is how I think and thusly how I feel most engaged in a stream of consciousness novel. Beautifully written and strategically paced, this book is definitely a must read for those in need of a love story and or cultural conditioning.

  102. Jessica Brown
    Arab 290

    The book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was about the romantic journey of a man and a woman who were separated for a long period of time then reunited once again later on in life. Both the man and the woman have love for one another, however they struggle with expressing their love to each other. Have you ever liked someone so much that you caught yourself speechless when you’re around them? That’s exactly what this couple was experiencing, they were so caught up in analyzing each other and trying to figure out what the other person was thinking, they weren’t just being themselves. When they finally do talk to each other the conversation is about how beautiful the scenery is instead of their feelings and emotions for each other because they are so nervous and afraid to express themselves to each other. When the man and woman met again and were reunited the first thing that came to my mind was fate. Was it fate? Was this man and woman destined to be together? Or was it just a coincidence that they met once again later on in life? The author made it very clear that they never stopped loving each other and I feel like if the love is real then things will always work itself out. I believe this man and woman were meant to be with each other and nothing can get in the way of two people who truly love each other, not even distance and time. The author did a really good job with pulling in the reader and grabbing their attention with a happy ending.
    There are so many different themes expressed in this story, but I think the authors purpose was to create something so real that almost anybody can relate to. Yes, this is your typical love story but it is unique because the author does an amazing job at showing the true struggles of a relationship. I thought this love story was so easy to relate to because this is stuff that we all go through. We all struggle with expressing how we feel at times and thats what makes this book so realistic. Many love stories are too good to be true and they don’t show the “ugly” parts of the relationship but this book was different. AlDoueiri showed readers that things aren’t always perfect, there are tough times in every relationship and only the strongest couples will be able to survive them. Another theme I thought the author was trying to portray was fear. Fear played a huge role in this story and if it wasn’t for fear this love story probably would have had a totally different out come. The man and woman spent so much time being afraid to speak up that they lost time they could have been spending together.
    Overall I really enjoyed reading the novel “Breezes” many may claim that it was repetitive or predictable but I found it very different and unique in several ways. For example just the layout of the story isn’t your average book. It was originally written in Arabic then translated in English but the book has both languages. I really liked seeing both languages written next to each other because it just shows that a piece of literature can be enjoyed by so many different cultures no matter where it’s written. AlDoueiri’s way of separating each chapter was very interesting because each one was like a different stage of the man and woman’s love. The book was also written in a way where there was a separation between what the characters where actually saying and their thoughts inside their heads. I was a little confused at first but then I realized that the author was trying to show us what the characters were thinking without making it feel like it was being narrated. I also found it interesting that the characters where never named, I sort of liked it because it made it different from the average love story. It was so easy to visualize everything that was going on in the story because I got to read both of the characters thoughts. It felt as if I was involved in their relationship or almost like I was just watching a movie. There was so much detail put into the writing that I could almost feel the emotion being described this also made it really easy to understand what was going on in the story. I found this book not only very effective but I also enjoyed reading it. It’s hard to find a book that interests me and this story really grabbed my attention. I was constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen next and how the story was going to end. I think the audience would really enjoy reading this romantic novel and I would recommend it to anyone.

  103. Breezes, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is a beautiful story about a man and a woman who were in love. Originally, they were college lovers. However, their love was unrequited because of their fear of opening up and revealing it. Unfortunately, they never revealed their true feelings for each other until they were old with age.
    One theme that I noticed from the story was the mutual respect each of the characters had for each other. On page 26, the woman stated that the man was noble and honorable and because of this, he was too polite to grab her hand. On page 24, the man said “I couldn’t dare cradle her hands in my own. She was always the model of a polite girl who would not allow any young man to demean her.” This sentence shows how much he respects her and her wishes. He knows that it would be impolite to grab her hand, and so he kept his distance. All throughout the book, the author describes how much the two lovers wanted to reach out and say how they felt, but they didn’t out of respect towards each other. This phenomena is rare in this day and age.
    Another theme I noticed was just how important family was to the characters. They often talk about family and how they had to make sure the family agrees with their love for one another. On page 56, the man stated “There has to be a meeting between you and my family… There has to be another trip where that would happen.” Why would the man state that if family was not important to him? He wanted to make sure that his family would approve of the woman that he wanted to marry. On page 62, the woman states “I became aware at that moment the meaning of the looks which the family glanced my way. They revealed satisfaction, acceptance with their son’s choice.” Shortly after the man’s brother says to her that the family will visit her soon. Throughout the rest of the trip, she is full of happiness. If she did not care what his family thought about her, she would not have cared about her meeting with the family. Throughout the book, the man and woman bring up loyalty towards their families.
    Another theme that stuck out to me was that love never dies. The woman and the man talk about how much they loved each other all throughout the book. Being separated from one another was so difficult. On page 82, the woman discusses why she withdrew from him and their love. She thought that he cared for another and it nearly tore her apart. On page 90, she discusses how difficult it was for her to separate herself from him. She stated “and I don’t know how many evenings I spent without a single tear drying. She found it so hard to separate herself from him. On page 150, the woman discusses how she tried to delete him and his number from her notebook. She hoped that it would delete him from existence and make him disappear. However her attempt “barely lasted seconds before it encountered the picture of you accompanying my vision and your name emerged in every letter I read.” It seemed that her love for him went extremely deep and there was no way for her to forget him. My favorite quote stated “They say that marriage is often the cemetery of love. So if each one of us has saved for decades and for ourselves a pure idealistic love…Then why try now to bury it?” It was at this moment that the man had asked the woman to marry him despite the fact that they were both old in age.
    The way the story is written is extremely interesting. It is written in a poetic way. Every word is written romantically. We are pulled into the characters romance. Every word they share we can feel ourselves. It made me personally feel as though romantic love can really be out there. Most people say how there is no such thing as romance, but the way that these characters feel towards each other makes me believe that is false. There is such thing as romance.
    I personally found this book a little difficult to read. The story initially is absolutely beautiful. However, I found it hard to follow along. I wasn’t quite sure who was talking where and some of the descriptions I found were hard to understand. However, I believe this is because it was translated from Arabic to English. Apparently, it is very difficult to translate everything word for word. I knew that because it was originally written in a different language, there were be pieces of information missing, or information that was difficult to understand.
    Overall, I really enjoyed the story. Although it was a little bit difficult for me to understand, I understood the meaning behind the text and just how much both of the characters felt for each other.

  104. (Dylan Leonard ARAB 290) Written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated to English by Mouna Mana, the short novel “Breezes” seems like a collection of poems/short stories that lead to a bigger story at first, but oddly enough it ends up being one story altogether. This was a very easy read that was also entertaining and caught my attention. The main theme of this story to me is love as it is continually repeating itself in lessons and emotions throughout. The format is something I’ve never seen before in a book, because it’s written in the format of poems but each page is connected to the next like a story. I’m not sure if this is an Arabic writing style that seems strange to me because I’m from the U.S. or it’s just a writing style I’m not familiar with in general. The story starts off describing the natural beauty and freedom of the world and its animal inhabitance talking about earthly elements such as the “glistening rivers” and “reflecting sunlight” which just show a couple of examples but that is how the story starts using many of these same types of adjectives and imagery. Throughout the novel there is a large amount of metaphors and imagery used to make the story much clearer and easily understandable as well as the themes. The imagery and metaphors that the author uses to grab our attention as readers makes the theme of love stand out time and time again. The way the book starts is confusing at first because the man and woman that the story is about appear as elderly, and all of a sudden flashback to how they got to this point, basically starting with the ending which can be a great literary style. The two start off with no communication whatsoever, at least verbal that is, but both have a constant dialogue going on in their mind. They are both going back and forth in their heads as to what they should say or do but both fear rejection from the other. The woman’s fear is that he will no longer be as in love or into her as he once was, and the man fears that he will be rejected again with any action he takes. A great example was when the man said in his head “I couldn’t dare cradle her hands in my own. She was always the model of a polite girl who would not allow any young man to demean her” (24). They both had so much respect for each other that they held back from all they wanted to say, and do, as the previous quotation shows. The author also provides great use in metaphor that helps us as readers feel the overwhelming emotions between the two characters, the man compared the woman’s hands to the winter season, and when their “fingers intertwined”, “springtime opened up inside.” Although the two have an odd relationship and have been apart for so many years, you can see how much they are still truly in love by metaphors such as these. Many times they compare their love to beautiful earthly elements such as how the story started off describing “glistening waters” and “reflecting sunlight” within the first pages, for example the “sunset” (110). The two end up telling the entire story through dialogue in their own heads and by telling each other why things happened the way they did. As the man and woman start talking, they explain why their love was separated, and how their relationship ended due to the belief of a rumor told by an unattractive woman that may have told the rumor for reasons of jealousy, saying that the love between the man and woman was also going on with another person which led to the abandonment and fleeing of the relationship. The man and woman both use lots of imagery and metaphors to describe their sadness talking about how each of them only thought of each other every night and how their tears could have “filled the ocean” and “never dried.” As they begin to understand each other and the decisions that were made you can see how age has made each wiser and almost in a way strengthened their love. Towards the second half of the novel the man says “Our intertwined souls don’t know the meaning of illness and don’t acknowledge age because the soul remains in its pristineness, youth, beauty” (108) showing how infinite their love was to him, and how there would always be a connection. In the end they seem to fully understand each other, and have gotten past all nervousness of speaking to each other, being able to settle with spending the rest of their lives as friends.The fact that the novel was written in the format of poems really emphasizes the theme of love because poetry is said to be the language of love. At times this style made it difficult to read but when understandable, was really interesting. Breezes, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, depicts the hardships of two lovers that are separated by time, but whose love is maintained through many years. The literary devices utilized, such as metaphors and personification, give the book an element that epitomizes everlasting love and enhances that of true love. I would recommend this novel, it would be a good read for anyone that enjoys a real love story.

  105. Time waits for no one but sometimes love endures the test of time as is apparent in Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri’s book “Breezes”. This book shows the theme of love and the loss of opportunity because of the lack of knowledge and experience due to young age. This book is clearly a love story between a boy and girl that started at a very young age, but are kept apart by a simple rumor but continue to love each other even as the years pass.
    The story separates the point of views from the two main characters in the beginning of the story regarding events that they both were a part of. In the first few chapters, the author tells of their meeting after what seems years and not being able to say to one another how they truly felt about one another but yet it is obvious they love each other. From there she explains how the man missed the girl when she went away to Egypt and talks about the boy and girls first walk together. From there, the main characters go on a trip together which is where the man gets the approval from his family about the girl he loves After this the author now shows communication between the two, reminiscing about past events. The man then asks the woman why it was that she distanced herself from him if it was obvious that she loved him as much as he loved her without communicating it. She replies that she did so in order to avoid getting hurt by him due to the fact that a girl told her at school that he had tried to make a move on another girl. He understood her reasoning behind this but asked her if she had not realized what this had done to him, for the years passed and he still longed for her even as time went on. They both revealed to each other that they both tried to repress thoughts of one another while they were away but that those attempts where unsuccessful and everyday they thought of each other. He once again asks her if she stood by her decision to leave and she responds with the proverb, “If only youth knew, and if only age were capable” (Pg.96). She then explained how she wished she didn’t give into those rumors that made her see him in a bad light and how that proverb meant so much to her, “Can old age with all its experience and knowledge and expansiveness return time past? Can old age fix what youth lacked in experience and knowledge?” (Pg. 100).
    She then shuts him down when she says she doesn’t want to marry him in order to keep the relationship that they have exciting because in her eyes she sees a couple losing themselves after they are together. She wants for them to continue being excited about their meetings and to long for each other when they are not in each other’s presence. This he seems to receive well, not at first, but after explanation from her. They both then continue to recount events in which they were both apart of but continue to avoid each other, once again communicating without a single word in a sense.
    She explains that she tried to rid herself of his phone number but folded and wrote it back down the same day. They once again, go back to talking about the rumor, and how she believed him when he said she was the only one he loved because she knows she was young and naïve to believe such a rumor that caused them separation and unhappiness. And now at an old age they both meet each other in the retirement home they live in.
    As I had mentioned before, one of the themes in this book is love and also the loss of opportunity. It is obvious that they both love each other and the author does an incredible job of showing this through a lot of description of the love between the two main characters in the dialogue that they share, “And the heat of the sun… a simple extract from the blaze of our emotions” (Pg. 118). And most of the book is written this way, and one would think that this would grow old quick but she did it in a very tasteful way that I enjoyed it. Another theme is the theme of opportunity. They knew that they loved each other at a young age but never truly acted on it. I think the proverb I mentioned earlier is a great indicator of the main characters relationship. They had many chances to talk to each other and express their true inner feelings but at times they avoided each other. They would be in each other’s presence but yet they couldn’t get that “knot” the author spoke of out of their throats and this lead to the author telling us what was going on in their heads while they were in silence.
    I appreciate the fact that the author didn’t make this book entirely a “happy ending” story and instead shows the trials and tribulations that often go on in a relationship. Also I loved the modern feel she put in it when explaining that the woman in the story didn’t want to get married because she felt that this was not necessary and that they would remain much happier unmarried. I think we live in a “in love and not being together” type of generation and that a lot of people now choose not to get married and start families together and remain happy. Nowadays that seems to be more and more common. I thought this book was well written and not to long, as I’ll admit that length often draws me away from a book. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a quick and imaginative love story filled with detail.

  106. “Breezes” written by Wafica Mansor Aldoueri and translated by PhD. Mouna Mana, is a romantic theme short novel written in a style of poetry telling the story of pure and innocent love between young lovers that went their separate ways and reunited again in their older years. Upon reading the novel for the first time, I was surprised to see that the book is actually written left to right. Since the book was also written in a poetic form it took a while to get used to reading. However, after you grasp the rhythm of the lines you begin to understand the book more and it really adds a unique element to book that enhances your experience while reading. The way the book was written makes for a fast read since most of the pages are big font poetic lines. I didn’t feel overwhelm by the amount of reading because the book is probably only 30-40 pages long if it was printed in regular size font. The book makes for a great casual reading and doesn’t require much of the reading between the lines to get the message the author is trying to convey.
    The book started out very interesting. At first I thought the whole entire book was just one big poem. However, after reading for a while I came to realize that the book is actually written in a poetic style telling the story of the two lovers through first person view point. The story started out with a reunion between the two long lost lovers near the riverbank. They were both surprised by each other’s presence, the author made the two characters seem lost and flustered by repeatedly asking a series of question as to portray a first nervous encounter that you would typically see on the first date. The series of repeated questions in the passage was a little bit overwhelming at first but after you read the story and grasp the story line you begin to see a pattern of these questions and realize this was done intentionally to show the readers all the different thoughts the characters are experiencing at this moment in time. After reading for a while it was very clear that these two lovers were head over heels for each other and were trying their best to make sure they don’t disrespect one another by questioning not just their actions and gestures but also each other’s. It was apparent that these two lovers were afraid to rush their relationship but also regret many things they didn’t do when they were young. They are faced with a series of self-conflict that they must overcome in order to show one another that they truly love each other.
    The way the novel was written made it very interesting to read because of the way the author structured each line to be like a poem. I myself I’m not much of a fan of short novels, let alone a romantic novel. However, every line that I read became more and more intriguing. Due to the way the story are structured each line add their own little pauses acting very much like a period to give you that rhythm and yet it’s telling a story. The author uses this unique form of writing all throughout the story. The story is told through a first person view point of the two main characters. The author must have done this intentionally to help express the characters internal conflict to the readers. All throughout the story, the two characters constantly question their actions and also reminisced about their past. From reading the book through a first person point of view, I could understand and grasp the message that the author is trying to get across. The way the author wrote the story by giving us readers an insight into the main characters minds really shows the true struggle of a real relationship.
    Overall, the book was a great read and very different than what you’d expect from a romantic novel. It was a realistic type of romance, pure and innocent, yet nothing out of the ordinary. It was a type of scenario where we the readers could easily imagine ourselves being put in the same situation that the two characters were going through. Since the story is told through first person point of view and written in a poetic form it made it a lot easier to understand the mood the author was going for. It may take a little time to get used to this unique type of writing and reading from left to right at first but it will eventually grow on you and you’ll become accustom to it. I would definitely recommend the short novel to anyone who is looking to read a realistic type of romance. It was a very short read and not very time consuming, which makes for a great casual and relaxing entertainment for anyone.

  107. The book, “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was enjoyable to read. The book is mainly about two characters who love each other but are too afraid to admit it. The author used imagery and symbolism beautifully to describe each setting. Most of the text is based on each character’s thoughts and feelings, and there is not as much dialogue going on between them as I, personally, would have liked there to be. I feel like if there was more dialogue, the reader would be able to get a better idea of how they communicated with each other, and get a sense of how their conversations were, whether they were awkward or nerve-wrecking. Honestly, I was not too fond of the idea of having to read an entire book this close to the end of the quarter, but the book was very easy to read. It is different than most books I am used to reading because the first page of the book starts from the back of the book, and it is written in both English and Arabic. The book is a series of poems, and they are each connected to each other, but there is a lot of flashbacks going back and forth. Each poem tells of the different times both characters have an encounter. In each encounter, it seems like they have difficulty communicating with each other even though they have known each other for so long. The synopsis of the book is about a man and a woman who have known each other since they were young, and they have always had feelings towards each other since then. They go, mostly, their entire youth and adulthood hiding how they feel about each other due to their fear of rejection. They feared that the other person didn’t feel the same way about them, and they each refused to make a move unless the other person made a move first. So in a way, their stubbornness and fearfulness were the main factors that got in the way of their happiness. Another reason could be due to life getting in their way and separating them. For example, in the very first poem, it seems as if they have been absent in each other’s lives for quite a while, and once they see each other again, they decide to catch up and reminisce on the days of their youth. Another example is in the second poem where once again they get separated. She is on a ship heading off to a trip, and he is late on finding out about it, and although, he gets to wave bye to her, she isn’t aware of his presence. He had wished he went with her during that trip, so he stood there waiting for her every day until she returned. Eventually, the two friends became more than friends, and they establish an actual relationship, but they face a few obstacles. There were rumors about the guy flirting with another girl, and jealousy consumed her, which led her to distance herself from him without even confronting him and asking him if the rumors were true. Later on, she admits that she tried to forget him, but her attempt failed. He confesses that he was never with two girls at the same time, and that he feared that if he were to verify this when the rumor started, she wouldn’t have believed him. In the end, even though they wasted most of their time hiding their true feelings from each other, they were still very fond of each other. They still found the innocence of their youth within each other as if time went back. One part of the book that really stood out to me was when they guy asked her about them getting married, and her opposing to it. She’s basically saying that the start of marriage will be the end of the relationship because they’ll start having problems. Her argument is that they if they are apart, they’ll miss each other and, in contrast, if they live together they will end up getting tired of being in each other’s presence all the time. I think people will definitely relate to this because not everyone wants to get married. Some people might believe that marriage doesn’t define the importance of their relationship, but other people might differ. I feel like this book has a likability to it because it’s relatable and slightly realistic. I believe that many people, especially teenagers, can relate to this book because the start of a new friendship or relationship can be very awkward especially if you are trying to get to know each other. It is very common for people to hide their feelings because once you expose yourself to other people, you’re in such a vulnerable position. People always dream that the person that they like likes them back, but they never take a risk in finding out because they fear the outcome. If you don’t take risks, you might regret it for the rest of your life, and I believe that this book sets a perfect example on what might happen if you keep your true feelings hidden for too long. I would recommend this book in hopes that it can motivate other people into confessing how they truly feel about someone before it is too late.

  108. In The Breezes, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, the reader is taken into a love story between two people who struggle to express and share their love for one another. The story begins with the two character reuniting once again after not seeing each other for years. Throughout the poems within the book, the two characters give their perspective of what they feel and how hard it was for them to truly show their love for each other. Through the theme of fear and pain with the use of flashbacks the reader can see that message that author is trying to deliver through its characters’ story.
    One of the main themes seen throughout the sets of poems is fear. In the first short poem, “Deep Emotions” the two lovers meet again after not seeing each other for years and during their meet fear is what was most noticeable. The author decided not to use dialogue between the two characters, but instead the two characters are talking to themselves. “Why doesn’t he continue the gesture?/ is he afraid of my rejection?” (pg.24). The woman realizes that the man is as scared to express his true feelings for her, she notices that he wants to hold her hand but out of fear of rejections he is hesitant to do so. And until the end of this short poem the two characters just think to themselves about what if, maybe, and I afraid. Fear plays a key role to the characters and the storyline because it shows that there is a strong history between the two, a history that left them both hurt.
    Flashbacks play a key role to explain why the two lovers seem so distance and scared. In the “Dream of Joy” there is a flashback of the two lovers in their youth having a good time with friends. This flashback helps the reader see that their love came from a young age and their love can be describe as something innocent. Both of them attempt to have small romantic looks, but their innocent and nervousness just put a wall between the two. The reader can take that this relationship was nothing more than young love, there seem there is nothing that indicated that there was conflict. However when we go back to the present moment, we see that something happened that ended the two characters in distress. In the poem “The Separation,” we see that it hurt the woman to decide to separate herself from him, because she noticed that he was distancing himself from her. Not truly knowing what his reason was at the moment, she still knew that having her heart follow him would only hurt her. However in “Will My Happiness Last?” we then see that the man did so because he did not wanted to engage in such a deep love he was starting to develop with her. Here the readers can see that fear is the key reason to why their relationship did not work out well. They were too scared to show that love, again out of fear of rejection. Their thoughts were the true reason to why they could not love each other, fear was too strong to overcome their thoughts. The pain they felt, especially from the woman, drove the two lovers away from each other, and it is interesting that this happened because it was all a misunderstanding. When the woman accused of the man for flirting with another girl or being with another, the man told her that he never did so, this showing that the two characters were starting to have conflict. And because of the conflict they were starting to see they didn’t want to risk losing their friendship. This shows the reader that the two characters worried more about risking what they have for maybe something better. With the combination of fear, the theme of pain seems to help emphases how the two lovers hurt. Their fear of pain and asking, telling, and working out the conflicts they had with each other prevented the two from having a wonderful relationship, because at the end they both love each other.
    Unlike many love stories this one really made me feel what the character were feeling. There is so much one can relate to this story, the fear of hurting another person, and the fear of trusting the other person. These are some reasons to many people face when they want to be in a relationship, but this story really enlightens the readers that yes fear of rejection, pain, and hurting is a possibility when it comes to entering a relationship, but that is something that we can never control, so instead of fearing and later coming to an age where we regret not trying, one should go into that relationship with trust, hope, and love. Trust is something that the two characters never had and that is why they could never start anything more, and the author does a great job of delivering the massage to the readers we should not grow old and count our regrets and say “what if I did this, my life would have been different” but we should face the fears we have so we would instead of having regrets we would create memories.

  109. The short novel “Breezes” that is written by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri, and that is translated into English form Arabic is by Mouna Mana is a love story with a set of poems throughout the whole book that is showing the relationship of a man and a woman. The book is showing the love that the man and woman have for each other and the how there love is lasting forever. The short novel uses a lot of imagery and metaphors to show the theme of the story and to make the story a lot clearer. The imagery that is set in the book and the metaphors the author uses is greatly appreciated by the readers because that what makes the love theme and also that’s what catches reader’s attentions as well.
    The way the whole plot of the story is just greatly well written. I just love how through the conversation it shows how they first loved each other without even realizing it when they were young and how through the years they grew together. The two were very mutual towards each other and this was throughout the story. It is sad to see but happens in peoples everyday lives is being scared of rejection. The man and the woman show this when they were young and as they got older. The two did not want to approach each other in any way because of rejection and it is even showed when it says, “It was a fleeting hand shake that camouflaged the intense, repressed, invisible emotions” (8). When they were young and growing up their emotions never showed towards one another and met other people and basically grew apart from each other by talking and building relationships with other people. The love that they had for each other really never went away but later rather than sooner they meet each other again when they are older and start building up their relationship again and both start talking about each other and actually express their emotions for each other that the both had.
    This short novel is full of imagery, it makes the whole story because it makes you visualize how the whole setting, the mood, the theme, and how everything is in the story. For example when in the story it says,” Do you remember our whispers on that moonlight…” (67). When the author expresses this part of the story it shows a lot of imagery because the man and the woman are reminiscing their past experiences together. Also just the way the author expresses each piece of imagery just paints the picture for you and shows exactly how they whispered to each other under the moon light. It is just such a romantic setting the way everything is explained.
    All of the literary elements that were used by the authors played a big part of writing this short novel to pull off such an amazing story. All of the literary elements that were used really make the reader feel and visualize the emotions and really understand the whole picture of these two peoples love life and how they feel for each other. Love is something big and something that will last forever. The wonderful piece shows how love works and how love can last forever no matter what life bring to you. The couple of examples that I showed were great examples of the kind of literary elements that were shown in this amazing novel. These literary elements also make the short novel a great book to read for young adults because it shows and helps show young adults how life is. Life is like a rollercoaster and this novel clearly shows how life is a roller coaster. When the man and woman were young they got along just great but didn’t share the emotions with each other about each other and they went their own ways as time passed by. As time passed by they meet each other again and finally overtime talk about each other’s emotions towards each other and express themselves to each other. The short novel Breezes goes above and beyond because of all the literary elements that were used to make this short novel happen. Overall this novel is well written and very enjoyable to read because it catches your attention and also helps you look at life a different way. The short novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated by Mouna Mana, is a must read. It shows two lovers lives and how they go through a difficult time by not being together for a time period but than that changed towards the end of the short novel. The literary elements that were used gave the short novel a great touch because all of the elements made the story happen. This book is highly recommended and would be a great read for anyone that appreciates enjoy great work.

    Anthony Ferarita

  110. The short novel “Breezes”, was written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri the book was originally written in Arabic but translated in English by Mouna Mana. The book consist of the original Arabic edition on the right side of the book and also the translated English version on the left. My initial thought of the book when I read a couple of pages is that this would be your typical love story that you and I probably read and heard a million of times, but after reading more I was proven other wise. The story “Breezes”’, starts off with what it looks like a poem with describing the scene of the two characters meeting with very detailed descriptions such as “ The glittering river flowed gently Droplets of water shining within it Reflecting sunlight or evening lights Making the ripples seem like a diamond necklace”, which makes the reader feel some sort of whimsical feeling due to its descriptive language of explaining the setting’s beauty. The story “Breezes”, is a story of a relationship between this man and woman who were once the closest and the best of friends at a young age that eventually split up and became distant as they grew older. However, despite them both having mutual feelings for each other they did not know how to express the way they felt for each other. “Breezes”, starts off with again the beautiful description of the setting which is a riverbank in which both the woman and man that were once close,reunite like they did before. As they are reunited they both just sit next to each other and enjoy nature as the book described of how beautiful the setting was. Sad to say that they were unable to share the mutual feelings they felt for each other in the past. While they are in each other presence at the waterfall both of them think rather than displaying their affection that they each feel towards each other. Which is not really found in your typical love story or romance. Which I also found very interesting and different from the typical love story I have read. While reading “Breezes”, I found it kind of odd and sort of frustrating that none of them know how to express their feeling for each other especially when the feelings are mutual, but again I like how they can still respect each other even though they’re not in the relationship they longed for. Later on throughout the story, the girl goes to Egypt for a trip which leaves the guy sort worried and sad of the possibility if they would ever meet again and possibly advance their relationship. After her trip from Egypt, she brings him back a keychain in which I felt like the relationship would actually grow into something more serious which leads him to introducing her to his parents. Unfortunately, their relationship doesn’t go as great as I expected. They began to become distant again because the girl has heard rumors that the he has been flirting with another person which has him confused. In which she truly believed that he did when in actuality he did not do anything unfortunately. Thus creates a theme, that many things can be highly affected by the words and people around you in which this case it affected their relationship which went down the drain unfortunately. Unfortunately, after all that has happened they became again distant again. Towards the end of the story, they both meet again at an old age at a retirement home and then she finally asks the important question of whether or not if he flirted with another women and his answer was no. This really left me kind of sad because they could’ve been happy for all those years, but due to one little instance their relationship practically ended in which could have been something beautiful since their relationship was about true love rather than lust and has been on going for a good amount of time that was practically their whole lives.
    Throughout my years in school and the things I read, I myself was never really exposed to Arabic literature or even heard about it, so this short novel “Breezes” by Walfica Mansour AlDoueri, is the first Arabic novel I ever read and in which I expected there to be some type of terror or something thats doesn’t really deal with Romance. Since throughout my Arabic 290 class I have read some short stories and seen a couple of videos written by Arabic writers and involves the Arabic culture and there is always some type of struggle thats usually not as complex in “Breezes” such as many of the short stories I have read they usually deal with some type of civil injustice and how their lives are in danger. In “Breezes”, the problem is love rather than in many Arabic literature I have read again they usually deal with some type of danger in one’s life and civil injustice. After reading “Breezes”, I’m pretty impressed of what I read and would like to read more literature from the Arabic culture and their well-known Arabic authors.

  111. Breezes-Dhanraj Patel

    Mouna Mana has translated a very romantic novel “Breezes” written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri from Arabic to English. Reading Breezes I was getting the feeling of pure love that every young man and women have these days but unfortunately the novel had some drastic change in the love story of these two young people. Two young people madly in love with each other since youth, both couldn’t tell their feelings to each other, and finally being separated due to misunderstandings and small mistakes. After reading this sad story this gives me chills and brings question to my own mind that this can happen to anyone or myself. But anyways both loving each other since they were young and then all of sudden distance grew and separation was taking place between both of them is just extremely sad. Both end up not living with each other for rest of their life due to misunderstandings and eventually when they are at the end of their life both meet each other again in retirement home and ends up clearing the misunderstandings.

    Basically this novels love story is not simple as modern day love story, this love story consist of patient, true love, and heart breaking results. The novel starts with nice description of location where both reunite after many years at the riverbank. They both see each other, sits at the riverbank enjoys the nature, with the pain of not being able to express their feeling years ago. They sit there and think about how much they love each other and the fact of not being able to express feelings. The reader just has to be super patient with this love story because in modern day people express feelings in casually and with no fear so for people from these days to understand the real feeling behind their love story is really intense. Eventually both start a small discussion and but it is so easy to tell that how afraid they were of each other to tell their feelings.
    I think that both had some fear of getting rejected if either of them expressed their feelings but if either of them showed some braveness and expressed their emotions and feelings both of them could’ve have lived happily with tons of love rather than being all heartbroken. Later in the story the girl goes on a trip to Egypt and the boy doesn’t so when she is leaving for Egypt the boy see’s her go away and he is all scared and worried because he doesn’t know if she will ever come back and if he will get to see her again in future. Luckily she does end up coming back and astonishingly she brings a small gift for him, which represents her love for him. So she tries to show her love through her gift and both starts to show little feelings for each other. Both later on goes on a small bus trip where the boy takes the girl to introduce her to his family in way to show his feelings for her and to get approval from the parents. Fortunately parents ends up giving blessings and approval for their love. As we move into more the girl start to distance herself from him, he boy is all concerned and has no idea why she is growing distance. He was all confused until she tells him that she has heard rumors about him flirting with other girls. The worst thing she did was that she believed the rumor, never thought of finding out the truth, risked their relationship and ended up breaking it. It is extremely awful that he got no chance to explain and poor guy had no chance of saving relationship. So some misunderstandings can create huge problems and can cause real pain for rest of the life. I personally believe that never go based off of what others tell you until you personally find the truth. If the truth is not found and you go off a rumor then you can definitely expect disasters in relations. Both ended up breaking up with feelings for each other, if she could’ve at least tried to find the truth and believe him instead of the rumor they both could’ve lived happily forever.

    If we really see in reality today, its extremely sad because when your heart is broken when you especially loved someone just because of some ridiculous rumor its unbearable. People in reality need to take better steps for their relationship to prevent disasters. Coming back they meet each other and she ask if he ever flirt or cheated on her and he replies with a NO. The moment he said NO it gave me chills because they wasted their life without each other when they could’ve been together.

    The novel is really good and its detailed very descriptively so that the reader can enjoy the romance in the novel. This novel can actually help so many people in real life that it’s better to take the rick of telling the truth, feelings, and emotion rather than live the life with sorrow and pain. “Breezes” is a vey well written book that gives the true meaning of love and pain.

  112. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a classic love story about two people who fall in love and about all the moments that were shared together. I think that the title of the book relates to the classic love story because while the two characters were falling in love, it seemed like every moment went by like a “breeze”. In my opinion, the book expressed how complicated love can be and how family becomes a huge outcome on who you decide to confess your love to. A short summary of what the book is about is two people who fall in love while they’re both still in college, and they go through a series of different events together, and phases of a relationship, for example, the awkward stage, the riskiness of whether or not the other one likes you back, and then the stage of breaking off the relationship. Wafica Mansour Alboueiri did a good job on showing how intricate love is and how family is very included in your love life by telling the love story in consecutive order of the events that these two people shared together throughout the time and how much they loved each other.
    I’m not really a big fan of romance novels or movies because in my opinion not a lot of romance stories are relatable or even somewhat true, or they’re full of lust, and in my opinion these novels and movies put more emphasis on physical love rather than an emotional love and connection between the two character, but “Breezes” is the complete opposite of all of that. “Breezes” is a novel focusing on the true love of these characters and how fate always gives the impression of bringing them back together which makes them basically soul mates. I also think that “Breezes” is a somewhat relatable story no matter if someone is younger or older. I think “Breezes” is very relatable because of the young and innocent love they have.
    The themes that Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri incorporated into her story were very powerful because by reading how these two people fall in love, you can really see how much effort it can take to let someone know you love them and how much you need to sacrifice in order to make the relationship work. By reading this book, it showed me that not everything is perfect when it comes to relationships and that there are many things that can go wrong but you have to be able to push through and work things out with one another when sufferings come along. In society today, so many people throw away relationships without trying to work through things together because they’re not shown how to handle situations like that. This book shows that everyone can have that special connection with someone that you would do everything for and you can call them your “soul mate”. This relates to the story because the two people who have fallen in love with each other, broke up eventually and never talked to each other for a very long time. One day they met up again and they start talking for hours about how much in love they use to be with each other and that they still felt the spark between the both of them even though they have not seen each other for so many years.
    Even though I really enjoyed reading the book, I found myself to be a bit unhappy about how many questions were in the story. I get that the author was trying to express the thoughts that were going through the character’s head, but there seemed to be too many questions being asked at one time. It started to get confusing and became a bit overwhelming for the paragraph I was reading at the time.
    Overall I believe that this book is very well written and has a really great story line. If I were to have found it on my own in a library or a bookstore somewhere, I would have probably picked it up and read it for recreational purposes rather than academic purposes. The way the book is written gives off a kind of feeling that draws in the attention of the reader. Once I began reading the book it was pretty hard to put it down. As a non-avid reader, I don’t really like reading much, but I actually enjoyed reading this story and would probably read more books coming from this author in the future.

  113. The book Breezes really inspired me more from other Arabic literature readings I have read previously. The book really concentrates on the emotions of the two narrators and displaying visuals throughout the text. The beginning of the book opens up with describing the scenery, nature, feelings, smells, and sensations of the setting. This opening follows throughout the entire book and creates an impactful setting. This is also followed by the describing the emotions of the characters throughout the text. While reading this book, you can feel what they are feeling between each other so well that you begin relating yourself to the narrator’s. The text was an easy read, but it was complicated in first starting the book due to the mixture of fonts. It wasn’t until later you indulge yourself in the book that you appreciate the mixture of the font as it helps you switch back and forth from the man, woman, and the third person narration. This style of writing helps you understand the conversation between the two people. Other things I appreciate about the book is how it did not really talk a lot about religion. I understand that religion is a large proponent to Arabic religion, but I connected to this book due to that. I appreciate the Arabic religions, but for myself who doesn’t comprehend Arabic religions it is easier for me to relate to. In the text, there were a lot of questions that was asked by the couple. This didn’t necessarily distract me from the reading, but it was too much. The two would ask an obsessive amount of questions that would never answer. I understand this was done to probably provoke more thoughts for the reader to expand the volume of the book yourself. The book reminded me a lot about the movie “The Notebook” were there an elderly man explaining the story of a controversial couple meeting and falling in love with each other to an elderly woman who has dementia who is actually the elderly man’s wife and the story are about the two falling in love with each other. The story opens up with the couple meeting each other at an undisclosed location. The two describe the encounter as a nervous breakdown while the two were thinking of how happy they were to finally reunite. Continuing on the couple describe why the connection between the two failed. You then go down memory lane of how the two met while they were both young and still in school. It describes while they were meeting they were overwhelmed with nervousness because they were so infatuated with each other. You begin to learn at this time how conservative the woman is. It is not mentioned why she is so conservative with her body, but you can assume that it spawns from a long line of religious beliefs and that is why she preserves her virginity. She is so conservative that even when they met after a long absence, it is a long process just to build up the courage to hold her hand. He refrains from doing so because it is mentioned she is still pure. The story continues as the man builds excitement to introduce the woman to his family. In Arabic culture, apparently, a man introducing a woman to a man’s family is pretty significant as it symbolizes a deep love and expectation that this woman is “the one” for him. During the encounter with his family, the brother says something very impactful to the woman that sticks with her for the duration of the book. This significantly impacts her as it haunts her for the remainder of the story. The story continues on as you experience the development of their love as it unfolds more and more throughout the story. Suddenly without warning though the story takes an unexpected turn. The woman starts describing as she is hurt by the man. You then learn that the woman hears that the man had started talking to another woman and interacting with her. She hears this from friends of her and she then learns that it is true and that he has begun touching the other woman, something that he does not do with her. This deeply affects her and for the good amount of the story you go through their conversations which leads the man to explain his reasons for betraying the woman he said he loved so much.The man never gives a solid answer to why he did what he did, or at least I didn’t see his reasons. The man does give his deep sympathy and apologizes for his actions because he really does love her still. The story continues and you begin to see them separate and you see less and fewer conversations between the two people and you see the third party narration more. You then flashback to the current time where they meet when they are older and they begin to rekindle their love. It was an overall great book and I appreciate the style of writing. I definitely would recommend this book to someone interested in Arabic literature.

  114. One requires patience when reading this book. Let me tell you why: the girl and boy are wholeheartedly in love with each other, yet they lack the courage to express their true, reciprocating feelings toward one another. When I say that they lack courage, I do not insinuate that they are shrinking cowards—rather they are both human beings who are reluctant and dread awful rejection. So you must forgive the innocent lovers, because do we not all fear rejection as well?

    In Breezes, the adoration is rooted in their youth. Their feelings sprout purely and innocuously when they are children. Simply being in the other’s presence pleased them, like when the boy walked the girl home only for a short distance. Looking into the face of the other delighted them too, even though making eye contact made them shy sometimes. When they are grown, life separates them to their respective callings. As they age and spend many years apart, their love merely grows stronger. When they encounter each other again, they even revealed that not a day passed in their lives without thinking about the other. Their story supports the saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” In their old age, their love was the same as in their youth. Each still soft in speech, yet loud in love and resilient for resolution. Perhaps it is because they are nearing the ends of their lives that they finally possess the purpose to admit their feelings.

    The way that the author describes their love is undeniably sweet. There is nothing vicious, deceitful, ill-mannered, or immodest about their feelings. It is unadulterated and uncontaminated. Their type of love is especially admirable because it does not reflect the overexposed relationship in today’s culture. I wish this type of love was more prevalent in modern society. Lust is often confused for love, and these lovers are uncorrupted by it. Outward appearance and physical beauty were not even traits the other mentioned that much, even if it all. They do not desire the other’s body, but indeed yearn the other’s company and absolute devotion. They do not even want the other’s money, land, or their property. I suppose it is propitious that each are apparently in the same socioeconomic level, since the boy’s parents approved of the girl when he introduced her to his family.

    Breezes does take an unpleasant turn when the girl makes a decision to distance herself from the boy. The reason why, you will have to find out… But what I could take from her choice is to listen to all sides of the story. Reach the source. Not only do you deny others of communicating their sides, but you also deny yourself of the truth. You put yourself through unnecessary anxiety because you refuse to face confrontation. Although the truth may hurt, the truth may also be liberating and bring you satisfying relief. You may save yourself from an incredible amount of pain (and years, in this story’s case).

    The author illustrates a vivid and lovely setting for the lovers to happen upon. It felt intimate for the author to share not only their spoken word, but the lovers’ inward thoughts. There are a couple conversations where the lovers seem to exchange telepathic dialogue, but they are the words they wished to have said but did not have the bravery to voice. I could also appreciate that the lovers were unnamed. It helps the reader identify with the characters and place themselves into the characters’ shoes. It disposes the reader in an active role throughout the story. Love and rejection are universal relatable feelings, so the reader can easily empathize for the lovers.

    This fear that plagues the lovers has inspired myself to take courage. I do not want to be the person who holds such ardent emotions for another and spend all of my years not expressing them to the sweet human being. Love deserves to be expressed and made true. Love should not be silent. I admit that love is delicate and it softens your heart. I believe that confessing your love truly does make you appear weak because you are allowing that person to hold your heart and possibly drop it and let it shatter into pieces. Although it required suffering, I could identify with the girl’s decision to distance herself because she was afraid. But in the end, is love not worth the risk? Is temporary embarrassment really the most awful thing someone could experience? Should love not be shared, especially when there is an amazing chance that is not unrequited, but actually returned?

    I would recommend this book for the reader who can endure the torment of unspoken feelings and find peace with the romantic ending. Although time aged the lovers, their adoration remained genuine. And their love will last because they seized a moment of courage. It is never too late.

  115. The Novel “Breezes” written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, she is a lawyer, educator and community activist who has advocated for human rights throughout all her career. Breezes is the first novel she ever wrote. Breezes is a short novel about everlasting between a man and a woman. It is a quite amusing story, which had a poetic rhythm to it. The book came written in its original Arab language along with an English translation next to it. Something else I noted about the was that the book was printed from right to left which was probably due to the fact that it was originally written in Arabic. The book starts off with meeting once more in their older part of life. There is no direct dialogue at first, the reader is only known of what each individuals thoughts are. They fear getting rejected, the man fears rejection and the woman fears that he won’t be as into her as he once was. Later when the man builds up enough courage to ask her a question he asks her why she had rejected him and attempted to cut off all ties with her. She then responds that she was too young and naïve and should of not payed attention the rumors she heard of him which were saying that he was a player and therefore she regrets her actions. A lot is learned of their internal dialogue, their feeling towards each other are mutual. There are many themes in this novel the one that ties it all together and is the most frustrating is fear. If they would of not feared to talk to each other they could of spent their lives together before growing old. She was fearful and did not want to ask him if the rumors were true and therefore stayed away from him and searched for loyalty instead. They feared to talk or make a gesture to one another because their fear of rejection. This was frustrating because their lives could have been entirely different but that brings up another point by the author that the youthful mind is much different than when you are older. If she was older maybe she wouldn’t of been fearful to ask him about the rumor or as it was discussed in the novel, or maybe she would not of believed the girl that spread the rumor. Although they feared what they could be the fear they shared came out of another main theme, love. This is a beautifully written story and speaks of the power of love. It is written with such grace and descriptiveness. The book is full of emotion and passion, due to the protagonists and their romantic relationship. The novel uses literal devices and symbols are beautiful. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading love stories.

  116. I read the summary about “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri and thought that it was going to be a typical love story like the ones I have read a thousand times, but that was not the case. “Breezes” tells a story about a woman and man who meet each other again in their late years, and reminisce about their younger years when they were madly in love with each other. Of course, they are still in love with each other, though, as you can tell right from the beginning. Once could assume that the old lovers will reconcile as they try to figure out what went wrong, but that’s not the main focus of the story.
    “Breezes” was written in Arabic and translated in English. It felt like was reading a poem by the way it was translated, and I imagine that’s how it’s written in Arabic. It is beautifully written, in my opinion. It had a song-like feel, as your read the description of what the characters felt.
    “Breezes” changes point of views constantly, letting you know the feelings of both protagonist. I felt like that was important, as it made you see both sides to the story and not one, which in this case is beneficial because the book is a conversation between both protagonists, deciding and commenting on their youth and decisions that were made. I really did like the constant changes of point of view because I felt like I really did have a sense of what both characters were feeling. The imagery in “Breezes” was also great, because it let you feel as if you were really there, physically and emotionally wise. The headings as the scenes changed from present and past are really helpful, and I applaud the author for that. If not, I would’ve been confused on what I was reading.
    Jumping into “Breezes”, right from the start I got the sense that it was going to be a book where you had to be patient with the characters. At some point it made you think, “If you two really love each other, then why don’t you just get together?!” but as you read on, it made you really think about love and life in general. The thing that kind of frustrated me was the fact that they were both so in love, yet they hesitated in everything they did. Even as they gained experiences in life in their late years, they were still hesitant about the things they did, and the feelings they felt. Now, I thought it would have the “happily ever after” vibe, in a sense that they were meeting again and trying to figure out what went wrong, but it wasn’t like that at all. I think that the whole point of their meeting was to let go of the past, and the troubles that they felt. They both wanted closure, even if it meant that they wouldn’t be together in the way they desired.
    The love that I got from reading the story is honest, innocent, and pure. I imagine that’s what one strives for when looking for a partner, and the fact that they both had it, had me feeling shocked that something so simple could ruin it. The rumor that went around showed how evidence is necessary when deciding to believe if it’s true. Obviously, gossip is the downfall to many relationships as of now. It always has, and it will always be if the evidence isn’t given.
    The author described the characters in a lovable and innocent way. For example, the man in his youth respected the woman with a kind heart, and wholehearted intentions. The woman seemed timid, hesitant even, but her character was projected in a way where I thought that’s how everyone starts off when they first fall in love. Her character progressed when they are older in present time, and you could really tell how life shaped her, and what affect her first love left her. It was sweet, seeing the memories they have, and emotions they felt. I certainly related to both characters when reading, and I liked how their experiences shaped them.
    I would recommend this book to anyone who feels a sense of hopelessness in life, concerning love lost or a friendship lost. Its main target is for readers looking for a romance story, but it doesn’t necessarily have to apply to that. The meaning that it conveys can be interpreted in many ways. For me, it was that even if someone doesn’t have a happy ending, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be worked out. Closure is the main thing to strive for, and after that it’s moving on with life. It’s an easy read, it just requires you to see both point of views, and decide if the problem that caused them to pull apart, if it was worth it. It also teaches you a lesson, to make sure to always have evidence to something that you heard.

  117. Breezes, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated by Ph.D. Mouna Mana, is a romantic set of poems that depicts the struggle of true love between man and woman. Throughout the novel, the authors explore a variety of literary devices that amplify the message that love is everlasting. The most dominant of these devices include metaphors and personification. As a result of these impressive combinations, AlDoueiri and Mana create a dramatic love story that is a great read.
    The authors do an excellent job at employing a variety of literary devices to enhance the overall message of the piece that love is everlasting. A main device amongst the multitude are metaphors. Throughout the entire work the authors provide countless examples of metaphors that help the reader imagine the emotions that overwhelm the main characters when in each others’ presence. For example, the man compares his lover’s hands to the winter season, and when the two’s “fingers intertwined,” “springtime… opened up inside of [the man].” (76). Clearly, one can see how this metaphor not only deepens the overall tone, but it also helps create the beautiful and strong depiction of what love really is. The man also compares the couple’s love to the sunset, describing how “even if its absence appeared it still exists… ongoing even if it appears to be setting” (110). The authors utilize this metaphor to demonstrate the deep rooted love this man and woman have for each other. The man is simply stating that their love will always exist, thus, supporting the author’s message. Even though hardships may come one’s way, love will always prevail.
    Another literary device the authors use to enhance the overall message of the piece is personification. For example, the man describes the “fight” the two had with time, where they had to “choke them” and “stamp out its signs” (112). Time had separated them yet they chose to fight it and attempt to keep their love alive. This personification is significant in that it illustrates that love is not always an easy task to take on. Love, just like anything else, is something that one must fight for and maintain to keep it vibrant and beautiful. Not only does this enhance the author’s message of everlasting love, but it also comments on the ups and downs of said love. However, despite those hardships, love still finds a way to prevail. Also, the woman expresses her everlasting love when she states, “forgive me if this feeling has not slept yet. It remains awake over the course of a long period of time” (142). This obvious personification is a clear example that illustrates everlasting love. The authors draw a parallel: love that never sleeps is love that lasts forever. The woman, despite the years and years that separated her from her man, she still possess that flame that ignites her desire to be with her him. Not even time could stop the love she has; it is simply something that will always exist.
    The variety of literary devices the authors employ throughout the work is extremely remarkable and makes these poems a great read. It not only paints a perfect picture of what the two lovers are imagining, but the devices also help the reader feel the emotions that the protagonists undergo. It is difficult for one to successfully depict what love is really like, however, this brilliant piece is almost spot on. The devices that were discussed are utilized in such a way that clearly illuminates the meaning of true love and also enhances the author’s message of the lasting power of said love. These devices also make this piece an epic read in that they give the words on the page life. The successful use of literary devices, ultimately, distinguishes between an average story and an exceptional one. However, it is clear to see that Breezes goes above and beyond this. There are an abundance of other literary devices in this work that have not been mentioned, all of which plays the same vital role in the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Not only that, but this is the translated version. It is hard to imagine how much more impact this piece has in its original form. All in all, this is an excellent, well-written work.
    Breezes, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated by Ph.D. Mouna Mana, is simply a must read. It depicts the hardships of two lovers that are separated by time, but whose love maintains its full potential. The literary devices utilized, such as metaphors and personification, give the book a certain “spark” that epitomizes “everlasting love” and it enhances the meaning of “true love.” This book is highly recommended and would be a great read for anyone looking for a dramatic love story.

  118. Love is a very powerful emotion, easily capable of holding one captive from escaping their feelings. This is exemplified in the novel Breezes, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. Translated in English by Mouna Mana, the novel was an intriguing read, captivating from the start through the use of inconceivable imagery. The novel is composed of a series of poems that describe the two lovers’ journey. I agree with AlDoueri’s idea that true love can be shared through substantial periods of time as well as adversity. The true power of love is shown brilliantly by AlDoueri as he uses the themes of innocence and fear along with flashbacks and imagery to further illustrate the true feelings that the lovers share.

    In the opening of the novel, AlDoueri starts with a flashback, and makes it clear that the two lovers have not seen each other in quite some time. He then goes on to further examine just how powerful their love is for each other by examining their actions as well as their surroundings. The reader feels as if he or she is sitting directly next to the lovers, as AlDoueri notes of the beauty of nature. He claims, “The river seems pleased with the innocent life of these docile animals living on it/Its surface reflects the gloomy sky’s shades of gray/The sun’s rays and gleam appear only seldom…”(5). The way AlDoueri describes nature in this scene indicates the attitudes and nature of the lovers as well. The two lovers, being very innocent, are representational of the gloomy sky as well as the seldom rays of the sun, given that they have had their ups and downs (figuratively speaking). For much of their early life, their life represented the beautiful, vibrant rays of the sun, but then their life becomes gloomy. Just as you can attribute a gloomy day to clouds covering the sunlight, you can attribute the loss of the lovers’ relationship to a false rumor. AlDoueri later states “And after I heard what I heard about you/My reaction was to boycott and distance/Without asking/Without verifying the accuracy of what was said…” (80). This shows just how fearful she was at the possibility of the accusation to be true. Being young, she just assumed that what she told was the truth. When she was told that her lover had tried to flirt with another girl, she was so fearful of the fact that it could be true, she never even confronted him for the truth. As a result of this, they both avoided each other for many years although they both yearned for each other deeply.

    The power of communication is often under-appreciated. If she would have communicated with him, who knows how each of their lives could have changed. Rather than having a gap in their hearts so to speak, they could have been together and enjoyed each others presence. Given this statement, when they finally met again after many years, silence is really all they needed to reflect on their lives. “They sat without a word/While on the inside, talk flowed like a torrent” (9). Surrounded by the beautiful nature, in this moment, the two lovers might have been the happiest they have ever been. As the two lovers sat there, wondering what to say to each other, nothing really needed to be said. It was almost as if their thoughts were communicating with each other, as they were simply enjoying each other’s company. After all of the years in which they didn’t communicate due to a false statement, they were content with the time they were spending with each other. This was a very powerful point in the novel to me, as I feel like this moment summed up the entire novel simply with one scene. After all of the people trying to interfere with the couple throughout their early life, during this time it was just them two, surrounded by the awe inspiring views of nature, with no one to disturb them, and I feel as if they took in the moment for all it was worth.

    One critique I have of the short novel is about how she handled the situation. Obviously, she handled the situation wrong by believing another individual’s word without confirmation from her lover. Given this, even later once he had explained himself, she still was hesitant to believe him. She claims, “Do I believe you or not!!/This issue is no longer risky/Now that ice has covered the mountains’ peaks./(meaning that: We have white hair)” (91). This statement came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I interpreted this statement as saying that she pretty much does not care about the supposed rumor anymore, because they are far too old to let that bother her anymore. Although this might be viewed as a good answer to some, it struck me as somewhat wrong, as it seems she may still have some doubt.

    In summation, the novel Breezes shows the power of love, and how it both positively and negatively affects one’s life. The storyline displays the vibrant ups, gloomy downs, as well as adversity that a couple may experience while in love. This is a good read that will keep the reader engaged from beginning to end, as one feels as if he or she is in the novel. Lovers and hopeless romantics like me should definitely give this novel a read.

  119. by Brian Gugliotta
    Love is a very powerful emotion, easily capable of holding one captive from escaping their feelings. This is exemplified in the novel Breezes, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. Translated in English by Mouna Mana, the novel was an intriguing read, captivating from the start through the use of inconceivable imagery. The novel is composed of a series of poems that describe the two lovers’ journey. I agree with AlDoueri’s idea that true love can be shared through substantial periods of time as well as adversity. The true power of love is shown brilliantly by AlDoueri as he uses the themes of innocence and fear along with flashbacks and imagery to further illustrate the true feelings that the lovers share.

    In the opening of the novel, AlDoueri starts with a flashback, and makes it clear that the two lovers have not seen each other in quite some time. He then goes on to further examine just how powerful their love is for each other by examining their actions as well as their surroundings. The reader feels as if he or she is sitting directly next to the lovers, as AlDoueri notes of the beauty of nature. He claims, “The river seems pleased with the innocent life of these docile animals living on it/Its surface reflects the gloomy sky’s shades of gray/The sun’s rays and gleam appear only seldom…”(5). The way AlDoueri describes nature in this scene indicates the attitudes and nature of the lovers as well. The two lovers, being very innocent, are representational of the gloomy sky as well as the seldom rays of the sun, given that they have had their ups and downs (figuratively speaking). For much of their early life, their life represented the beautiful, vibrant rays of the sun, but then their life becomes gloomy. Just as you can attribute a gloomy day to clouds covering the sunlight, you can attribute the loss of the lovers’ relationship to a false rumor. AlDoueri later states “And after I heard what I heard about you/My reaction was to boycott and distance/Without asking/Without verifying the accuracy of what was said…” (80). This shows just how fearful she was at the possibility of the accusation to be true. Being young, she just assumed that what she told was the truth. When she was told that her lover had tried to flirt with another girl, she was so fearful of the fact that it could be true, she never even confronted him for the truth. As a result of this, they both avoided each other for many years although they both yearned for each other deeply.

    The power of communication is often under-appreciated. If she would have communicated with him, who knows how each of their lives could have changed. Rather than having a gap in their hearts so to speak, they could have been together and enjoyed each others presence. Given this statement, when they finally met again after many years, silence is really all they needed to reflect on their lives. “They sat without a word/While on the inside, talk flowed like a torrent” (9). Surrounded by the beautiful nature, in this moment, the two lovers might have been the happiest they have ever been. As the two lovers sat there, wondering what to say to each other, nothing really needed to be said. It was almost as if their thoughts were communicating with each other, as they were simply enjoying each other’s company. After all of the years in which they didn’t communicate due to a false statement, they were content with the time they were spending with each other. This was a very powerful point in the novel to me, as I feel like this moment summed up the entire novel simply with one scene. After all of the people trying to interfere with the couple throughout their early life, during this time it was just them two, surrounded by the awe inspiring views of nature, with no one to disturb them, and I feel as if they took in the moment for all it was worth.

    One critique I have of the short novel is about how she handled the situation. Obviously, she handled the situation wrong by believing another individual’s word without confirmation from her lover. Given this, even later once he had explained himself, she still was hesitant to believe him. She claims, “Do I believe you or not!!/This issue is no longer risky/Now that ice has covered the mountains’ peaks./(meaning that: We have white hair)” (91). This statement came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I interpreted this statement as saying that she pretty much does not care about the supposed rumor anymore, because they are far too old to let that bother her anymore. Although this might be viewed as a good answer to some, it struck me as somewhat wrong, as it seems she may still have some doubt.

    In summation, the novel Breezes shows the power of love, and how it both positively and negatively affects one’s life. The storyline displays the vibrant ups, gloomy downs, as well as adversity that a couple may experience while in love. This is a good read that will keep the reader engaged from beginning to end, as one feels as if he or she is in the novel. Lovers and hopeless romantics like me should definitely give this novel a read.

  120. Rachael Figg

    The short novel “Breezes” is written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, who is a human rights activist and lawyer. Upon receiving my book in the mail, I had no idea what to expect. The fact that the book was written from right to left confused me at first. I thought it was a mistake but soon realized that this was how the book was supposed to be read. I really enjoyed the fact that the book shared both the English and Arabic language. It made me respect the language more because I found their alphabet to be very interesting.

    The reoccurring themes throughout the short story were fear and memory. Also, AlDoueri really emphasized the setting of each situation so that the reader could actively visualize what was going on. The author really made me feel like I was there in the moment because of how descriptive and detailed the text was. I also felt the story really flowed and so it made it more interesting to read. At first, I didn’t appreciate the different kinds of fonts throughout the book, however, it made it clear and easy to understand who was talking at the time so it was actually very helpful. I really enjoyed the fact that there were poems throughout the novel because they were nicely written and showed the history between the two main characters.

    “Breezes” is a love story between a man and a woman who start off as friends and later grow to have a relationship. They first meet when they are very young, then they become separated. These love birds encounter many obstacles along the way and are separated many times throughout their lives but still, nevertheless, end up with one another in the end. Throughout the book, it is obvious to see that these two feel strongly for one another, however the fear of rejection keeps them from admitting their feelings. Each poem illustrated a memory from the past of the two individuals and although they were great memories, within the poems were also reasons as to why they could not be together. For example, in one memory, the woman was told that the man was flirting with another woman which made her jealous and unable to be with him. Another memory was when the woman left to Egypt without being able to say goodbye which was another obstacle between the two.

    Although the two were separated many times, they continue to meet throughout the years and reminisce of memories from their past which was so beautiful to me. This was my favorite part of the book because I felt the author did well in making the reader feel like they could relate. This really made me feel like they were meant to be together because no matter how long they spent apart, their moments together meant so much. They may not have said a whole lot, but the things that they would think to themselves showed how much they truly loved one another.
    In the story, there was a time when the man asked the woman to marry him. The woman declined the man’s offer because she was afraid that over time the passion and flame they once had would die out. Instead, the woman wanted to feel the anticipation of seeing each other over and over again. Between the woman and the man, I feel like they both were hesitant because they were scared of rejection. As a member of the audience, it was obvious that these two were meant to be, however I don’t think they thought the same. They were too shy to talk to one another but the way they looked at one another should have given it away. Still, I can see why they were filled with fear because I could only imagine how passionate they were about each other and how heartbroken they would have been if they were rejected. They feared rejection and that they wouldn’t be worthy of the other. They also feared that once or if they ever got together, they would not be happy. They were both insecure but in love, just too afraid to say it. This kind of love is so innocent to me and a breath of fresh air from what I see today. At the end of the novel, the two find themselves in a retirement home reminiscing on their love story. By this time, they finally realize that they are meant to be. They finally believe they are destine for one another because it is fate that keeps bringing them back together atlas. I felt that a big message in this book was that: indeed, love prevails in the end. No matter how hard you fight against your destiny, it is your fortune in the end that will win.

    If you’re a sucker for romance like I am, I would definitely recommend this book. It was such a beautiful love story and was very well written. The format of the book may be very different than what you are used to, but it definitely does not distract you from the love story. I was really able to imagine myself within the novel and I applaud the author for this because I can’t say this about many books.

  121. After reading this book, “Breezes,” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, it is clear to anyone to realize that it is a love story. This is no ordinary love story, though. This is a story about a couple who rekindle their relationship for one another after many years being apart. But, it does not only go over what true love is and how it prevails, it also helps us understand life a little better. This book was translated from Arabic to English, and it pretty much consists of a conversation between the two protagonists. While reading the conversation, it feels like you are reading a poem by the way characters communicate with one another. It uses many metaphors which helps the imagery while reading the book. For example, the author writes, “He said it as if he held Aladdin’s magic lamp in his hands
And with a touch of his hands, could make her desires and wishes come true.” This metaphor indicates what the woman feels when asked what she wishes for. He asked it in such a way that seemed as if he could make it come true; whatever it may be that she wished for. What I like most about this book is that it is two elderly people conversing with each other, and it is all about memories they shared together from when they were younger. It helps the reader know their relationship and the things they have gone through that made their love last this long. Even after meeting up after all of these years, they still have youthful souls and act like young kids in love by the way they are nervous to say something to the other. But, I did get the feeling that throughout the book, the man was trying to convince the woman to realize that their love is eternal. After reading this book, the woman in the story seems like she is a little hesitant to let fate and destiny guide her. Towards the end of the story, she is having a conflict with herself, whether she can believe if what she heard about him is true or not. She says to him, “* In the past I believed that what I heard was true
That’s why I stayed away.” If only she had confronted him about this situation sooner, or ignored it and followed her heart, they wouldn’t of had to been apart after all these years. It would be a very different love story if they ended up spending their whole lives together, not just the end. But, she let her conscience get the best of her. Her self-conflict had primarily to do with the fact that she believed what other people tell her. The last few pages of the book, she says, “Of them are those who are truthful by nature
And those who are truthful for a goal of their own. And of them are liars who take pride in themselves and their capabilities
And of them are liars for a goal of hurting others. Of them are the candid and friendly… And of them are the silent and ill-willed… And if I wanted to list the descriptions of humanity
It would take up hours and hours of my time.” Going back to what I had said at the beginning of this review, I stated that this book helps us understand life a little better. It helped me understand why she stayed away from him. It is inevitable that in life, a person will meet many different types of people (personality wise). It is hard to make a decision such as hers because she simply didn’t know the truth and she might never fully know, all she can do is follow her gut instinct and forget about it. Like the man said to her, even if he told her it wasn’t true, she still might not fully believe him. And if he told her that it was in fact true, she would probably be filled with anger and he would lose her love. “If I told you that I was innocent of this accusation…
I’m afraid that I will be stunned with not being believed… And if I told you that what was transmitted about me was in fact what happened…
Then it would necessarily make you lose respect for me.” By the end of this story, the two let bygones be bygones and they spent the rest of what was remaining of their lives, together. This story goes to prove that love does prevail and that it does not die. When the couple fell in love years ago in their youth, it is as if it was still burning deep within them many years later in to their older age. It is ironic how the author ends the story by stating that their “meeting” is at a retirement home and that is where they will get to spend the rest of their days together. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who love happy endings, and also love stories. It is not a typical love story, which makes the genre of love stories seen in a different light.

  122. I read this book for my Arabic Literature class. The best thing about this book is that it is written in both Arabic and English. I am an Arabic Major so it was really fun and interesting being able to read it in Arabic and then reference to the English translation as well. The literature in itself is great. AlDoueriri uses literary devices that really just makes you feel like time just stopped. As well as some of her writing made me remember the feelings of when I had first fallen in love. If you really like books that will pull at your heart strings and can still be educating, then this book is a must read for you!

  123. Arab 290- The book Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is an enjoyable read. In the beginning of the story I was a little lost because I really wasn’t understanding who was talking and what they were talking about, but as I continued to read it was clearly a love story. It’s a story about a couple that is madly in love with each other but ended up keeping their strong feelings to themselves. They fell in love with each other starting from a young age and this love was never changing throughout the years. The man was very respectful to the woman, to the point he never allowed himself to take her hand or touch her because of how much he respected her. He thought so highly of her, as she did of him. They managed to keep to themselves and hold back a lot. They never really told each other how they truly felt about one another till nearly the end of this story, but throughout the story you can tell that their love is genuine and true for each other. The way the two speak about each other was so beautiful and at times I could relate to how they felt. The realism within the story was definitely there, which made it that much more relatable. There is never a simple love story or a perfect relationship out there, and that’s exactly what this story shows. In the story she ends up removing herself from his life because she assumes he’s interested in and cares for another woman. This alone destroys her inside and she is so hurt from this, as was he. This happens a lot with today’s relationships, one of the two may end up assuming something about the other and that alone can potentially shatter the once strong relationship they had. The read was a little different then how I’m used to, you get the chance to hear both sides and they honestly think very much a like, to the point I didn’t know who was talking at certain points. I was so happy when they were given the opportunity to finally express their strong feelings for one another, though it was at the end, when they were already much older, I was still glad they were able to get that kind of closure.
    So one can easily tell the theme was that if it were true love then it would never expire. Which as you can tell, the love between the two never left, but instead grew. Aside from it being wonderfully written, I think I enjoyed story this because it tugged at my heartstrings and hit close to home. I went through something a little similar to what happened in this story. I’d suggest this book to anyone because it does open your eyes and teaches you a few things. I learned that you should open up to others and if you want to say something then say it because you never know whens the next chance you’ll get. The couple within this story is burden with the constant thoughts of each other and how much they miss and love each other. They could have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they would have better communicated how they really felt. The story teaches you to open up about how you feel and push aside any differences or any apprehension that you may have about the situation. Don’t be scared about what may happen. Instead you should be able to take your chances and if things don’t go as planned then at least you know that you tried and did something about it. All in all, this story is so romantic and I promise you will definitely enjoy it. You are drawn in right away and can feel the love floating between the pages. It makes a person think twice about what love really is, and learn that its both the greatest feeling and the most painful. Take note that this is a story that has been translated from Arabic to English, so it may not be the exact words the author originally intended on using and it is a bit hard to understand what is being said at certain points, at least it was for me.

  124. The book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri’s is one very well written story. The main theme to the story is about to people that go through a challenging relationship. When I say challenging I mean with ups and downs. I thought that book was really nice to read well written. I don’t read a lot but it didn’t take me forever to get through it. Being a person that does not read a lot, I though it was a great book and I would read something like it again. The book keeps you hooked until the very end. I’m not normally into love stories; I’m more into action or mystery. This book has a story line a lot like Nickels Sparks books.
    The book was written in first person. When reading the book you get the perspective of the women. Being a story written in first person I think that you miss a lot of what the male was thinking. I think the area of were the book was placed was a big thing as well. The Middle East marriage system is different from here in the U.S. In the Middle East there are arranged marriages rather than choosing whom you want to be with for the rest of your life. I was kind of sad that I didn’t get her name through out the story.
    In the story two friends who come close when they meet in college. Their love story starts off in an awkward manner. They look into each others eyes, but are never able to talk or do anything else with each other. They know that they like each other but they are never able to express it, maybe due to the fear of rejection. The female always thinks and dreams about her life with the man she loves. She thought maybe it was him. Then they are both separated since he had to go away to Egypt with other student. She was unable to say goodbye to him, which really upset her. After her lover leaves, she still hangs on and keeps on imagining a future with him. She dreams of all the things they could do together. But after a while, she starts questioning her love for the man. The reason for this is the time they would have to be apart. She starts thinking if loving this man was a good idea. She thinks if her love will last, given the circumstances they both, her and her lover are in. They aren’t even close together, and hence her thinking about her love dying for the man is not wrong. On top of being apart there were rumors of his cheating which really hindered the relationship. They both separate later and that totally breaks her heart. She now could not stop crying everyday. She keeps thinking about them together. But then they both meet after many years, and then they realize that they both still love each other very much. It can be said that the ‘breezes’ of love and their hopes brought them back together as they were meant to be.
    I think this is a really great love story. I think that many people go through this daily. I my self and many friends have all been through this. When a girlfriend or boyfriend leave off to college that is not close the relationship struggles. In most cases, it ends because when moving away your perspective and what you want seem to want change. For the ones that last I think that it just makes it stronger. The reason for this is when you see that person again it seems to be a more cherished time. Just from the fact that you have not seen them in forever, your body gets filled with emotions of past emotions that come from memories.
    I would definitely recommend it if you have the time and enjoy reading. It is a great book to “pick up and read”. The story is beautifully written and will make the reader feel good about reading the book. It never makes the reader feel stressed out like many other stories do. As I said before, this book is an easy read. In the end, “Breezes”, is an amazing book riddled with emotions and romance. It is a wonderful tale that will make the reader happy. The author has written the story in such a way that it makes the reader think about it even after the book is over. The story also makes the reader think how culture plays a role in this story. The character’s beliefs and culture is what shapes the events that occur in the story. But that is what makes this story so great. Had it been longer, many readers would have lost interest in the characters after a while. Stories of this genre should not be long, as the events in the story may get repetitive. Anyone who loves a good romantic movie or romance in any kind of way this book will make you smile for sure.
    Arabic 290 Week 7 Part B- Zackary royce ID: 004755126

  125. by Anthony January
    Once I read the book “Breezes,” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, I could clearly tell this was a true love story. Although it’s not an ordinary love story about a couple who rekindle their relationship for each other after many years of being in apart. The great thing about this story aside from it being about love is that it’s a real life learning experience. The book was translated from Arabic to English, and it pretty much consists of a conversation between the two leading characters who were the primary focus throughout the poems and the story. It seems like you are reading a poem by the way characters communicate with one another. It uses many similes and metaphors, along with the theme of fear, which helps one to better understand while reading the book. She often talks about the insecurities and fear the couple share, especially the woman. The woman states that marriage is the cemetery of love, and they can have everything they need full of love before marriage. This indicates whatever a woman needs she can have prior to marriage or given her hand to a man.
     
    What I like most about this book is that it reminds me of my people playing games and talking about yesteryear. Even after meeting up after all of these years, they still have youthful souls and act like young kids in love by the way they are nervous to say something to the other. As I read the book in depth you can tell that the man is eternally in love with the woman. He acts as a nervous little teenage kid on his first date. The woman appears to be young and have very little faith in the relationship. I’m assuming that she is barely approaching adulthood.  As we get toward the conclusion of the story we can see that she is having a conflict with the relationship. Again it appears that she may be forced into an adult connection. It was detailed that he had a checkered past, and she was quite afraid to open her heart up to him. If she would of confronted him about the “rumors” they would have been together all years instead of just meeting in the twilight years. What do you think could of happened if they would of settled their differences earlier in life? They probably would have had a beautiful family that stayed together in love and in prayer.
     
    I’m emphatic about love stories. It seems like a romantic novel like “Gone with the wind” when Clark Gable comes back after the war and claim his love. Both of them had an unbelievable fear of being rejected. The main thing they both feared the most was that once they got together they wouldn’t be happy. The couple were both so insecure with the relationship they both had, especially the girl, but love just couldn’t stop them.
     
    I recommend this book to any and everyone who’s into romance like I am. This story is so true and it can help people out with real life situations in general. Although this is a different type of love story at the end of the day it’s just like any other. And by me saying this, I mean it because at the end the relationship is successful, just because the love for one another is true.
     
    The way the book read was from right to left is a different format that I was not used to. The author uses a lot of imagery as well, and that’s something that most authors don’t usually use to express themselves. The imagery and the nature around them really brings the way the story is told. I was very interested while ready this book, it entertained me and helped me open my mind.
     
    The are so many love stories out there, but not many are told like this one is. At the end of the day, this story opens your mind. There were many situations that I understood, and many that I didn’t. But as I kept on reading it began to get clearer and clearer. The reason why its such a good story is because they both believe there are destined for one another. This specific kind of love story is kind of childish and innocent, but it was successful at the end when they realized that they were meant to be together. This book helps us understand the love aspect of life , even though one has never been in the situation him/herself.
     
    Once again I recommend this book to anyone who love romance and want to learn some life lessons. I could fully relate to this story even though I haven’t been through half of what the couple did. This whole story is basically about patience in everything that you want to do in life, not just with relationships, but life in general. No matter who or what tries to get in the way, one should always persevere and trust his or her lover.

  126. First of all, I would like to say that the short novel “Breezes”, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is a good read. It would be nice if Amazon offered this in their kindle edition, however, I enjoyed reading every single page, whether it was in digital version or not. Second, it’s an interesting short novel because the beginning of the book starts at the end of the book. It isn’t like other novels, it is sort of backwards. When I first picked up the novel, I was curious as to why it was laid out this way. I also liked that there was the original written text of the book, along with the English translation. “Breezes” starts off with a story of two lovers. These lovers were both young and naiive and never came out to each other about their true feelings. I am pretty sure everyone can relate to a story such like this one. They obviously move on from each other and grow up, but of course, people, for the most part, remember the person they once loved at some point in their life for the rest of their lives. I think you can guess that this novel does not stop there. Their love did not just disappear into thin air; it was much too strong for this to happen. Fate happens and these two meet again. After all the time that has passed by, it is incredible that the reader is able to capture the moment where they both stare at each other after a while of not seeing each other. She starts to think of some of the best years of her life. The woman realizes just how much he means—like most people, she forgives and forgets because all of the years that they have been apart does not mean that things have changed between them. I love the fact that I actually know what is going on in her head. It’s interesting to know that I’m not alone when I talk to myself haha. The questions she asks herself when she questions why she wore what she did…who doesn’t do this? The only bad thing that I came across when reading “Breezes” is that I never actually read when something was going on. The author wrote things so that when something happened, readers find out about it through the way the man or woman is affected. I do like that I get to hear what goes on through both the man and the woman. Hearing it from two points of views makes the story easier to read because you don’t lose patience when only hearing it from one point of view. The theme of this novel is obviously love and heartbreak—something that the author helps readers also experience as they are reading along in the novel. I was able to feel the pain they felt, but I was also able to feel the love they feel towards each other. This is remarkable because it makes this much more enjoyable to read. The romance that revolves around them and the way that readers can actually feel their feelings makes everything have so much more meaning. Something that is obvious when reading this is that love definitely requires work and it also goes to show that not everything is perfect. They get back together and try not to do anything, but things always go wrong at some point. There is always room for mistakes and more pain, as if anyone needs that. Their struggles only show that they cannot live without each other. I love poetry. This is a relevant fact to anyone reading this because the novel is written in poems. I love how both characters are portrayed. The man is someone is a perfectly, respectful gentleman. He does not speak his feelings—afraid of what will happen if he does. The woman is someone who is also respectful. She is nice, but she also does not speak her feelings. Something both characters share—fear of rejection. They both limit themselves from expressing what should be said, but both have their reasons for not speaking their true feelings. The lack of communication is something that is reoccurring and somewhat annoying because this is how most people are in real life. Everyone fears being rejected, hurt, or betrayed but something people don’t realize is that something positive can come from communication. Also, another thing that I find annoying is that she never actually confronts the man after she hears a rumor about him. How can she just let her fears control her so much that she does not want to find out the truth? This is important to the story because they would rather live in pain, rather than communicating about this one simple thing. They stop themselves from saying their true feelings about things and that is not a way to live life.

    I spoke of pros and cons of reading this story, but I swear it’s worth it, regardless of the cons. I like that I can read a book and feel what the characters are feeling.

  127. The story Breezes by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri, was an amazing love story. At first I was confused by what was going on but as I kept reading it started making more sense. The story has a lot of descriptive illustrations that makes everything seem so real. It is about two lovers that haven’t seen each other for years but are reunited once again. They were once in love when they were young people, but they departed from each other for many years and now that they are seeing each other again once they are old and the male is sick. The guy tells her that he never wanted her to see him looking that way, he always wanted her to see him on his feet and healthy, but she doesn’t care about that because she loves him. Throughout the story, both of their perspectives about how they are thinking is expressed. I thought this idea for a love story was amazing because it allows the reader to get an insight of how they both feel. They both feel as if the other person doesn’t have any emotions towards the other. As they talk about how they feel in their own minds they express that they both feel the same exact way over one another, just that they are afraid of rejection. I thought this idea was amazing, because you see the powerful connection they have for each other just that they are being to blind to see it, and this causes the reader to be more in tone with the reading. In the story, they give a lot of signs about stuff they did in their past relationship together that the other person would catch as a sense of their love, but now that they are meeting again they are always holding back because they are not sure if it is exactly what they meant before when they were younger. They talk a lot about their past and how wonderful their memories was. Some things that they are thinking to themselves can be hurtful but somehow they always had another way of bringing joy to that situation. The girl mentions how she has deleted his number once from her phone so she could forget about him, but she didn’t even last because she quickly rewrote his number again so she wouldn’t forget it. Even when they tried forgetting about each other, something was always brought up to remind each other about one another. This part touched my heart. In the story they have the theme of sexism. They talk about when the guy introduces her to his family and they all become accepting. This Is usually what happens in the middle east, the males choose who they marry as for the females they have no choice. The theme of love in this story is that a person can stop talking to someone for many years but their will always be that spark. They talk about the breezes as a way of how they can feel the other person that they love. Another theme I saw was trust. They had split because someone made a statement about the guy doing the girl wrong, she believed it without even asking him if it was true or not. She just simply faded away because she didn’t want to get hurt. At the end of the day they were both heartbroken and hurt over the other. This story has a powerful meaning about what miracles love can do and what things it can do to hurt someone. They talked about many encounters they had with one another as well, and how they felt from it. She talks about a day when she saw him by his job and she wanted to catch up to him but as she got closer she just covered her face and quickly walked away. He also saw this and thought she was just trying to avoid him. I believed that many people think the worse about a situation without getting to the conclusion. It touched my heart the most that towards the end he asked if she would marry him and they can live under the same roof. She actually had her own opinion, since she had been independent for so long. She doesn’t take the offer but decides to do something different than what is expected from middle east women. She decides that only fate knows what will happen between the two relationships. The stories theme all fit perfectly together. It catches a strong connection with the characters and the reader. This love story is different from any others I have read because it doesn’t just focus on one character but it focuses on two. I recommend this story to be read to many, it should even be read for high school curriculums, so that they can get a different aspect of literature.

  128. by Keith Smith
    After reading this book Breezes by Wafica Monsour AlDourei, I learned this was a love story about a man and a women who fell in love in their early years of college however they were too young and not mature enough to express their feelings to one another, fearing the other person didn’t feel the way about the other person. I thought it wasn’t the typical love story but it also was different and interesting that during this time most of the dialogue was communicated through thoughts rather then words. Yet their thoughts were similar for years and never knew. It gives this romance story a little twist making it a lot more interesting to read. I am currently in a relationship with an older lady and we have a child together. She is older than me and we saw each other at a family reunion. I was somewhat intimidated by her age which is very similar to the love story in Breezes.

    I was also put on alert after wishing the two individuals had shared their thoughts verbally, because things could end up different if they would of spoken years ago. She was really concerned that he was flirting with another girl when he was actually asking about her. It was a random rumor. However, because the two main characters fail to own up to their feelings, they make the decision to go on with their separate ways. As time past, these individuals meet again unexpected when they are senior citizens at a retirement home. Their appearances have changed as they now have wrinkles and their hair resembles snow on top of a mountain. There was one thing that didn’t change and that was the unconditional love they had for one another even though they were apart from each other for years. Even though they still shared the same love for one another as before they were still skeptical upon seeing each other unexpectedly after all the years have passed. I believe that fear of rejection plays an immense theme in this story. It’s sad how the man and the women not only fears sharing their sincere feelings for each other, but they don’t even know how to greet each other comfortably. As the man puts his hands on the table, he comes closer to her but had reservation about touching her physically. This is very resemblance of their coward behavior towards love. Upon seeing each other again, I am delighted that they finally admitted that they had felt love for years towards each other. The love was true despite the absence that they had experienced during their young years.

    When I first saw the title ‘’Breezes’’ I was not expecting to read a love story. Arabic literature has primarily been about the struggles in related Arabic countries. They often talk about how fortunate we are to be Americans who have the freedom to express thoughts and live a life without hunger and violence. The Arabic lifestyle is not just about war. After reading this short novel, the title fits this book perfectly.

    When it comes to AlDoueiri’s theme and message about love, I completely agree. I believe that love it very powerful and can be very engaging. I have experienced this, and I know what the man must have gone through. I felt pain for the man just reading about what he went through. Having a false statement separate me from my one true love would be heartbreaking. Even after the long years that were spent apart, I would still have been hurt by the fact that she did fully believe me.

    One thing that I disagreed with was AlDoueiri’s statement regarding love and marriage. The woman said that marriage is the cemetery of love, but I do not believe that to be true. In my own experiences, I feel as if I am in love, and I do not believe that my feelings will fade anytime soon. I know many people that are married as well, and the love between them has not faded. Another thing that I did not like is how the woman handled her situation. If I was the guy, I would have contacted the girl who I love and settled things with her. I would have made sure that she knew it was a lie so I could have spent the time with her for my entire life.

    Overall I think that more people of all races and gender should read this book in hope that love will be spread among each other. As of now in San Bernardino, it is clear that there is not much love in the area with all of the violence going on. Although this is not related to the storyline much, I feel like it would help. Other than this, people who are in to romantic novels should read this book as well.

  129. Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a short love story, originally written in Arabic, and translated into English by Mouna Mana. The style that AlDoueiri uses for the story is one that resembles poetry. And with his vivid descriptions of environment, events, and feelings, it makes sense that a poetic style would be used. The style gives the story a pace that would not have been present had AlDoueiri went with in the prose direction. He tells the story between a man and a woman, but not just for the sake of telling a narrative. He tells the story in a way that makes the reader think about their own relationships. The story is used as an agent to give the readers some philosophy on love, and to tell them that they shouldn’t let fear, or the past, take love away from them.
    AlDoueriri tells the man and women’s story, beginning with a time when they come together, though not for the first time, and are unable to speak to each other. They sit along a riverbank in silence, as thoughts run through their mind of how much they love the other person, but they are too afraid to be rejected from one other to express themselves as they imagine they would in their heads. They sit in this silence for a while, until they are finally able to start a conversation. However, the conversation is not what is truly on their minds, as they both cower behind their own fear of rejection. It is easy to sympathize with the characters, since we as humans all have a fear of being rejected, but the reader begins to wonder why they do not overcome their fear and say what is on their mind, since it is clear they are both very passionate about each other. It is easy to see that if either one of them had spoken their mind, they would most likely have been able to have a happy life together.
    The story goes over a time when the man and woman were younger, telling about how she went on a trip to Egypt, leaving the boy behind to worry about her return. When she did return, she didn’t return empty-handed, bringing the boy gifts. The boy sees this as a good sign and decides that he wants to introduce her to his family. After meeting her, the family shows their approval of her, and at this point it seems like the story is going to just get better and better for the two, but instead this is the point where the story takes a more depressing turn. The girl begins to distance herself from the boy, for what seems like no apparent reason to him. He notices and it begins to worry him, and then she tells him why she’s distanced herself. She heard from other people that he was flirting with other girls, and instead of trying to find out if it was true or not, or even bringing it up to him sooner, she distanced herself from him. She did not know why what she heard would be true, and hurt their relationship by making her own speculations on why he would flirt with other girls. The boy never knew that that was going on in her head, and they ended up separating from each other because of it. They later told each other how they both tried to forget about one another, and still kept their true feelings repressed.
    Through all sorts of small mistakes and miscommunication, and the fear of rejection, the man and woman had ruined something that would most likely have sprouted into them having an amazing life together. They ended up living their lives with each other on their minds, with regret. The story tells the reader why they should overcome the fear of rejection, and to communicate. Not only will they ruin their future if they do not, but they will ruin their past as well, because the man and woman not only never became an item, their friendship was severed too. The story shows that love exists, but fear cannot be allowed to take the mantle, and neither can jealousy. The most important thing is to communicate, or else there will be walls that are built that are not able to be torn down.
    Overall, the story written very descriptively. The imagery that is given gives the reader a great picture on what kind of setting these events took place in. The theme of love is also very prominent throughout the poems. There is also a motif of time, as Breezes explains the significance of the past the characters had, and how their behavior in the presence does nothing to correct it, which leads the reader to assume their future ends on the same note. The theme of fear is a foil to love, as it keeps the characters apart, though fear and love tug each other back and forth, keeping the characters involved with each other. The story gives a nice lesson on life, but does take patience, because the descriptions can become a bit long-winded as the story goes on, but even so, it was an enjoyable read that teaches the reader the consequences of not speaking out when you’re passionate about something.

  130. Breezes book Review
    Wafia Mansour AlDoueirir’s book Breezes was well written and gave an insight on Arab culture. This is a book about two lovers who do not decide to be with one another until a very old age. The two lovers in silence know they love each other communicate almost in their own language. At first I read this and thought how adorable to have so much respect to each other and their culture that they do not do anything foolish. The furthest it goes is just talking. I am not sure if that is Arabic culture but that is the idea I got from the book. Very much impressed with the whole thing. Going back to the book, the lovers go through 2 chances of getting married but the female denies both because of a rumor she heard once about him. And instead of confronting him about it she does it years later for their third chance of being together and that’s when they settle things and finally agree to be with one another. This part made me angry at her because I felt she was a coward, she could have had a beautiful life because she had found true love. The book made me realize how this could happen to anyone. The woman in the book did not have enough courage but also faith in him to trust him and run with her instincts. It shows how accepting to be without someone true love can be scary because of the unknown. So many questions can arise but in the end I think this book proved that taking that leap sooner than later will help you live a happier life. My favorite part of the story was when the female asked the man if the rumor was true and he only responded with so much eloquence and patience. He ended with basically that he has waited for her for many years and that should be enough proof to her that he has always loved her and still is in love. He also mentions how she wounded his heart not once but twice. It is such a beautiful answer. Yet the women goes on to her original thoughts and fears and uncertainty to where I see a cycle for the third time so I am led to believe she will deny him again but instead I was proven wrong and decides to put all faith in their love. She is finally able to let all that go and finally see true happiness.
    The book in general was very beautiful how it was presented and how you see the English translation to the left and the Arabic version to the right of the page. That was great Because this gave way for me to practice reading Arabic. The book was made with fine paper and the cover is simple but just enough to where you’d pick it up. This book taught me that yes late is better than never but it would be much nicer if done sooner than later. Because you can create more memories and share more experiences with the person you found as your true love. My favorite part of this movie was the type of love they had which was unspoken yet they knew. They could stay sitting together for hours and just enjoy each other’s company. Even though I mentioned pros and cons it is a well worth book to read. It does capture your attention and will make you want to continue reading despite the time. I very much enjoyed the descriptive words used to say how she felt. The man was poetic in how he saw her. Over all this book had a lot of poetic moments where I kept thinking maybe it might just be a poem.
    In the end I was left wondering how else they lived their lives. I was hoping the woman would have been much more brave and accepted his offer earlier so they could have had a full life together. It was upsetting to see that the couple where finally able to really enjoy and accept each other in the end at a retirement home. This book was so good it had me thinking how they lived their life even after the book ended. The #1 think I got from this book was no matter how scared you are and may have some doubts if you have a strong gut feeling than go for it. Because you might not regret the decision.

  131. Miguel Orduno

    Breezes, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a romantic novel translated from the Arabic language to the English language. It was translated by a Mouna Mana and being that this is a romantic novel the story is about love between to people who were lovers since a very young age and later on their lives they reunite to reflect to one another on how madly in love they are and why things didn’t seem to work out due to misunderstandings and as well as or them being young. When I began to read the first few pages I couldn’t quite understand what was going on, however; as I continued to read the book I understood it easier. Overall, reading this book was an enjoyment for me for how it portrayed exactly how strong love can be even after losing connection with one’s significant other. In the beginning of the story it is clear that the two are in love with each other however neither of the two have the courage to express to one another the love they have for one another. The love they have for each other is in fact so strong that even after the many years separated and finally reuniting, they continue to have the same fear of rejection and have too much pride that they are still not capable to express their feelings for each other. Due to these results they resulted later in life finding someone else and being married to a person that they truly do not love. Throughout the time their love remained the same and never ended the way they felt each other remained the same ever since they decided to become friends back in their youthful days. Wafica AlDoueiri made it very clear that the love for one another had never reached an end, I am a firm believer that if you truly love something or someone one never stops caring for that person and they do everything in their will pursue that love especially if the other person is on the same page. The reason on why this story caught my attention was because of the connection between them two and to see that the fire between never dimmed even after all those years. This story is a prime example of how a true love story should be and the author makes an amazing job in portraying real feelings between them and make it seem so real throughout their struggles.
    Due to the fact that the author wrote this novel in both perspectives of the man and woman I was able to see where both people were coming from. However, being that I am a male I am capable to relate more to the guy than the girl but since the author displayed both sides so well I was also capable to relate what the girl was feeling. One theme that I could draw from this story was fear, because both of these individuals had fear they were fearful since both of them were out of each other’s love for a long duration of time even though the love for one another was still there. However, even with that love they could help but feel fear in actually building up the courage to express their feelings to one another. The man was could not understand the distance of the women and rejection or fear, so at the same time she would wonder why the guy would be shy which then resulted to her becoming shy towards him even though deep inside what she really wanted was for him to express his true feelings and love for her so that she could do the same. One thing was certain, that the girl was not going to express her love or feelings for him. As time passed by they eventually met up and finally decided to open themselves up as well as relive moments that they had at one time shared, different stages in their relationship and what resulted in their college life. After they converse about where they were at in their life at that moment and eventually were capable of expressing their secret love that they have for one another. Another theme portrayed in this story is love, when one thinks about love these two individuals are exactly what should come to mind. The relationship between these two is an ideal example of how strong love is and how it is capable to overcome any obstacle that comes in its way. In the story the both of the individuals declared on how they tried forget about them but, because of their love it was impossible. Once they were able to open up they realized how happy they were to being able to express their love, fear, and the regret of not expressing themselves earlier. Overall I enjoyed reading this love story from two different points of view.

  132. Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was a story which had meaning and in many cases was relatable to real life. Being based on shyness, anxiety, love its main theme was “What ifs.” These two lover had many opportunities to express how they truly felt with one another. But they constantly encountered a demon called shyness I believe. I phrase it this way because this demon made them in some people’s view waste time. Because this demon made them encounter each other but never really say a word, while deep down inside of them they had words of true love and honest screaming to be let out and herd. This action of shyness can be implied as a lesson because in this case both of these lovers had strong feelings and care for one another. In many cases doubt was a slight issue due to the fact that since they didn’t really speak their minds out to one another jealousy and doubt of ever being together came into action. The female in this story has doubt that since he is with his girlfriend at the time the he might have been cheating. “This leads her to think that he might be a player”-Wafica 46. This doubt leads more questions to arise causing her to think if her first girlfriend wasn’t good enough for him or if he is seeking something else in someone else his first girlfriend doesn’t have. But she soon found out that it was just rumors being spread.
    AlDoueiri uses great imagery in these novels. He well describes everything in detail in the beginning of the book. I felt myself actually visualizing the boats, and a women looking upon the water having deep thoughts about what the future might have in store for her. AlDoueriri introduction of the two meeting once again is determined by fate as they question. They remain blunt to each other about having a conversation and going about their day. But the presence of one to another was like no other. In a way they felt complete. Like we say they would get butterflies in their stomach.
    Having the fear of being rejected led them to think that they should keep their thoughts to themselves. Not being able to take a risk in what they feel time plays a major role. Time is valued by them as to examine closely the other person’s move. Arising questions if they are the one? Why is it that this specific individual makes me tingle in a way that no one else does? They lack confidence but know indeed in what they want. They want to be with one another. Though they had many times in which they were left alone. For instance they were walking home from school and one friend reach their house. It was only the male and female. A question arose from the male “does my presence disturb you” it was at this moment were the female had stronger feeling for him because she fell in love with his polite and kindness. Her motive at this point was to not sound rude but to match the same kindness he has for him. This simulation can be described as when a couple barley starts dating and they meet the parents for the first time they want to leave a good first impression. In this case it wasn’t the first impression but in creating a remarkable moment in which a spark can arise from them being together, and alone for a slight amount of time.
    They value each other but carry on the fear of expressing their emotions to one another and facing failure and awkwardness in their eyes. Eventually as time continues they were apart for some time then reunited again. There meet came from a book sent to the male, returning a call they were both stunned arranging a time to meet and continue a journey of being together for a lifetime as it is title in the ending.
    I believe that the moral of this book is that there is a time for everything. Love is a strong and beautiful feeling when the other person still carries on the same feeling even if they were apart from you for so long. Long enough to make it seem as such time has passed that they may have forgotten who you were. These series of novel carry on a beautiful picture of love because the two unanimous people who fell in love for so long took baby steps into creating a successful relationship which in today’s time would be the opposite. We feel love in a matter of seconds but that love only lasts for such little time. Causing us to misinterpreted the true meaning of love.
    I would recommend this book to anyone who is having doubts, nervous on speaking to the person which they are catching feelings for because this book really carries on a real view of the perspective of love and why so little couples last years together through ups and through the downs. Aldoueiri does a great job in using metaphor and imagery into creating a televised image in our mind, allowing us to relate to the struggle of the two. Soon to realize that they would soon overcome their doubts and finding true love in one another.

  133. Wafica Mansour AlDoueri’s creates a stunning social commentary through her novel Breezes. Breezes is a tale of love, lost and gained, crushed and exalted, but never forgotten. Wafica Mansour AlDoueri creates a tale with thematic interpretations impervious to medium, culture or even time. Wafica Mansour AlDoueri’s first novel critiques the rigidness of social norms in favor of a love based on emotions and metaphysical expressions of said love. She supports her position by delving extensively into the thought processes of the couple, emphasizing their mutual feelings and synchronization despite their silent relationship for the majority of the novel. Breezes is a quintessential tale we all have likely heard before, yet it presents such a timeless theme through an abstract way that is refreshing in the world where almost all literature is regurgitated from another source.
    The novel, as many before it, follows two lovers in their journey from youthful hope to elderly compunction and regret. Even in old age they remember the causes of their division and make it painfully obvious why they were never as vocal or expressive of their undying love. We are then guided through the serpentine past of these lovers spanning trips abroad, walks home and even references to cloud castles. We omnisciently observe the birth of attraction to another via the couples thoughts and even get as far as a traditional courtship. All their efforts turn to naught however when faced with jealousy, youthful weakness and family pressures. The couple ironically reflects on these mistakes and discusses the “could have been” scenarios when it is too late for them to return to each other’s embrace. Solace is found but no pleasure can accompany the regret of a life wasted.
    One of the many themes explored through the breezes of the pages is mistrust. The young man’s mistrust in his declared lovers ability to provide for his emotional, physical, or even social needs is shown by his reported flirting with another woman. The woman responds with even more mistrust believing the rumors carried by the breeze and being carried away from her lover without even confronting the young man for a straight up answer. Only to compound on the chain of grievous mistakes is the response of the young man; inaction.
    The main theme observed through this tale is that which inspires the age old adage “actions speak louder than words,” or rather “while actions speak louder than words, words speak louder than thoughts.” From the first page a conspicuously diminutive amount of communication occurs, even nonverbal cues seem to be cold and calculated, evaluating the implications of even one’s hand placement. The novel begins to explain why such inaction might be normal for such an influenced couple by highlighting the expectation set upon them by religion, socio-economic status, cultural norms and even gender norms. For example, the woman is expected to be mild in her expression of affection for fear of being regarded as loose, while the man is held to the same standard for fear of appearing too eager. Both of these norms along with their status as a man who would “never disrespect his parents” and a woman who “would never allow a man to demean her,” serve to limit if not restrict the advancing of their relationship throughout the novel.
    The refreshingly original take to a Cinderellesque, parents forbid our love, where-art-though-Juliet, type of novel certainly satisfies the literary critic inside of me, but I can’t help but wish there was more substance to the story. Comparing their relationship to the biblical accounts of Jesus Christ, we know much of his birth and early childhood but are conspicuously missing the in-between years. I can’t help but feeling that some reflection on those years, perhaps a reference to an unsatisfactory marriage and the torn soul, struggling to decide if if their was something they could do to have changed their past or their struggle to accept a future without the other especially after meeting years later and still ordering the same thing.
    Despite this I truly admired the poetic nature of the works literal structure on the paper as well as its sing song flow between lucid flashbacks to their past and desperate hopes for a future they know they cannot have.
    The final theme I found most intriguing was the theme of breezes. From the title to the brevity of the work to the plot structure, the author seems to have taken many pains to create a work so dedicated to the idea of flowing like a breeze with even the eventual relationship between the couple a hope as fleeting as a praise. The seamless integration of the theme of a breeze makes this novel all the more intriguing as a social commentary, a critique on the rigid sociocultural values of society or even a spin off of Romeo and Juliet. No matter the interpretation its ingenious use of the metaphysical medium to create this illustration of love and affection so mercilessly robbed from the enamored couple by time is surely commendable if not of high acclaim and praise.

  134. My name is Blake Howard and this is my review Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoureiri, translated by Mouna Mana. I do not want to spoil the story so I will try to leave an informing review without giving away too much. First and foremost I will say that this book is a love story, which can actually be hard to tell at first. The story is told from a partial omniscient perspective with each character speaking from their own perspective, yet the two main characters are not introduced .The story starts off with the two main characters recognizing each other on the shore. Since it is told in a first person perspective the main characters uses a lot of pronouns like my, he, and she so the reader doesn’t even know the names of the characters involved. Another aspect of the book that may be confusing is the different fonts. The text in Arabic on the opposite side of the page is the same font throughout. The translator did this to emphasize who is speaking as well as a literary device known as the stream of consciousness. The stream of consciousness technique is used to show what a character is thinking immediately after something occurs. This mix of italics, bold, and normal fonts mixed confused me a bit as one chapter was in italics for the dialogue and the next was mostly bold for narration. I almost thought this book was a collection of short stories about love since the characters were not named and different fonts were being used chapter to chapter.

    I also feel like the translator missed out on an opportunity by not translating all of the text in the book. The author has what I assume to be letters, since they are dated, in the front in back of book which aren’t translated. Not to mention there is another letter on the back of the book that is not translated which causes me to feel like I am missing out on content in the book as an English reader. These letters could have perhaps explained the inspiration for the author to write the book or why it is written the way it is so I feel I may be lacking context.

    Now back to the actual story as stated earlier this is a love story overall. It is about two seniors reflecting on their past relationship when they were in college. One would think sparks would fly and they would be energetic about meeting an old flare but instead they have mostly silent interactions at their first reunion as one wants to learn more about the other’s current situation. Each one is hesitant however as either one of them does not want to say something that would upset the other on this rekindling of their relationship. The whole time this situation is going on the stream of consciousness coming from the male and female leads creates a tense situation as you know all the stresses they are going through trying to win the favor of the other. The reader can also learn from their thoughts what they are interpreting each other’s actions to be. Being nervous however each of them in their mind creates multiple interpretations of the movements of the other which could be positive or negative for the progression of their relationship. As a reader I find this hilarious as it is a commonplace situation when meeting someone new or someone after a few years. One may want to learn more about someone, but one does not want to say something they may find offensive. Seeing it from an omniscient perspective with access to both characters thoughts creates tension as the reader will want to find out what is going to happen next in this relatable situation.

    They do eventually speak to each other, although very little, but the author focuses more on their actions than their dialogue. Once something is said it has a definitive meaning usually but using small gestures the protagonist can interpret gives the author more freedom to create more romantic tension as each character makes small gestures toward each other. Moving hands, scooting a bit, and turning heads to lock eyes are all ways to show romantic interest and the author makes full use of these nonverbal tools in the text.

    Overall this book has a strong theme of passion as each character wants to find out if the other possesses it for the other. To see if after all the years if the spark is still there or if it has died out? Whether or not reflecting on the past will bring of positive or negative memories, and see if each other’s desire for the other is still as strong? Each of them now has their own obligations and responsibilities or even their own families. The answers to these questions can be found in the book as this concludes my review of this book and my reasons as to why I find Breezes to be a compelling read.

  135. Rogelio S. Barbosa ARAB 290- Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was a very interesting and great book to read. The style of writing was different and caught me off guard. At times, I was confused and could not distinguish who was talking, or thinking. There was bold writing and small font, so it was clear when a conversation was happening, but when it came to the thoughts of the characters, I was confused at times because there was no acknowledgement of the other gender. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book. Now since there was some confusion, I may have misinterpreted the story to a certain extent, but from my view, it was one I could relate to in a sense. My closest connection, came with the beginning of the novel. The deep fear of rejection and the suppression of feelings is how I was before I became official with my girlfriend. I was so scared to hear no, but fortunately, everything worked out. I really connected with how each person expressed their feelings. Deep love was clearly shown for a person who felt the exact same way, but both let their fear stop their hearts from connecting. As the story carried on, I admired how the author sent the book in a different direction by not misleading me with what I assumed would happen. I thought that these two people, who were madly in love yet weren’t together, would express themselves and become a couple. But that wasn’t the case. I liked how I was constantly wondering if they would ever get together because the author kept them away fo0r years and years. It felt like an eternity waiting for one another which is another way I connected to the book because I once felt that way. Nonetheless, in some sections of the book, I felt that there was a small sense of repetition. I found myself reading several pages of them expressing the same feelings over and over. I was more find of the somewhat awkward conversations these individuals shared, because I admired how the author described real life scenarios that happen every day. The way both characters were speechless when speaking to one another warmed my heart and gave me a sense of love from a different prospection. One of which tow people shared for years, yet at the same time, didn’t. Moreover, I truly believe anyone who reads this book can really benefit from the meaning behind the story, in my opinion, I believe this book was written to warn lovers not to be fearless, when it comes to love, but to express their inner feelings and find the special person they deserve in their life. Be sure to let a person know what they mean to you and if times of separation occur, then love will be at the test, and it will only succeed and grow, if both people truly wait for that special moment of being united with the one they truly love. This book and really uplift fears that many individuals have by providing the consequence of the unknown and loss of precious time, by not letting out how one feels. In all honesty, I find myself thinking what could have been a tragic loss of time and love, if I had never opened up to my other half. So much would change and life wouldn’t be the same. Fear is a constant drive that eliminates priceless and life changing opportunities. People who love and crave one special person, need to release and shine in all of their glory. In many cases, love won’t always connect two certain people, but the poisonous thought of what if, would definitely vanish. I highly recommend this book to every one of all ages. This novel is meant for the human race in my opinion because it expresses the most precious thing life offers, love. People who have the fear these individuals had, can understand that they are not alone and may receive the motivation to chase their dreams and love that melts inside. Couples can appreciate the love they share by being thankful for every second they’ve shared together, regardless of the lost time. My favorite part of the book, hands down, has to be the ending. The fact that these two individuals lived happy and madly in love, made me feel great inside and appreciative of the love I share, with my special someone. I once had fear, and I felt very alone. But when that special person comes. You just know that they are the one who can completer and fulfill your soul’s desire for true love. The author did an amazing job because he used reality. He wrote a book millions can relate to. I rate this book ten out of ten, despite the confusion style of writing. I recommend this to everyone and will find myself reading this book again in the future.

  136. The short novel “Breezes” written by author Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a story of two lovers who have spent their entire lives secretly loving one another without truly being together. The book was written in Arabic and translated by English Translator Mouna Mana. “Breezes” is a romantic novel exhibiting powerful, pure love between two people that in the end find each other. With love though does come complications and obstacles to over come which AlDoueiri shows through fear and a rumor that kept them apart. In the end though everything happens for a reason and falls into place.

    This story begins with two people meeting by the river, only to find out they have loved each other their entire lives but never had the courage to be together. Throughout the story you read about the secret love they shared from their encounters, talking with their eyes, the love between the glances they shared, quivering hands as they touch. It continuously looks back reminiscing on the past. The mind of youth kept them apart of an unsure rumor but did not keep them from loving each other. Everyday they were with each other, through the wind, the sun, the waves of the ocean, always longing to be together. Until the end when they find the courage to meet and express their feelings that they never could before.

    There are a lot of strong themes in this novel the one that ties it all together and is the most frustrating is fear. If they would not of feared to talk to each other they could of spent their lives together before growing old. She feared to ask him if the rumor was true and stayed away from him and searched for loyalty instead. They feared to talk or make a gesture to one another because their fear of rejection. This was frustrating because their lives could have been entirely different but that brings up another point by the author that the youthful mind is much different than when you are older. You grow as a person and learn from experiences throughout your life. If she was older maybe she wouldn’t of been fearful to ask him about the rumor or as it was discussed in the novel, maybe she would not of believed the girl that spread the rumor. Although they feared what they could be the fear they shared came out of another main theme, love.

    The love between them followed them their entire lives and never disappeared in the absence of one another. On page 59 it says “The past was harsh on us …however that didn’t mar the continuing affection in our hearts. We tried to choke them stamp out its signs we ignored it at times..only it appeared in front of us.” I think this quote really shows no matter the distance or how hard they tried their love stayed with them every where they turned without trying because their souls were forever connected. While reading this love story I do not think you can read it without thinking of the quote “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” This plays a crucial role in telling their love story that was once a playful love that grows to a passionate irresistible love. So in the end it possibly could have been a good thing that they didn’t end up together because their love grew stronger and they didn’t have miserable lives because they were not lonely they were with each other even if they weren’t present like when it says “And I wasn’t overcome by angst for you filled the breadth of the world with your haunting presence. “(63) I think this is where everything happens for a reason falls into place. Although it is a frustrating love story to see happen maybe it was meant to be this way.

    In conclusion this love story leaves you with courage to take risks in life and not let life pass you by. The story between these lovers also lets you see that everything in life happens for a reason. Although a frustrating and sad story at times it ended up to be a strong happy love story full of passion.

    Through the many themes and strong use of diction AlDoueiri uses, I think the point of the story is to show a captivating love story that brings out strong emotions to the reader. To me it brought out sadness, frustration, and at the end happiness. At times though it got confusing when the author didn’t address who was talking. Starting off it takes a minute to connect to the characters and understand what is going on because it starts with them meeting then tells their story but I very much enjoying reading this novel. I thought it was well put together and although it continuously reflected back on the past and their lives without each other the author did a good job of making each part different when it was still talking about similar things.

    Alex Yockey arab 290 Professor Hammad

  137. Rogelio S Barbosa-ARAB 290: Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was a very interesting and great book to read. The style of writing was different and caught me off guard. At times, I was confused and could not distinguish who was talking, or thinking. There was bold writing and small font, so it was clear when a conversation was happening, but when it came to the thoughts of the characters, I was confused at times because there was no acknowledgement of the other gender. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book. Now since there was some confusion, I may have misinterpreted the story to a certain extent, but from my view, it was one I could relate to in a sense. My closest connection, came with the beginning of the novel. The deep fear of rejection and the suppression of feelings is how I was before I became official with my girlfriend. I was so scared to hear no, but fortunately, everything worked out. I really connected with how each person expressed their feelings. Deep love was clearly shown for a person who felt the exact same way, but both let their fear stop their hearts from connecting. As the story carried on, I admired how the author sent the book in a different direction by not misleading me with what I assumed would happen. I thought that these two people, who were madly in love yet weren’t together, would express themselves and become a couple. But that wasn’t the case. I liked how I was constantly wondering if they would ever get together because the author kept them away fo0r years and years. It felt like an eternity waiting for one another which is another way I connected to the book because I once felt that way. Nonetheless, in some sections of the book, I felt that there was a small sense of repetition. I found myself reading several pages of them expressing the same feelings over and over. I was more find of the somewhat awkward conversations these individuals shared, because I admired how the author described real life scenarios that happen every day. The way both characters were speechless when speaking to one another warmed my heart and gave me a sense of love from a different prospection. One of which tow people shared for years, yet at the same time, didn’t. Moreover, I truly believe anyone who reads this book can really benefit from the meaning behind the story, in my opinion, I believe this book was written to warn lovers not to be fearless, when it comes to love, but to express their inner feelings and find the special person they deserve in their life. Be sure to let a person know what they mean to you and if times of separation occur, then love will be at the test, and it will only succeed and grow, if both people truly wait for that special moment of being united with the one they truly love. This book and really uplift fears that many individuals have by providing the consequence of the unknown and loss of precious time, by not letting out how one feels. In all honesty, I find myself thinking what could have been a tragic loss of time and love, if I had never opened up to my other half. So much would change and life wouldn’t be the same. Fear is a constant drive that eliminates priceless and life changing opportunities. People who love and crave one special person, need to release and shine in all of their glory. In many cases, love won’t always connect two certain people, but the poisonous thought of what if, would definitely vanish. I highly recommend this book to every one of all ages. This novel is meant for the human race in my opinion because it expresses the most precious thing life offers, love. People who have the fear these individuals had, can understand that they are not alone and may receive the motivation to chase their dreams and love that melts inside. Couples can appreciate the love they share by being thankful for every second they’ve shared together, regardless of the lost time. My favorite part of the book, hands down, has to be the ending. The fact that these two individuals lived happy and madly in love, made me feel great inside and appreciative of the love I share, with my special someone. I once had fear, and I felt very alone. But when that special person comes. You just know that they are the one who can completer and fulfill your soul’s desire for true love. The author did an amazing job because he used reality. He wrote a book millions can relate to. I rate this book ten out of ten, despite the confusion style of writing. I recommend this to everyone and will find myself reading this book again in the future.

  138. Shortly after beginning to read this story, I began to feel angry. This is a good thing, for it was able to evoke strong emotion in me right off the bat. The anger I felt was from reading about two lovers who both very obviously had much to say to each other, yet spent the start of their time merely dancing around their feelings. Starting with very little character introduction while still being able to evoke strong emotions in the readers towards those characters is impressive. I wanted to read on, to find out more about these two characters and the circumstances which led them to their current situation, and that’s exactly what I got. The story then goes into an episodic series of flashbacks – stories told by each of the two lovers of their past together. The readers are given stories as far back as when they were mere students. The readers are given stories of love, meeting families, flirtation and “boycott”. The readers read of separation and long nights of longing for one another, of growing older and learning the ways of people, of maturing. Though I’m not fond of reading about loss, I do enjoy reading about reconnection, and you cant have the latter without the former. Overall, I enjoyed the read, and enjoyed it’s ability to evoke emotional responses from me. I also happened to enjoy the quick reference to Nizar Qabbani. It may not be a book I find myself constantly re-reading for years to come, however, I am glad to have read it now.

  139. Breezes Book Review Arab 290

    I really enjoyed the book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. I did not expect it to be a love story nor a book that would have kept me as captivated as it did. Although at first glance I thought the book looked a little complicated because it consisted of poem so I thought “Oh no, this might be a whole other language I can’t understand”. It did consist of poems but they were easy to read. This love story is one many can relate to because it shows all the beginning stages a romance begins with. It shows a beautiful story of two individuals that never stopped loving each other. Although many would’ve liked to change the ending to the story. The beginning captivated me because at some point I feel we all have had our first crush in our youth. We all have at some point felt that nervousness and shyness whenever we were near our crush. Actions such as being timid, nervous, and constantly having them on your mind are feelings one can relate to in this love story. This story not only shows how love begins but it showed how it can easily be destroyed by actions of other people. In the story these lovebirds missed out on a lot all because a rumor. A simple person destroyed everything for them and changed everything for them.

    The story showed how love can easily make someone feel so happy and alive and also how love can make someone feel sad, confused, and powerless. It shows how one simple person you love can have such great power over your life. How that person can change your whole day around. It shows the dreamers in us. The way when things don’t go right we make ourselves feel better and heal by comforting ourselves and just reminiscing on the good things. The story showed how a person can mean such a big deal to us that we decide to get personal with them and want everyone to know our love for them. It shows how actions are done without much fear such as bringing your loved one home for the first time to meet your parents. It also shows the fear of letting your loved one too close. Fear that they might hurt you or not feel the same about you as you feel about them. In the end the story shows just how strong love can be and how it is not as easy to get rid of or forget. That after so many years those feelings can stay and come back the same as in the youth years. It showed that even as adults simply running into that person again would cause nervousness, shyness, and fear all over again just as it once did as youth. Love causing fear because of rejection was one major theme in the story whether they were at a young age or at an older age. They were both afraid to talk to each other and would surprisingly still avoid each other. Even though inside they were dying to see each other again and talk to each other again. They were both just scared and unsure if the other wanted the same. They lost their chances all because of fear. Therefore, this story was big on showing that fear and rumors can change someone’s life for the long run. All this time they could’ve had together was wasted due to those two actions. Fear caused them to be too afraid to confront the other, to simply make the first move and just go see and talk to the other. It also ruined their chance of directly asking the person if the rumor was true because the rumor was what caused the distance to grow in the first place.

    All that time spent apart but yet their love stayed alive by keeping their memories stuck in their head. When the moment came that they finally saw each other again as adults, those feelings immediately rushed back as if they were at their young age again. This story gives you so many ways to relate to this couple because at some point in the story those actions that they felt towards each other were done by us ourselves. It was a romance story that had pieces of everything in it. From the beginning to end. Love at it’s young years and love at it’s older years. Love at it’s weakest and love at it’s bravest. All the moods to love from happiness to sadness. Also the obstacles one must go through in love, whether it’s dealing with rumors and lies. It shows how one must be brave in law and that is the only way to get your answers for good. So throughout all these themes in the story, I found it tp be a beautiful romance, that’s realistic a and a piece to relate to anyone.

  140. Breezes is a novel in verse beautifully written in Arabic by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated into English by Mouna Mana. The author, Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, has had a successful career in law and education, as well as being an outspoken activist for human rights.
    The entire book revolves around a man and a woman who have been reunited after many years of not seeing each other. Together, they recount memories of their college-age love story and why things back then didn’t turn out as they wished. There are no names in the book, the only indicators we have that a man and a woman are interacting is the use of pronouns “he” and “she.” The book is a verse novel which some readers may not be accustomed to and find difficult to read. All it means is that it is written like a long poem but still has a narrative that is fairly easy to follow, so don’t let the formatting intimidate you. It is also a parallel text in Arabic and English with the beginning of the story located at what we consider to be the back cover, which many readers will also find unsettling. The reason for this is the Arabic text, it is read from right to left so the book is also set up that way. I found that the lack of character names to be a little confusing in terms of keeping up with who is speaking, but that was easily solvable when the pronouns came along. In its entirety, the book itself is only 200 pages, but since half of it is in English and the other half is in Arabic then that makes the actual story to be a little under 100 pages long. Because of its non-traditional presentation of the text as a narrative, it may be a slow read for some. Either way, I don’t think the formatting took too much from the reading experience. It becomes progressively easier to read once you get started.
    Most of the story takes place in the past as the characters experience a flood of memories and emotions when they see each other again. The central themes are love, honesty, and acceptance. Through their stories and memories we see the growth of each character. The man and the woman both confess their love, hidden truths, and mistakes in an effort to clear the air of events that took place in their youth. They both seem regretful of the actions and decisions they made when they were young, but they also both accepted that their life turned out the way it was destined to be. Out of the two, the man is the most assertive. He is constantly asking questions about life and their love affair. He is also the most philosophical demanding answers as to why life was preordained the way it was. On the other hand, the woman is the more accepting of the pair. She is the voice of reason that tries to provide answers to all of the man’s questions. She also seemed to be the more apprehensive of the two when they were younger. While the man realized he was in love the instant he met her, she took her time and didn’t act on her love for him. Even though we might be tempted as a reader to formulate the idea that they directly impacted the consequences of their decisions after their encounter and having some insight as to what they were like when they were young. The ending is a pleasant surprise and the answer as to what they didn’t. Additionally, the word “breezes” also the title of the book, becomes a big focus figuratively. I quite liked how the title tied back directly to the story. It is used to highlight the character’s brief moment together as young adults, almost as if it passed by like breeze. A breeze is used to symbolize fate. That is, if a breeze sent it then it is meant to be. The word can be seen as a clue that they will eventually find their way back to one another. The story itself is filled with metaphors that add to the romantic feel. Of course, don’t be surprised if you run into some metaphors about breezes.
    Lastly, the book is nicely priced and is pretty affordable for anybody who cares to buy it. Since it is fairly easy and quick to read it can serve as a good introduction to Arabic literature. Personally, Breezes has become my favorite novel I have read so far this year. Between its endearing characters and relatable love story it has the capability to nuzzle a special place in your soul. Overall, AlDoueiri exceeded all my initial expectations I had upon first picking up the book

  141. AUSTIN LUNDEEN ARAB290. In my experience reading the novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueri I was extremely entertained because stories like this seem to grasp my attention more than anything. I am a firm believer that true love is an ultimate goal of life. I think it is true that when you meet a certain someone, this love can last for a lifetime whether it works out or not. Say it works out for you and your loved one, ultimately you win. But if it doesn’t and you end up going your separate ways, I feel as if your love for this person really remains the same and you have this longing for what could have been and what would have happened if it worked out. In the novel breezes, there is a man and a woman who loved each other at a young age. But yet they were afraid and scared to truly show their feelings of affection towards each other. This caused for the relationship that they had to go no further and they split in separate ways. Although deep inside they knew that that was their love and nothing could change that fact. I think that when I first started to read this novel I was pretty confused. But realistically what love story is not confusing. I like how AlDoueri brings you into the book with vivid conversation and thinking that goes on between the man and woman sitting along the river. It frustrat4ed me knowing that they both had this connection and unconditional love for each other but yet because of fear and rejection they couldn’t truly express what was on their minds. It is easy to sit here and write a book review but in reality I think a lot of people have been in this situation before. Love is hard, and in life most things that are hard are more than likely worth fighting for. It grinded my gears reading along to find out that what was truly love in the beginning ended up becoming a depressing fact that maybe this love would not end up happening in the future. It gave me a very uncertain feeling that because what they had went through, although they had very great memories together, would end up hopeless and lonely for both of them. I think that this novel real stresses the fact that true love is for real. No matter what road love and life takes you done, everything happens for a reason and this reason is to be genuinely happy at the end of the day or even at the end of your life. Some themes that really caught my eye while reading and reflecting on this novel are fear and rejection. I believe that this novel really makes you realize that what is happening here can happen in real life. We as humans cannot read minds, or what the other person is thinking all the time but I do believe that we can read emotions. When we can feel the emotion of fear and rejection, we tend to let our mind drift into this state that is fairly unhealthy, A place that makes you think about everything that can go wrong rather than all the beautiful things that could come about if they had opened up at first. Through personal experiences I have actually had a story just like this happen to me. I liked this girl and we were both young. Knowing we liked each other it was hard for us to communicate this fact, because we really didn’t know what would become of us if we went for it. We ended up ending it only to reconnect later in our college days. It was not ideal but we tried to make it work again and ultimately after understanding each other more and knowing what both of us were about, the flame was lit again and truthfully I couldn’t be happier because she was my first love. I can relate this directly to the novel because when you are in the moment, it is hard to consider all the facts and truths about what the future holds. We all don’t know what the future holds and that’s jus the truth. We are insecure and ultimately let ourselves fail at something that should have been perfect. Looking back at it, I can say wow, I was dumb forever letting that slip out of my fingers, but in the end it all worked out for the best. Like I stated earlier in the review I do believe that everything does happen for a reason and it is for these reasons I think it is important to keep your faith and trust for this plan. Maybe it didn’t work out the first time ultimately to be the best thing to happen to you the second time. This novel was really interesting and makes me feel grateful for all the experiences I’ve been able to have in life so far. A really good read and I highly recommend it!
    -Austin Lundeen

  142. Richard Gonzales Arab 290
    In the short novel “Breezes”, by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri, we see the life of college sweethearts that have been disconnected throughout their life, as their love for each other grows even stronger to the point were they get together in their later years. The setting of this novel takes place on a lake as the two encounter each other. As the novel progresses you see the realistic events that portray true love. For example, we see the emotions each character feels for the other. These emotions go deeply into the subject of love where there is no question about it. Unfortunately, they still resemble their younger years as they fear rejection and defend their pride. They don’t want to admit their love for each other so quickly. Continuously, in the novel we also see that little gestures to one another can have a great impact on one’s relationship or future relationship. We see this through the gestures made by the two loved ones later in the novel and how it soon results in getting together. “Breezes” is a romantic novel, no question about it. It inquires the topic of love, which consists of beauty and nature.
    For starters, we see the beauty of the love from the beginning of the novel. It seems to start off as a date showing us how the love the two shares has gone on for decades even though they have been separated along their path. The beauty this novel offers is not only through the topic of love but from the details it shares. This novel provides us the feeling as if we were living alongside the lovers. We are placed into the characters minds. They are not named which helps us place ourselves in their shoes and also because of how we read the thoughts one says to themself, just as the women internally questions herself, “will he continue his gesture?” (Aldouerir 24) This also shows us the concern one has when it comes to the other person. This resembles life because everyone has these thoughts when it comes to someone they love. It provides a sensational illustration of what has gone on and what is love. This shows the true beauty of Arabic literature. Nature is also put into perspective starting from the very start. In the first pages of the story we see the nature of a lake being described quiet enhanced, which puts you into the eyes of the character from the start.
    The details in this novel are so clear and detailed that it could drag the topic to the extreme, which wasn’t a problem for me. However, it did not need to be that amplified. I would understand if one soon started too lose their focus reading about the same subject that was already understood. There are also literary devices and strategies such as flashbacks and dramatic irony as you can already see that both of them will get back together as their emotions progress. You already know as an audience that the two love each other deeply which is something they personally don’t know, which causes them to have fear of rejection. Constant flashbacks are present throughout the entire novel especially from the beginning as the woman hears a voice that she recalls to remember is her long lost college sweetheart. He goes to sit with her as they soon share parts of their life which rebuilds a past connection they use to have with one another. There is also imagery and metaphors that are provided in scenes shown as they bring up the past and emotions. Imagery starts from the beginning and follows to the end, as nature is described during the day and at night. This is no surprise as it was composed of poems from each character. Each prom shares memories that each protagonist had as they share this after they have gotten together. All these moments lead to a great understanding of the short story.
    Consequently, there is no doubt that this book is fantastic, as it shows the true beauty of love and nature. It shows the life of true love and how it can overcome years of absence. Many, if not everyone, should give this novel a try as it really engages you into the story. It is a novel that will put you in the place of the character and will help you realize that true love is out their. Not all fantasies are fantasies as this one has showed us to be realistic unlike the other fictional love stories that have a ridiculously over dramatic plot. “Breezes” not only shows us the positives but also the negatives. For instance, after facing many obstacles, they were finally able to reunite after being previously married. Furthermore, I am glad I had to read this novel because it really kept me motivated to read more. Being translated to english from arabic was a fantastic idea if not I wouldn’t have been able to read it.

  143. (Marcos Reyes)
    This book review pertains to the author Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri regarding the book Breezes.
    Some disclaimers before reading this book review. Note that this version of the book, which I read, was translated in english by Mouna Mana. I did not read the original copy. Another disclaimer in my review, is that the book I read was an incomplete version. I was told the incomplete version was isomorphic to the finish copy, so the structure of the piece should still be the same. Also, my point of view in reading this literature is a perspective of a single male who lives in California. I believe this needs to be stated because the lenses for which I read this book is different compared to many others raised in different nations, or states for that matter. Now to continue this book review. It is my conviction that the author’s main message for this book is to capture the idea of a platonic love for a person who still does not know what love really is. In my personal accord, this books seems to personify the idea of a person’s first lust.

    A synopsis of this piece is a love story of two young students who can never shake the idea of “virgin love”. The story starts with a women sitting on a wooden bench under a tree. The scenery is decorated with attributes of love: doves flying overhead, ducks swimming in unison , e.t.c. She suddenly hears a voice, which she recognizes, and is in shock that a man has spoken to her. The women knows this man from previous encounters in her past, young star crossed lovers they are. This book follows a chronological order except for the first chapter, it is the only misordered chapter in the sequence of events that unfold. For the most part we follow the journey of this young woman who becomes infatuated with a man. She seems to be when in college or high school. She seems to be challenged by the idea of love, and so to has the young man who she longs for. She can not contain her urges after some time and very slowly gravitates towards him. The young man also yearns for this young girl, so the feelings are mutual. During the time of these events, no words were ever exchange; only subtle looks and gestures. A rumor was spread about the young man having an eye for another women, and this devastated the young woman who first longed for him. The star crossed lover encounter themselves countless times throughout the book and always engage in superficial conversations- ignoring the past and the heartening memories that came along with it. One conversation of theirs does occur to unfold some untold stories. The young lady ask the young man if it was true if the had eyes on another women while they were “talking”. The young man hesitated for a moment. He told her that no matter what response I give you, you will still not believe it true. The women did not care and asked him to tell her anyways. The young man acknowledge that the rumor was false all along, and it was indeed her friend who spread the rumor. After some time the young women, now old, writes a book of her past experience with this man and sends him a copy. The young man, now old too, calls and tells her they should met. The story simply ends in a disney fashion.

    The overall story was good, a little to rich for my taste. The story had a poetic feel to it.The first chapter reminds me of Shakespeare’s, romeo and Juliet- how they are star crossed lovers and forbidden to fall in love with each other. The last chapter brings a vivid memory of how the movie, “The Notebook” is depicted. The author does a stupendous job on the idea of imagery. I love reading a piece of writing where I can picture myself in a third person scenario. I enjoyed the author’s choice of diction as well, or was it the translator- I don’t know. The words she choice evoked the right emotions when she demanded them. This book seems to glorify a stalker mentality thought, in my personal accord. This girl in the book always seems to be thinking about the young man, peeking on the young man; heck, at one time she seen him depart from a ship to Egypt and didn’t even tell her he was going. She found out some how and hid behind the docks just to see him depart; if that is not a stalker then I don’t know what is. I do wish the characters had names though. It was very hard to distinguish who’s perspective you were in when reading the book; you would probably find out mid chapter and then have to reread the chapter in order to fit the personnel of the right character you had imagined. Also, the author’s style of writing, bold statements within the piece and putting asterisks was a bugaboo when reading the book for me. I felt as if I was misinterpreting this crucial ideas. Maybe this is a cultural difference of writing.

  144. The Book “Breezes” by Wafica AlDoueiri, is a very interesting story. At first I was very hesitant about reading this book because I never would think to read a story originally written in arabic. I think that this novel is more of a poem than anything and this caught me completely off guard. I was actually very surprised to see that it had the original Arabic and the English translation. I was surprised to see that the story was written from right to left. Being that I am used to reading from left to right, it took me a little while to get used to this. I believe being that it was translated from Arabic to English it lost a lot of its literacy content. I feel like I am not able to fully appreciate what is the original Arabic story. I am kinda disjointed because I feel like this would be that much better of a story if it were I were able to understand Arabic. I really enjoyed it and giving the benefit of doubt this story is that much better. The author made me feel like I was there with the immerse detail he gave us, although he did not flood us with details. The way the story is told it allows for the reader to feel the emotion, but it also allows a good understanding on what is happening in the story.The Poem is a love story and it had an amazing ending. I really focused on the beauty of their love and everything that they went through. It starts off with two high school lovers who would reunite later in life as adults. Both of them are very hesitant yet very open to rekindling their love. I really liked how the author gave an insight on their past and the love that never blossomed but was kept over the years. It gave us as the readers to understand that there is a history between the two lovers and that they very well may have been soul mates. It gave me a belief in my life knowing that someone I love may come back into my life in the future. It is basically your stereotypical love story.The way the author writes the story it makes you feel like you are apart of the relationship. The details help you feel what is going on in the story and you do not feel lost as you are reading. The author also gives the characters thoughts in the story, therefore; giving the story through the eyes of the characters and not in the third person. By doing this the author allows you to see the story through the eyes of both the characters, so you now get a deeper understanding of their love.This was a great story but nothing in the world is perfect so their were a few negatives in the story. I did not really like how many questions there were in the story. It made me beginning to second think what was going on. I understand that the author tried to give a first person view of writing but there were entirely too many questions. There were a few paragraphs where it seemed where it was a question every sentence. “Why did I choose that dress? And why that collar and those white earnings? Aren’t they the emblem of purity and sincerity? Why did that red collar tug at me that day? Was it because of some hidden feelings that reflected the flames of my emotions?” is one of the many examples from the story. There are entirely too many questions in a row, and this overwhelmed me again making me question myself. It makes the story very hard to keep up with and to follow.With all this being said it was a very good book. I am glad that it was a required reading for this class because if it were not I never would have thought to read it, and honestly i probably would not have given it a second look on the bookshelf. It gave me insight on the Arabic community and it was kinda cool seeing that Arabic go through the same struggles with love as people in the western region of the world. I really wish that I could get the true consent of the story and not miss it on some of the content due to translation. This story did not make me want to put the book down until I completed it, I am glad it had that effect because I was extremely hesitant at first. If I were to see this author in the future I definitely would give the book a shot, and quite honestly I hope I do find another book by him.

  145. In the short novel Breezes, by author Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri and translated from Arabic to English by Dr. Mouna Mana, we explore a story of eternal love through a series of poems. Aldoueiri tells the story of two lovers through their conversations and their thoughts, using poetry as the medium in which the message is communicated. The opening chapter titled “Deep Emotions” sets the tone of the short novel by exemplifying the extraordinary love held between the two lovers, starting with their very first encounters. Using imagery and flashbacks along with the poem type format, we see the first theme of love told by the author. Lifetime lovers of poetry and even people not quite familiar with the art form could equally appreciate this novel. Easy to read chapters, beautifully written verses and flowing story bring to life a new kind of love story. This short novel is a sweet and sour quick read, but only because once you pick it up it is hard to put it back down! Each chapter starts a new scene in which the story develops, the titles convey the new and recurring themes of love, loyalty, friendship, trust and many more. In addition to the intimate story line, the poetic verses brought forth in the dialogue set this story apart from your average love story. Using different poetic devices such as imagery, metaphor, personification and many more, Adoueiri creates a special element of abstract thinking. The ups and downs told through the thoughts and feelings of the two lovers are spoken beautifully through these poems. These trials and tribulations show the reader that love will always find its way back, no matter what. Many times in the novel the author leaves the reader thinking that there many not be hope for the two main characters to remain together. Yet, despite the low points of hope, the powerful theme of love through out the short novel never fails to shine through as we see the characters profess the undying love they have for one another in spite of their struggles, through their inner thoughts and conversations with one another.

    If you are looking to read a full fledged novel containing the same old interchangeable parts of a of a chunky, sappy love story, leave it to Nicholas Sparks to pull at your heart strings. In the off chance that you don’t really have the time or the energy to read another one of those generic stories, you should definitely pick up this book for an amazing and fulfilling read. You will not regret it. I feel this novel specifically reaches out a much broader audience of readers, in that it is quite a short novel, and also not very difficult to understand and follow along at all! But most importantly, the story line is not like your average love stories. You can honestly feel the real emotion through the beautifully written verses. The fact that the story is told constantly through two different perspectives adds a fresh and unique spin to the traditional love story. Not to mention the traditional poem as well! Personally, my favorite chapters from the short novel include Dreams of Joy, The Impossible Attachment, and Overcoming Oneself. Though, all chapters of the story are written beautifully, I feel these spoke me and my life personally, and I appreciated the poetic devices used in these chapters especially. For example in the chapter Impossible Attachment, the use of simile and metaphor are used to portray the deep emotion felt in this particular part of the story. Here the lines ask several questions, not to be taken literally of course: “How could I replace you with the scenery of a lake… when you were the spring? / With a stroll in the wood… when you were the shade I sought to return to? / With buying a dress… when you were the cloth with which I covered myself.” These lines have made this chapter one of my favorite moments in the story because it exemplifies fully how much love the two have for each other, even through secrets and indefinite betrayal there is no way that they can fully separate from each other because of the strong love they have.

    There aren’t many cons of reading this novel, it obviously has an amazing and wonderfully deep story line and each line is beautifully written. The only downfalls I would say this novel contains is that is maybe lacks a clarity in format from the beginning, it was difficult for me to understand that there were different perspectives at first. If that was sort of better clarified from the beginning I wouldn’t of had to go back and reread!

    Other than that, this was definitely a novel I could not put down after picking it up. I was glued to the pages for the entirely of the novel and I definitely recommend to all readers!!!!

    Nicole Victoria Gomez

  146. Christopher Lopez
    Arab 290

    Breezes Review Paper
    Breezes, by Wafica AlDoueiri, is a book about two lovers who grow to resent one another and separate from each other. The way Wafica understands love is on a completely different level than other author’s books I read from. It takes on a more realistic approach where both lovers separate do to a “lack of love”. Both have known each other for a long time and professed their love to one another and became lovers. But due to issues in their relationship they could no longer stand the site of each other. After their break up though the two will soon learn what true love really is.
    One of the things I found interesting about the book is how the story is told. It only uses two characters. All the stories I have read so far always had a huge cast of characters. So one might wonder why only two characters. It is obvious that AlDoueiri wanted to focus on love on this story, but only on these two characters to maximize the main appeal. By having these two characters use the spotlight the reader can get a better picture of the stages of love. Throughout this story both characters try to forget about each other and try many ways of doing so. Whether it is not noticing the other. Not speaking or just trying to erase them all together. But the more they tried to forget the more they remembered and the more they remembered the more they began to fall back in love. I thought this was a great way of showing how separation can be the best thing for a relationship. By the two being separated it created the room and space they both desired from one another. As soon as they got that space though they began to become miserable without each other. I thought this was a great way to show the reader that a relationship is not truly over until it is over. What that means is until one of the lovers finds another mate there is still hope for them to get back together. It is as if this story is more towards children who are affected by divorce from their parents. This story shows that though they might be separated that separation may be the key to saving their relationship.
    The way AlDoueiri talks about marriage it is almost like she believes it to be a death sentence. “They say that marriage is often the cemetery of love.” (pg. 59) The way she describes it here is that cemetery is suppose to symbolize death and lifelong. So when she compares marriage to cemetery she is saying that it is lifelong love till death. When reading the story it took me awhile to figure out who was speaking and when they were. I thought it was brilliant though that I as the rreader did not know the names of the two lovers. It help me focus more on their relationship then on their character and who they are. Which is what the story is about. I found it very creative of AlDoueiri for showing when the two characters are talking to each other by using different font. The man was the smaller font and the woman was the larger font. The two lover’s relationship was like a rollercoaster. One moment they would be expressing their love to one another’ but then it would shift to them wanting to separate. One of the moments in the story that intrigued me the most was when both the man and the woman were telling each other how they felt and they would say when they crossed each others path that they both wanted to say something but ended up not doing so do to the fact that they were to afraid to speak to one
    another.
    I think AlDoueiri is just another great example of how amazing Arab poets are. I could tell that she put a lot of heart into this book and that she feels strongly for the beliefs written in this book. From what I have read Arab poets go so deep into their writing that there is a whole other meaning to it. What made me love this novel even more was the realization it gave me. I know two people who are having troubles in their relationship and this story made me realize that even though two people split up there is a chance that they could get back together with a stronger connection.
    Separation is not the end of a relationship it is a test of one. If two people can be separated for a certain amount of time and come back loving each other than that is true love. Separation tests the strength between the bond of two people. This book was a great one to read. It had a great story and was very deep and emotional. I loved the fact that I could relate a life experience with it. That just made the book more enjoyable. When two people who love each other very much see they are meant for each other their story becomes a true spectacle.

  147. When I initially opened the novel “Breezes” I was taken aback by the structure of the text. I noticed the unorthodox writing style. Instead of being written like a normal novel would, the book contained a poetic feeling and even closely resembled the aesthetics of poems as well. My first judgments were screaming at me to abandon this book. I questioned whether it was it even a novel in the first place! It was my initial judgments that got the better of me, because the more and more I began to dig myself deep into this fabric of love that the two characters had woven for each other, I began to realize how the author was able to create such a rich story about everlasting love and its ability to prevail over all obstacles.
    The novel “Breezes” was originally written in Arabic by Wafica Mansour AlDuoeitri and later translated into English by Mouna Mana. The story takes on a poetic structure which at first glance may appear daunting, but the decision to choose this structure significantly pays off as the text is able to create a greater sense of romance between the two characters. Every word is beautifully hand crafted and carries purpose onto the page. Most of the novel consists of back and forth conversation between the two characters and, at times, dialogue from a narrator. The dialogues often carried a poetic form, sounding as though the characters are speaking in a poetic language. Initially it was a nice touch as it added a greater romantic presence, but as time dragged on, I began to lose my interest in it and yearned for the typical novel-like style. In order to distinguish the difference between the character’s dialogues, the male voice is written with a darker font while the female voice is written with lighter font and the narrator is depicted with a bold font. At first it took me a while to distinguish the two apart and it became difficult to understand the events that were unfolding. When it comes to story-telling, this is the first of its kind that I have seen that have taken this approach but I feel that it was the right decisions as I was better able to get a feeling of genuine mutual love between the two characters. They were talking to each other was if they were directly in front of me and I could feel their passion and love jump out the page and present itself in my way.
    The plot of the story is very minimalistic, however, it doesn’t take away from the theme that the author attempts to portray. Throughout the novel the characters talk to each other, often reminiscing about their youth. They talk about their ups and downs, their wins and failures and most importantly their fiery love for each other that could not be contained. There are many obstacles that attempt to bring this companionship to halt, and no matter the rough patches that both individuals went through, it was love that, in the end, prevailed over all. This was the message that the author was able to expertly portray. Not much is told to us about their characters. Their backgrounds and other concerns disregarding their love for each other remain a mystery. The only emotions that are expressed are the ones that directly pertain to one another. I wish I had a little more insight on the characters and who they were as individuals. It may would have given me a deeper desire for these two characters to be together happily, but unfortunately I felt that the short length of the novel had me wanting more. While the characters felt under developed, the main chemistry between the 2 lovers established its position as the protagonists in my heart.
    The roots of Arabic literature are clearly visible in this work. Even the translated English version manages to properly present the romanticism that is heavily embodied within the Eastern Culture. Love, passion and affection are all popular themes of Arabic literature and “Breezes” adequately presents this theme in a way where you can feel the genuine love between the two characters. The result is an intelligent work of Literature that heavily embodies love and compassion as a theme and while I believe that the book suffered from poor character development, an abrupt end and an increasingly over-done poetic tone, I still found myself to be deeply interested in the struggle for love that these two characters were fighting for. Lovers of romance and poetry will find themselves right at home here, but of you were looking for a more traditional novel-type of love story, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

    Arabic 290
    week 7 Part B

  148. This short novel Breezes written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and rewritten in to English by Ph.D. Mouna Mana. When reading this story do not expect your traditional style format. The Book comes Titled in Arabic and you read the book from right to left. The material of the paper is kind of a glossy finish which I feel is attracting to the reader. Breezes is close to two hundred pages long when really it is not because. The Arabic version is written on the right hand side of the book and the English translation is on the left side. The way it is typed out Is similar to poetry. Short sentences that ended every other line. If you are a fan of love stories then this book is cut out just for you. It doesn’t matter if you are an avid reader or you are just starting to read for fun, this book is a good read. Personally for me, this book was assigned to me for a college literature class. Throughout this class he have done several readings. This includes several books and poems and I would have to say this book was my favorite.

    This is not your traditional love story in fact the story line is very original. It start out with nice scenery with the flow of a beautiful river where an older man and woman meet after several years of seeing each other. Throughout the whole story you never get the man or woman’s name. They are referred to as “he” or “she”. The two get to talking and you as the reader realizes that these two used to love each other in the past but have been too stubborn or scared to tell each other. This concept is scary because this probably happened to people in real life. They go through life not knowing if a certain elation would have worked just because they were scared or stubborn to tell the other person how they feel about them. In this case the woman met when they were they were young. The woman later leaves to Egypt. Than man is upset because this could be the last time he see the woman he loves. Come to find out later that she does come back and brings the man a gift. Later in the story the guy bring the woman over to his parents’ house so they could meet the gild he had been talking to. She eventually starts to shy away from his because she here a rumor that he had flirting with other girls. The truth of the matter is that he never cheated nor talked to any other woman. She just failed to ask him. This could have been the game changer. So many people make this mistake of not finding out the truth before jumping to conclusions. There s a particular scene in this story that stood out to me. There is a part in this novel where she goes somewhere to meet him and he wanted to see her too. They passed each other and both thought that the other ignored one another just because of a simple misunderstanding. This is a common issue today. I personally think this happens today more because of technology. People communicate over technology via email, text, etc. And when they meet in person they tend to be more “stand-offish”. The theme that I could pick out of this story and definitely love and fear. There is love throughout the whole story and as far as fear, they both feared that they would never see each other again,

    I absolutely loved the way this story ended. Although it was later in life and they were both older, The two lovers finally met again. They may have been older, but in each others’ eyes they were stunned like they used to be. Their age made no difference in their love. They cleared up the misunderstanding of the past but for some reason they still never say the words “I love you” at the end of the book you realize the place they reunited at was a retirement home where they will spend the rest of their lives together. This part of the book gave chills and made this story for me. I give this love story a five out five and think that everybody should read it. It was surely a fun one to read and the wasn’t too hard to read. They translation was great.

  149. Hiep Luong

    I had a chance to read “Breezes”, a short novel by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. It’s the first time I read a book that originally was in Arabic, and I really like it. Breezes is a romantic love story, but it doesn’t look like any love story in Western culture that usually involved sexual feeling and lust. I find the story interesting in term of romantic, and the way the author describe the couple’s internal feeling to each other.
    Breezes is simply a story about the man and a woman, they felt in love to each other since they were young, but they have never shown their significant their true feeling. Time flies by, they went their own way, and when they get old, they have a chance to reunite. At that time, they are able to tell the true feeling when they were young and explain why they were apart. The story is really easy to follow, since it is just focus on the two main character. Through the story, the readers will see many internal dialogues, and easily understand what is actually happening in their heads.
    One of the theme I like about the book is its romantic, the author really successful portraying the two main character’s feeling through situational analysis. The way the author telling the story is letting the reader see through the eyes of both characters. I really like the detail of what the man is thinking about the woman when they were young, and that he was afraid to hold her hands. Maybe both of they were afraid of rejection, they want to keep their feeling in their mind, and just wait until they have a chance to say it out. Unfortunately, this chance had never come. They were thinking too much, they asked too many questions, and make things worse. That kind of love is hard to find nowadays, people easy to say that they love someone by texting or through social media. Love in Breezes is totally different from what we see today.
    As an international student from Vietnam, the story remind me of Asian culture years ago, I have heard many of the same stories. They both afraid to lose each other when they shows their true feeling, until everything is too late. Also, we can see the impact of cultural on their thinking, they think about family, and they really need their family accept the other. In my culture, the man is supposed to tell his feeling first, and wait for an acceptant from the woman. I wish the man would have done that when he was young, then he would have her for the rest of his life. One of the quote I really like in the story is that “marriage is often the cemetery of love”, I think that might be true, after marry, people think more about jobs, try to keep up with the bills, and try to take care of their children. They spend less time for each other, and that might kill love. What they have left is just responsibilities for their family.
    Another aspect that need to talk about is trust. The woman thought her man cares about another. Personally, I think the woman did not have enough trust on the man she loves, maybe she was too young, it hurts her a lot, and she could not able to see him face to face to solve the problem. She tried to forget him instead. Although she could not forget him, but she could not have him either. I think the story really suitable for teenager, it is interesting to see what’s going on when people are falling in love. I believe that teenagers will like the story, and they will never do the same thing if they were raised in the US. For those who are adults, they will find themselves in the story, it may remind them of their first love.
    In conclusion, I really recommend this book to those who are in their first love. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri did a great job on this short novel. First of all, it is a pretty good romantic story that concentrate analyze the feeling each character has. Secondly, the way the author portrait the two main characters through the story is interesting. Love should be built on trust, when you think you find it, then try to keep it before everything goes wrong. Also, love is blindness, people need to think more practical in order to understand their own feeling. You might lose your true love forever just by making a silly mistake, like the couple in Breezes. I will read more Arabic story when I have chance, I’d like to see the difference between cultures, and how people react differently in the same situation.

  150. Cesar Morales Arab 290 Week 10
    The novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was to me a great piece of work, something that can relate to many others when it comes to love and all of its crazed emotions. To be completely honest as I began to read this wonderful short novel, I was a bit confused because of its structure. However as I kept reading more and more I could feel myself immerse into those vivid words of mixed emotions, at the times I would feel my heart race altogether with those words. These two people who are deeply in love with each other yet they are never open about it to each other, yet they both felt that flaming desire to be together. I love how it connects with many out there when it comes to uncertainty to speak their mind to someone they adore, or the fear of being rejected as well. What creates more of a connection to our lives in this world is how one might feel that love, uncertainty, fear, and shyness not even knowing that the other feels the same way. It’s a contradictory way of life when it comes to love at time, the novel shows exactly how by stalling in those moments makes them seem to breeze by while at the same time those small moments feel as whole eternity on their own. One thing that stuck out the most to me in this great vivid novel was in how it opened my eyes, it was a big realization for me. That being said, it’s true how when you first look across a room and meet eyes with that one person you immensely fall for them. Those hectic feeling of a heavy chest with a beating heart, that tingling sensation in your stomach, that numbness in your mind, everything you feel at that moment last so long … then when two people come together all after a while those feelings dim, yes it might be that after a while the deep love still beat in their hearts, but those exact feeling well they’re not exactly the same. It makes me imagine growing old in love, never to experience the joy of being next to her, but those innocent and fiery passion still lingering strong as if one were still a youth as the novel Breezes says. One thing I would like to point out is that, in my personal opinion, I sensed a sort of realism in this story and I loved how it mixed in well with daydreaming and vivid fantasy … that is just my opinion. Now I’ll go ahead and explain myself, the sense of realism that is there is because the way in concluded … It just made complete logical and at the same time heart throbbing sense. Instead of making it that they came together many year ago in youth, Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri pushes her characters through a realistic painstaking life which was also full of vivid colorful love. Still at the end, the closure she and he both had seemed perfect, to which in my eyes was one of many pure forms of love. Her wording! It to me was used perfectly, it was able to paint their worlds in my mind and bring emotion forth from each line strongly and with great narrative from each perspective. It was well balanced in how I would not empathize for one more than the other, it crossed itself out (the empathy) and instead it brought forth hope and excitement for both of them because what they had was real. There were times in which I did go back and re-read certain lines, stanza or page because after finishing it once it gave me the vision and after the second time it came with understanding. I read twice for my own pleasure, just as anyone would wish to re-visit old memories for deeper understanding. The way in which they collect fragment of memories that build a lifetime was astonishing. That reflects many desires of human being as we know it, to be able to find someone you grow old with, then to look back and remember even the smallest of moments in life in the most vivid detail. I definitely get that idea from this book, in life what makes it memorable is the smallest moments with those you love and those big moments you believe rather important fade away because you only see yourself with those small moments in your partner’s eyes. Overall, this short novel Breezes was nothing of what I expected, well because I didn’t know what to expect. I was very surprised by how enthralled I was with this gorgeous well put together story of souls intertwining in each other’s lives when they only caught glance of on another. It connects with the reader, brings out emotion, and is an honest heart to heart story.

  151. Unfortunately I was not able to get a hold of the actual novel Breezes, but surely enough I was able to read the online pdf version. Even though I was not able to see the Arabic portion of it I was still able to understand that the story was about two individuals in the senior years who were once young and were deeply in love. I actually enjoyed the story and the format it was in, which made it easy and more enjoyable to read. Poetry is a great way to express ones love for another, and this format of poetry really showed me the true meaning of love. Wafica Monsour was very unique in describing the sceneries; I was really able to picture the moment in my head. From the fist time they touched hands to the dreaded goodbye. While reading this story I was in mixed emotions, at first I was rooting for their love to be inseparable. The story opens with the woman sitting on a bench with the view of a lake then suddenly a mans voice from afar was noticed. It had been a voice that she has loved to hear and it was him, her college sweetheart. It has been a while since they have engaged with one another and they are both feared of rejection from one another. Throughout the story we come to realize that they both want identical things from each other; they want to speak to each other and express their inner thoughts and feelings. The first time they had engaged in a conversation was a restaurant and it was time for them to order their food. Surprisingly they ordered the exact same thing. Upon ordering they start to really conversate about all the past memories they had together and how they fell in love. That is where the whole book of them writing together about their love stories comes together. Sadly an unresolved dispute between them takes place leaving them separated for a time. Unfortunately since they live in the same city they come across each other multiple times making eye contact and potentially have small talk. Later on in the story the two protagonists end up at a retirement home where they were able to live the rest of their lives together.
    Growing up I was not a big fan of romance stories because of the fact that I don’t relate to them and they are just full of untrue love and the physical aspect of love rather than showing chemistry between two loving individuals. But, certainly, Breezes was a great novel that really showed the true connections between two people that loved each other very much and also shows that fate is real, because even though these two were separated for a moment they would always end up together. Breezes is a great novel all round and can be enjoyed with any age group. In todays world not many people know about the true meaning of love. Even myself, but through Breezes one can relate to it because it is simply young and innocent love. Wafica did a great job in writing this story because It really made me feel as if I were in the background witnessing all the things that took place between the two characters. I was able to really visualize the passion these two had for each other.
    I didn’t really have a favorite part in the novel, but something that stood out to me was when the woman recites a French proverb that translates to “if only youth knew, and if only age were able.” This novel really identifies the true morals of love and what it takes to be in love through pain, taking risks for your loved one and actually caring for one another through the good and bad times. Furthermore the woman explains that if she knew of the misunderstandings she would have handled them differently and the couple wouldn’t have gone through a long and torturing faze of their relationship. I was able to learn that when young people are in love in can be frustrating at times and many people are able to influence you with situations that will affect your relationship and lead to things that can not be fixed. In reality when someone is truly in love they will overcome any obstacles that are their way just to be with their loved ones. This story really showed me that love is out there and it cannot be beat with little misunderstandings, that love can fight through any obstacles and that love shows true unity between two individuals.
    In conclusion I really enjoyed this novel for that it shows the true meaning of love. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romance story. This story really taught me a lesson about love, when to take risks and believe that fate is real and it is possible to have a happy ending with your soul mate regardless of how you are.

    -Abraham Jraisat Arab 290

  152. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is about a dynamic relationship between a boy and a girl as they age. The tale is told through poem. It begins with an over view of the couple’s relationship from the time they were children to the time they were old. Then it flashes back to the very beginning of their love. The couple’s journey continues as they progress into adolescence. Things get serious when the boy gets his family’s blessing to begin courting the girl. As they continue to grow as a couple, poison of rumor enters the relationship. The girl hears a rumor about her boyfriend flirting with another girl. This is a game changer in their relationship because after this the girl begins distancing herself from her boyfriend. Slowly, as they remain a couple, they begin to drift apart. They are still in love with each other but they hide their love. Things continue to shift apart until they can bear it no more and split as a couple. The years go by as they question each other as to why their relationship ended as they did. Their encounters with each other only consist of them both asking why. Then their meetings begin to become fewer and fewer as time goes on. Their feelings for each other never falter. At the end of the book the woman presents a book to the man about their story. He immediately recognizes it and after years of not seeing each other they meet. Their last meeting in when they are old and grey headed.
    The beginning of the work is purely about innocent love. The first few poems express love for a young couple. I could see the love of the children grow. It starts off as a bud, and then it flourishes into something bigger. Both the boy and the girl have a desire for each other. They want to love each other. In the beginning they are both hesitant of rejection so they keep their love a secret. The girl doesn’t even find out he likes her until she meets his family. Once they both are aware of their feelings, they embrace the love. But, they always have that fear of completely letting each other in. This is apparent when the girl hears the rumor about her boyfriend. She is completely overwhelmed with this idea of betrayal that she begins to close herself off to him. Of course, he notices. That doesn’t stop him from trying to open her up again. He spends the next few years trying to get back the girl he loves. He tried but his attempts always fail, so he too starts to close himself off from her. They never talk about the problems they have. They keep them quiet and hidden from one another. When they finally broke their relationship off, they start asking each other why it happened. When there’s nothing left to do but talk, they talk. That’s how it’s been since the beginning of their relationship. They keep themselves quiet. At this point the boy finds out why she has drawn herself away from him. Faced with why she did it, he never gives her an answer as to the truthfulness of the rumor. Again, he is afraid to open himself up to her. This makes the girls fears even worse and she continues to keep the feelings of betrayal towards him. After that, every time they meet, they ask why it didn’t work. They both tell each other that they love each other every time they meet. But I think the fear of rejection still resonates with them so they never really get to the bottom of their problems. It’s only when they’re much older that they address this issue. The girl demands truth from the boy. He tells her the rumors were never true. She feels bad for believing a girl on a mission destroy love. This is what essentially heals their relationship, but they do not get back together. They only express secret longing for each other and move on with their lives. As time goes on they lose contact with each other. When they do meet, to try and reunite, they always have self-doubts and quit at the last second. They never really give all of themselves to each other. It’s not until the very end when they try to open up to each other. After a long time of not seeing one another, the girl sends a book that she wrote about their relationship to him. She recorded their journey and immediately he recognized it. They are both eager to meet each other once again. They mended their relationship just in time. By the time they finally reconnected, they were old. They still were very much in love with each other like they were when they were kids. The book describes it as their love in youth. Their bodies grew old but their love always stayed the same.

  153. The book Breezes by Wafica Manour AlDoureiri, is a complex tale of love between two people over time. Like any other relationship, the love between the two individuals blossoms until they are separated. After an extended period of time, the two find one another and rekindle their love for one another, although it has diminished little during the time of the separation.
    Upon buying the book and flipping through it, I had low expectations for it. In fact, I was not necessarily looking forward to reading it based on the front cover and the fact that the book is printed in two languages on opposite sides of the page. Also, I expected for the book to be a compilation of short stories and poems, based on the layout of the book. It turns out my first impressions were ill-conceived and ill-placed with this book. What I did not expect was that I would enjoy the book as much as I did, nor did I expect to relate to the story on any level either.
    One thing that really stood out to me was the style of writing used by this author. There are several metaphors and similes used throughout the book that are thought provoking. Personally, I prefer to be challenged by an author as I read. If the reader is disengaged from the material, they will have a difficult time following along with the story.
    From the beginning and throughout the story, the author gives excellent detail to lend insight to how the characters are thinking and feeling. When the two individuals are experiencing emotions, the reader is able to empathize with that emotion, based on the style of writing of Wafica AlDoureiri. When the two lovers met again after a long period of time passes without having seen each other, I was able to get a better understanding and a feel for the uncertainty they felt based on the descriptors provided by the author.
    As mentioned earlier, I felt this book was easy to relate to when it came to the different emotions that transpire in a relationship over time and how emotions can change; either they are strengthened over time or they change for the worse over time. They can either strengthen a couple, or they can break a couple. Having been married for as long as I have been, I have experienced both good and bad emotions over time. Like all relationships, at the beginning, emotions run high and eventually, a feeling of love will grow.
    Just as the author portrayed in Breezes, all relationships require communication. This is another reason why I related to this book. The author represents dialogue between the two characters in a meaningful way. When there is a disagreement, the tone of the writing is written in such a way that you imagine the characters having a calm and respectful conversation. When the characters are professing their love, the author writes with such language that as a reader, you can imagine the level of love they have for one another that makes reading the story that much more enjoyable. After all, who doesn’t love a good love story?
    After having read this book, I would recommend it to anyone. The storyline is easy to follow and a great read.

  154. Breezes Book Review
    Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was not what I expected when I first started reading it. At first it seemed like a simple falling out of love story where the man wins over the woman with an old spark, however after reading the first chapter I was hooked. I could not put the book down. I literally read the whole book in one day. It just kept drawing me in deeper and deeper into the jaded love of two strangers I have never even met. Their story was so relatable, I felt like I was sitting at the table next to them watching them try to reconnect their faded love. The only thing I did not like about the story was that the couple went for years without being together. It really took a toll on my emotions listening to the reasons why they avoided each other and learning of the missed opportunities that they had to reconnect. That’s how much this story hit me. It hit me deep in the feels. I couldn’t believe as I was reading this I started to feel as if I was in the mix of these misguided lovers. Like I watched every missed moment, every moment of grief, every moment of joy and every moment of reconnection. I really feel like this story has a very strong appeal with my generation as well. The message is so universal. I feel like not only my generation but everyone and anyone who has fallen in love and fallen out of love would understand what these two people are going through. I feel like this story is what my generation needs. It’s a tale of not only staying with one partner, but also fighting for them. I think that’s what my generation lacks. Too many times people just give up on love or a certain person when the going gets tough. But this couple is a perfect example of what it means to truly be in love and to truly fight for what you want. I think we need more stories like this that teach a deeper lesson. We also need more that really draw in the reader to where you feel like you’re part of the characters life. That’s what made me want to keep reading this story without stopping. It’s the connection that really draws me into a book and I am a sucker for a love story. Not because they are easy to relate to but because of the fact that everyone can relate. Also, depending on how that reader handled that love they fell in, they are either going to hate or enjoy reading this novel. I enjoyed this story because I handled a similar situation like these two did. Throughout the story I would pause for a minute or two to reflect and think about my past love and wonder if I would have handled like these two did would I be different today. It’s odd because this story was very short, yet it had a great effect on me. I guess that’s how it is when it comes to reading love stories. It’s not the length, but the content or rather the quality. It’s the way things start and end and everything in between. This story speaks volumes and it’s straight to the point. True love conquers all. Plain and simple. It’s the easiest concept to understand yet 99% of the population never sees love through to let it conquer all. When I was reading this story I actually was jealous of the couple. Mainly because they are perfect for each other and their love will conquer. Most people will never find what they found and it really annoyed me that they let a little bit of gossip get in between them being happy together. I think most people in their position would not let anything get in the way of what they had. It saddens me that they experience a falling out in love despite being perfect for each other. It’s even worse that we, the reader, have to watch them go back and forth. So many people long to experience that raw feeling and t blows my mind that a little rumor destroyed it all for a time. It also struck a soft spot in my heart when they missed a chance to reconnect and see each other because their problems would have been resolved. If I had that chance when I thought I found love, I would’ve taken it in a heartbeat. I think AlDoueiri did an excellent job with the short story and the waves it spoke. It was a captivating short story with vast underlining themes and a satisfying ending. Breezes touched me on so many levels and I think this is exactly what my generation needs to read about true love.
    Arabic 290 Trevor Smith

  155. Trevor Meisner
    Breezes was a book that was very enjoyable to read for anyone interested in a hopeless romantic story. Honestly, people who don’t like hopeless romantic stories would probably like this one. It contained flashbacks, suspense, and a hopeless romantic theme that kept me wanting to continue reading. I’m usually not a big fan of reading novels but this one was different than the others I have read. A couple things about this short novel caught my eye. The imagery used was very helpful in setting the scene, the setup of the chapter was critical in how the story played out, the theme itself was what gave this novel structure, and finally the climax was very critical and properly executed. All of these elements truly made this novel something worth my time reading. The imagery was very interesting because it starts off setting the scene at the beginning of the novel which I found very useful because most books that I have read do not do that and make the reader question and wonder how the book starts off and AlDoueiri does a great job at setting the scene. The author also uses imagery in the other sections of the book to describe the emotions stirred up between the man and woman. For example, page 142, “A fear of myself from inside me from feelings that would show in my eyes.” He uses imagery such as this to show how the characters in the novel use expressions and subtle gestures to show what they are feeling at the moment. I like this kind of imagery because it isn’t imagery of the outside world but the imagery of the soul and emotions the characters are expressing internally and externally. The setup of the chapters was executed very well. As the chapters went on it reminded me of why the novel is called Breezes. I believe the chapters skip from one year to the next to a few years later is because it symbolizes breezes in the air; coming and going from time to time and not always constant. It is a good metaphor that he incorporates in the title itself. I like how the first chapter of the novel started off with the couple meeting and reliving their memories of their younger days from each persons’ perspective. As the chapters go on the pieces start to connect and the ending chapter ends with them getting in contact to meet. The novel goes around full circle and this is a good use of flashbacks and gives the story a bit more depth to the ending. The theme of a hopeless romantic was executed perfectly. Everything about a hopeless romantic story was depicted in this novel. The element that made this theme great was the characters’ constant reminders of each other throughout the novel. It was how they couldn’t live two seconds without thinking about each other that made the emotion and connection from author to reader such a powerful idea. Even when the woman wanted to delete him from her life she still had the deep passion burning inside her and her heart was longing for the chance to see him again. On a side note I found it very interesting how both characters were very timid toward one another when it came to expressing their feelings toward one another. This element gave a very innocent and childlike tone to the story. I really took an interest in this aspect of the novel. Now that I digressed back to the main topics I was discussing. There were two climaxes in this novel. The first one was when she found out the rumor that he was talking to another woman. This climax sets the two characters apart from one another and creates to feeling of loss between the two. It makes them want one another and their feelings grow stronger even though they are apart. The second climax is when the woman confronts him and questions him and gets information on what happened in the past. This created turmoil between the both of them and go their separate ways. After the second climax it leads straight towards the conclusion where they finally come back together after being lost in the world of their desire for one another. In conclusion, the author did an amazing job portraying young, passionate love in this hopeless romantic novel through the use of imagery, chapter setup, and climaxes. It reminded me of the Hollywood films the Notebook and the Best of Me. A very well executed novel and story. I wouldn’t mind seeing this converted into a movie. That would be something I would watch. Overall, I found this novel very enjoyable to read front to cover and I would recommend this to my friends who enjoy a good hopeless romantic story.

  156. Jonathan Infante Arab 290
    The novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is based on an undying love based on the author and her lover. The novel was translated in English by Mouna Mana, who still brought the essence of the novel from its native tongue to ours. The basis of the novel is through poems that describes the love shared between the main characters and their journey down the path of love. AlDoueris method of using metaphors provide the reader with vivid imagery for the use of the work. I feel both the author and the translator did a great job on helping the reader understand the content how it’s supposed to be.
    In the first pages of Breezes, the author shares distant memories between two characters who knew each other, with his wording of metaphors it allowed me to feel they are lovers. AlDoueri later on gives a vivid description of their love as if they were in that scene. AlDoueri expresses the beauty of nature as simple and calm. He later describes trees saying, “And over the river edges pour trees that dangle their branches shyly, while in front of it rise proud trees showing off their multi-colored leaves some green, some yellow, or brown dotted with deeper liquor-colored hues.”(5). I feel the author describes nature in this section, resembles people’s types of social behavior how some are timid and people who are comfortable in their own skin. I think the author used this metaphor because one lover is confident and one is not. Then there is talk of shiny sky’s that later on become gloomy, which I believe resembled their relationship. Like every relationship, in the beginning is beautiful and as time goes on so does the beauty. By that being said, a lover broke the trust of one another creating a cold scene. Later the author gave the reader a trip to the lover’s memory lane, “Passed by me and her eyes were my love made me forget the ones living beside me… And we kept repeating over and over again those words: Beside me… beside me we clapped chirping almost swimming in the sky of wishes, hopes, and joy.” (38) I feel the author wants the reader to never forget about meaningful memories. Which leads me on how AlDoueri added a scene where a partner is accused of flirting with another girl and was never confronted about it. The result of the action not taken was painful but, worth the joy when they saw each other in a long time. (7)
    Communication is very important in a relationship, and is one of the key values for a lasting one. If the author would have communicated with her loved one, then maybe their fate would have been different and they wouldn’t have had those years apart from each other. Once meeting again, the lovers relished in each other’s presence, enjoying the silence. “They sat without a word/While on the inside, talk flowed like a torrent” (9). I look at this part of the novel is using true imagery to reflect the lovers compassion for one another. The way she explains their surroundings and the atmosphere they are in helps me picture it in my mind. The true meaning of this part of the novel is that true love has no boundaries and those who are in it will always return to each other.
    The only dislike I have from this novel, overall, is the lack of the author’s faith in her lover and believing another person’s word over his. I understand that trusting someone is hard, especially the person you give your heart to, but love is about taking risks and giving that person to hurt you. The author does realize this, but, sadly, after years of lost time with one another.
    In conclusion, Breezes is a very well-illustrated novel based on passionate love and how love can effect a person’s life. The plot is very well put together and is the ideal romantic novel. I would recommend this novel to any type of audience, even those who do not believe in it. I like how the author gave us the reader a different way of understanding the story with fluent metaphors.

  157. The book Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri was very interesting to read. This author of the novel illustrates that love will withstand no matter how much time passes.Love conquers all. The short novel is a love story about a man and a woman who meet again after so many years apart. They sit on a bench near a body of water. The man and woman reminisce about the past experiences they had together. They fell in love with each at a young age as college students.. They had very strong feelings for each other. It seemed as though they would stay together forever but alas it was not so. A rumor ended their relationship. They were too self-centered to see the truth and reconcile. Their lives drifted apart. Their feelings would for each other would remain. They had the chance to find each other to make up but they were too stuborn to do so. When they finally met again in old age they still have feelings for one another but do not know if or how do they express their emotions.They were too nervous and scared to say anything in fear the other would devastate them. Love is a very tricky subject because if one person has feelings for another they are uncertain if the other feels the same way. There is a huge chance that one of them makes a move but is rejected causing embarrassment. The novel tries to show that there is true love out there. Love is both a thing to look forward to and to fear. People feel the emotions of joy and excitement when they finally meet someone that truly loves them and they feel the same way. It is very devastating if the relationship ends up not working out and you end up breaking up. In many breakups, like that of the man and woman had, end with both people deciding they do not want to talk to the other ever again. They begin ignoring the other like they do not exist. Either person is going through their head what they could have possibly done wrong. Relationships are very fragile. The man and woman’s relationship in the story ended because of a single rumor. The story gives a glimpse into the minds of both the man and the women. We are shown the feelings they feel for one another and the emotions they felt in the memories they retell. The book was fun to read it was not at all boring.The character were very passionate people. The novel nicely depicts the goods and bads of being in a relationship. The story can relate to a lot of people. There are many people who fall in love while young and the relationship last for a long time. There are; however, also relationships of young lovers whose end quickly and devastatingly. Starting a relationship either romantically or not can be difficult. I myself am very shy and nervous when talking to people face to face. The story itself is full of imagery. The main themes were love and separation. At times it was uncertain to me whether the man or the woman was talking while I was reading. Overall I enjoyed this book. I highly recommend others to read this novel.

  158. In the novel, “Breezes, by Wafica Mansour AlBoueri portrays a story of love using poetic devices and symbolism. At first, I didn’t want to read this book, being busy finding the time to read has always been a challenge for me. However, when I read this book I was completely hooked. Books like these with emotion and passion, feeling and thought are easy to connect too. The author uses great imagery throughout the book so you feel transformed into the setting. The author often talks about the weather, in literature the weather is a big sign of symbolism, it can tell you the mood or what can happen next, this way it is easy for the reader to feel connected to the story as a whole. For me it easy to connect to the story because you got to see the story through the character’s eyes, both sides of the story was written in first person by both of guy and girl. I also really like that the author never shared their names, it keeps it general and up to interpretation of the reader to picture in their mind who this couple is with no bias. This book also does a great job of showing you culture, culture, is the way people read as well. The left side was English, the right side was in Arabic and it was written how an Arabic novel would be written so I found it interesting how the novel was attached to its roots even though it was written in English, it was awesome to see both sides. I like how the book was broken into stages, it shows that life is just a bunch of stages that we go through, making time and emotion go hand and hand.
    In the beginning of the novel are poems. For me poetry has always been something easily translated for me to inflict emotion. Nature is also a symbol in this book, the author chooses to focus on the setting to keep the reader engaged and the descriptiveness helps the reader feel transformed. The main character in the story is a girl, written in first person she meets a man. They have been friends before but awkwardly meeting again later in their life. This to me caught my attention because it’s your typical romance story after a long time, meeting, and then falling in love. Both characters in this story have a fear. A fear of getting attached, vunerable, however both characters end up falling for each other. They show a picture of this shy love that eventually blossoms to true love. They end up never wanting to leave each other and only feel connected when they are together. The characters get blindsided in love they don’t realize the little issues of jealousy and anger that leads to complications between them. The author does a great job of making it seem you are in the story dealing with the same problems they are. However, it being a “real” book, one that is relatable, you see the characters go through their own personal struggles in their relationship. So not only does the author just share the good parts of a relationship, the bad as well also come out. This quote easily relates to that,“Of them are those who are truthful by nature, And those who are truthful for a goal of their own, And of them are liars who take pride in themselves and their capabilities, and of them are liars for a goal of hurting other,”(AlBoueri) At the end of the day like classic love story the couple ends up back together. For me, this hits home because true love last forever if two people love each other enough nothing can stop their love. The main theme in the story was love and how we can’t change it. “Our interwined souls don’t know the meaning of illness and don’t acknowledge age because the soul remains in its pristineness, youth, beauty no matter how surpassed by the days and no matter how long time takes.” (AlBoueri, 108). Often, we give up on love because it isn’t perfect, yet love overcame those differences even after all those years love still conquers all. I think that author’s main message was to show love in a realistic, passionate manner. He takes you through a journey with the couples past encounters and how, at the end, they still end up with each other. Love goes hand and hand with questioning humanity. As humans we learn to love and to not give up on people, we see the love is one of the strongest human emotions that can drive fear.
    Overall I enjoyed this novel it is something it had the themes of friendship, love, happiness, commitment, all in one book. It shows what jealously, anger, and hate can do to love so easily damaging it. The book is not only interesting but does even seem like your reading a book but following a love story instead. I would highly recommend this book to anyone because it is a short read and easily you captivated. The love story shows that the “greatest gift in life is to love someone and to be loved back in return.”

  159. “Breezes,” the novel, written by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri reminds me of an old love story, The Notebook. In the beginning we meet two characters who are on a journey to finding one another. All though the characters do not have names, I feel that this only makes the situations in the stories more relatable. Interacting in silence as two hearts beat as one makes for a better bond; a connection.
    The characters in the book might not have names but it will remind you of an old love story about your parents, yourself, or maybe a novel/ movie you’ve read and seen. The characters of the book are relatable to any couples true love story. In the beginning two young souls meet and feel like the two of them can connect so they don’t even have to say anything to know what they are thinking. Their thoughts connected so well to the point where their thoughts intertwined and without saying a word they felt like they were living in each other’s world. As they began their journey into adulthood and became aware of things like jealousy, faithfulness and passion they began to question little details that were not brought up as a problem in the beginning. Suddenly those high school sweethearts fall apart and take separate roads to maturity. By doing so, true love never fails, and they meet again which they talk again, mostly by their thoughts.The characters of the book made me feel as if I was in the middle of their affections for each other. The author puts both the man in the woman into a vulnerable state which is likely to be ignored by the public. This book brought back emotions of when loving someone had failed and it hurt the thoughts of even once thinking of a person to be with.

    In my opinion this book was overall great. At parts of the book I had hoped that I would’ve understood the writings more thoroughly but in the instance that I didn’t, I did. Maybe not how other people would interpret the true meaning, but I made my own definition. This novel is very powerful in the sense of that you never want to stop reading. You want to find out what happens next, do they get together or not?

  160. Wafica Monsouri Aldoueiri’s short novel Breezes was nothing short of a heart warmingly spectacular read. In all honesty, prior to reading the short novel I was under the impression that the novel was going to be a typical run of the mill love story filled with redundant exclamations of “I love you!” and cringingly cliché scenes of lovers running into each other’s arms, while dramatically crying tears of joy. Imagine my surprise when the three words universally known to convey love wasn’t even uttered once in Aldoueiri’s short novel. Unsurprisingly, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the simple yet enticing love novel known as Breezes. Unlike any run of the mill love novel, Breezes makes use of compelling and enigmatic characters, poetic and artistic phrases, astoundingly vivid imagery, and a plot that’s concise and blunt, yet full of fervor and repressed emotions that renders the readers speechless whilst holding back their tears. Breezes makes use of elements such as time, fate, longing, missed chances, conflicting emotions and human desire to indicate that the flames of love could truly withstand time.
    As far as short novels go, it never fails to stound me how Breezes was able to effectively and beautifully tell the tale of two long lost lovers throughout the span of their life time. The plot of the story was simple enough, when two shy and hopelessly in love, almost lovers who are shoulder deep infatuated with one another (but never quite had the chance to confess to one another in fear of rejection) accidentally had a chance meeting after years of separation, they inevitably confront one another and reminiscence about how their love grew to be, and how it only proved to grow stronger over the years. What I personally believe made the novel all the more an exhilarating read was its exemplary poetic eloquence. The poetic phrases and vivid imagery provided throughout the novel proved to be a tantalizing experience that consumed me. It was as if someone placed my insides in a blender, hit “puree” and I was reduced to nothing but a warm goo of giddy love struck emotions. I couldn’t help but admire, and yes, even envy the intensity of the protagonists’ love. Throughout the novel, it remained startlingly palpable that the protagonists are hopelessly and irrevocably in love with one another, not even time could put out the burning flames of their love, instead it proved to intensify it. Startlingly enough, even their chanced encounter after years of separation seemed to be an act of fate itself. It gives me hope that everlasting love may not be just a mere fragment of a hopeful romantic’s imagination. In addition, I absolutely adored how the novel’s author Aldoueiri depicted the lovers in such a way that they almost seemed as if they were a single unified entity. Even though at times, the novel proved to be a slightly difficult read, mainly because the lovers’ are so in tune with each other’s emotions and characters that it becomes a tad bit confusing to know who is saying what; although it only proves to emphasize how infatuated the lovers are to one another.
    Some of the recurring themes that I had taken a liking to in the novel, are the missed opportunities and sense of irony that encompasses the characters. It only makes sense that two people who are inexplicably drawn to one another would end up together, and yet in Breezes the protagonists took such a long time to let their true emotions for each other known; That’s where the irony sets in. Two destined lovers end up distancing themselves from one another because of the fear of rejection; doubts and misconceptions cloud their minds and end up wreaking havoc on their already fragile love. Throughout the novel we witness the lovers’ longing and undeniable need for one another grow throughout the years. In their adolescent years, we lay witness to their adorably awkward and futile attempts to convey their love to one another, “could haves” and “should haves” are particularly bountiful at this time, we then witness misunderstandings cloud their judgment which then lead them to distance themselves. Ironically enough, the distance between them proved to fuel their love with one another. The lovers speak of futile attempts at erasing the other person from their lives, however it becomes glaringly apparent that doing so is the equivalent of taking one’s life.
    Another theme that I had taken a liking to is the unspoken need and passion they have for one another. I loved the idea that words aren’t a necessity in their relationship, simply because they just know each other so deeply and thoroughly, as if they were a single being. The words “I love you” no longer needs to be uttered between them, because their actions simply do all the talking. Lust and sensuality were topics not even ventured in this novel, and I applaud that. It just shows how genuine and pure the protagonists’ love is, and how their love for one another simply isn’t a primal need for companion.
    In conclusion, Breezes is a definite must read, no matter what relationship status, this novel is written proof that everlasting love still exists, no matter how impossible, love will always find a way.

  161. The novel Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is definitely a hidden gem and a work that truly does not get the appreciation it deserves. The book was originally written in Arabic and translated to English by translator Mouna Mana. We see two characters who are not actually mentioned by name, rather referred to as “him” and “her”. I believe this serves to generalize their personas and let the reader focus less on the character’s identities and more on the development of love between two individuals. The frustration and longing I felt, which other readers I’m sure also did, stems from this story of two lovers who have feelings for each other yet spend the majority of their time loving each other quietly at a distance. As a reader, I was rejoiced in the ending when they finally meet each other and engage in a deep and powerful love for one another. No relationship is truly perfect however, and we see these two kept apart by fear and a rumour. These obstacles are eventually overcome by love and communication, and the overarching theme that everything happens for a reason and if individuals are destined to be together, their hearts will find one another.

    There are multiple themes in this novel. A theme that summarizes the story well, yet may be the most frustrating, is the effects of fear. She feared to ask him if the rumor was true and stayed away from him, searching elsewhere for loyalty. They feared to speak or even gesture to one another because of their fear of rejection, which is an anxiety many feel when introducing themselves to a crush. This was frustrating for the reader looking back and seeing the time wasted admiring one another from a distance. They could have spent more time together at a young age and let their love flourish even further, yet fear sat between them for such an extended time.

    Another theme is the growth of mentality and feelings with age. People grow and learn from life experiences, shaping them into the individuals they were destined to become. If she was older and more confident maybe she would not have been so fearful to ask him about the rumor. Furthermore, with age people are able to look at the world more broadly and intelligently. Maybe if she was older she would not have listened to the rumour the girl spoke of in the first place and sought to seek the truth for herself.

    Love is another apparent theme in this story. We see the power of love take hold over two people and allow them to overcome obstacles. The belief that love is true and unique carries through the novel. Everyone finds love for something in different ways and forms and most of us have to cross the nervous bridge of the initial communication and bridging the gap between friendship and lovers. I believe anyone who has been in love can relate to this story in one way or another. Whether it is tackling relationship rifts, such as rumours or hearsay, or finding ‘the one’, no love is perfect. People must stay optimistic with an open heart and mind to allow love in.

    In conclusion, this story leaves you with courage to take risks not let life pass you by, to attack the day with vigor and purpose. While at first it may seem confusing to read and identify who is thinking or saying what, one soon becomes accustomed to the writing style and textual changes then is quickly immersed in the story. AlDoueiri’s unique insight into love through this work really made me enjoy reading the novel and sparked my curiosity to look for further literature of this style. Breezes is a rollercoaster of emotion. From sadness to frustration and eventually happiness, AlDoueiri offers a unique and captivating love story that almost anyone can relate to.

    Mike Warn – CSUSB

  162. Breezes is an amazing novel to read for anyone who enjoys hopeless romantic theme books. This book gathers in a collection of poetry. It is composes and captures many different emotions such as fear, passion, and desire. It is definitely about a relationship between a man and woman and their unconditional love for each other.
    These two individuals who are attracted to each other separate and eventually find themselves again. They end up in a retirement home and read their love story again. This book definitely portrays the idea of power of love. The couple wants to be with each other badly, but does not get the chance until they are older. There were some tribulations that the couple had gone through when they were apart. For example, the woman heard rumors the man had been with another woman. She didn’t know how to confront him about it. Instead, she suppressed her feelings. A theme is this novel is fate. Even though they went different paths for a while, they still managed to be together. They reunite when the woman was outside in nature when she recognizes the man. Fate is what brought the two back together randomly.
    The wording and imagery is very powerful and vivid in this novel. The author uses different figures of speech and metaphors to capture the emotions of the audience. He does a great job in describing the juxtaposition before the reunion and after the reunion. It helped set the tone of the book.
    Overall, this book was enjoyable to read. Once you pick it up, you don’t want to put it down. The author’s passion for writing really shines through in this novel. There is a great suspense by setting up the book as it travels back in time and revealing fragments of their past. The author really does do a great job at keeping the reader engaged and interested. Highly recommend it.

  163. In her book, “Breezes”, Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri writes “There is nothing after these long years / other than an intensifying longing / I thought those sparks would die down / day after day / But I found only a dormant volcano storing / its lava / And erupting every time I found myself / alone” (AlDoueiri 62). This statement summarizes the feelings shared by the two characters in this story. “Breezes” tells the story of a young man and woman who fell in love but were separated for many years and not reunited until they were both grey-haired. During this reunion, they were able to reminisce on their relationship in the past, examine exactly why they were separated, and relate to each other how this separation affected their feelings for each other. Overall, this novel shows how love can overcome obstacles and pass the test of time.

    Although the subject matter of this novel was sweet, it is not the plot that is striking. The truly remarkable characteristic of this novel, is the beautiful and bold imagery that AlDoueiri uses. I could see the scenes of this story so vividly that I felt as though I was watching a film. It is this quality that makes the novel so captivating, and without it I fear the story would have droned on. My only complaint with this novel, is the lack of clarity at certain points, which was probably lost in translation. There were certain sections that I had to read several times over in order to understand which character’s thoughts were being expressed, because at times there is no clear distinction. This was not terribly hard to figure out, but it did often disrupt the flow of reading and pull me out of the “film” inside my mind.

    AlDoueiri offers some unique perspectives on love and relationships that anyone can benefit from. This isn’t your typical “happily-ever-after” story in that the characters both have internal and external conflicts they must address before pursuing their feelings further. There is a lot to be learned from these conflicts. Overall, this is a sweet story that showcases the power of love over all obstacles. It would be a treat for anyone to read.

  164. “Breezes” is a short novel by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri. This novel is a most definitely a love story, depicting the lifetime bond between a man and a woman. The novel is not, in any way, written in a traditional manner. It is written from both the man and woman’s perspectives as well as in a poetic format. The author also tells the love story through the characters thoughts, as they meet again in their old age. As they are meeting again, after being together many years ago, the two lovers are very nervous and scared of being rejected. The reader finds out that the two characters met in college and felt an immediate attraction to each other. As they begin dating, they fall head over heels in love. However, due to insecurities, rumors, and misguided information, they end up parting ways and marrying other people. However, the books ends, of course, with them reuniting in their old age and finally being able to tell one another how strong their feelings are.
    I found many different themes throughout this novel. The most apparent one, in my opinion, is that true love never changes. There is a quote by Shakespeare that reads “Love is not love, that alters when it alteration finds.” This idea is evident in “Breezes” because, although the two characters go throughout their lives, completely without one another, the love they felt never goes away.
    Another theme I found in the novel was fear. The two characters are constantly afraid of rejection from one another and both of them wait until years have passed to truly say everything that is in their hearts. This is why I believe that, although the author is optimistic about true love, they were also trying to convey that love is not enough to keep two people together. You must have communication, trust, and the correct timing. Although the two characters truly loved each other, they were kept apart for years because of their fear and lack of communication.
    Overall, I enjoyed this novel, especially since it is about love and I am a total hopeless romantic. The format was a bit difficult to understand since the reader has to piece together the story through the thoughts of the two characters. However, I absolutely loved how you got both perspectives with this novel. My favorite young adult love series is entitled “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han. That author does the same thing as it is written from the female perspective until the third book when you get to hear from the man and understand why he made every decision he did throughout the first two books. I absolutely love this method in love stories because there is never merely one side to a romantic conflict. I would definitely recommend this book and read it again, in order to fully piece together the ideas portrayed through the poetry.

  165. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri writes the epitome of a story of true love when she writes her short novel “Breezes”. From beginning of the story to very end you follow a couple on their journey into and around their relationship and love for each other. The theme of the story is a young couple and the path of their relationship through time and age, as well as the deepening of their love for each other. The author uses a lot of symbols to convey the message that she wants with the exact amount of emotions. She use connections such as, the sea, flowers, birds, and breeze to express the love that the two people shared throughout the story. These symbols deepen the meaning of their loving words to each other and make the feelings of their deep affection more relatable to the reader. The writing was a little bit confusing and hard to follow at certain times, but all in all the main points of the story came through clearly. I would not recommend this story to someone that has a hard time following love stories because at times this story can get a little bit sappy. On the other hand, the overall concept of the story is one I feel that anyone can relate to because of the confusion and paths that the couple takes to communicate. The ending of the story leaves you with a sense of satisfaction and wraps up the entire story extremely well. Throughout the story I got the impression that AlDoueiri picks her wording and phrases carefully as to make the maximum impact on the reader as well as the stories of the characters love and memories.
    Getting into the meat of the story, AlDoueiri writes the story as if it were in the real time of the couple talking and reminiscing on their past life experiences. The couple goes through each stage of their love and growing passion for one another as if it were happening right in front of them as they reminisced. In the moments that AlDoueiri has the characters together they feel an entire history of a relationship in the words that are spoken. Each of them has their own input on the goings on of their past and as they go about the phases of the relationship and the meeting, it is easy for one to feel a connection to one or the other characters at particular points. AlDoueiri does an amazing job of representing each character evenly and giving us the whole picture on what they are thinking. Even though almost a lifetime has passed between the two characters, Aldoueiri does an excellent job keeping the story line the same and the love just as deep. The characters opinions of each other don’t change from the first sighting to the end, they continue to love and be loved in all of the circumstances, exactly the same as they had in the start.
    All this being said there are points where the story is a bit hard to follow because the language is different from what is typical of every day discourse. Along with this, the lack of introduction to the words of each character can make the content confusing to follow at times due to the fact that you might have to assume who is saying what. Although, all in all, the story is very well written and once you familiarize yourself with the way in which AlDoueiri writes it is a very good and true love story that depicts the passing of a lifetime of love between two characters.”Breezes” is a story that I feel anyone could read and relate to with the simple idea that people tend to look for love and that one never forgets their first love.

  166. Breezes by Wafica Mansour is a story about two people that are in love with each other who meet during their later years. They have felt their love for each other since they were young and completing their studies. It is during this meeting that they openly talk about their feelings while looking back at the memories they shared together, explaining how they felt at those moments. Mansour gives a fresh and vivd explanation of every moment, like poetry. One can truly feel exactly how much love these two people have for each other through these beautiful words and is a wonderful example of love withstanding time and even grow stronger as the need for seeing a significant other grows stronger. this book is a wonderful read for anyone who wants a beautiful love story and anyone who enjoys reading a work that’s beautifully written.

  167. The book Breezes is filled with many emotions that take your soul on a ride. Wafica AlDoueiri uses imagery in the best way to describe this all too real love story of a man and woman who never got the chance to show their affection for each other. After years of being apart, they finally meet again and rekindle their relationship. This short novel is written in a poetic style format which was nice, because it made it seem as though AlDoueiri wanted it to be like a poem. The novel was filled with heartache and unresolved feelings. One of the best parts that stood out to me was when she wrote, “Because the key to the stomach is a bite, the key to conversations is a word, and the key to the heart is a look.” They were both so afraid of rejection it stopped them from showing their true feelings for each other. This Novel illustrates the bond that two people can have, it can never be broken, no matter how long or how hurt the bond has become. While sitting with each other they discuss what made their relationship pause, why they didn’t continue on. Through this they find that both of them have an intense spark towards the other. It is ultimately the thing that never let their minds forget the other. If she tried to forget him, he would pop into her mind that very second. There are many themes in this novel but two that stood out to me were that true love will never stop finding you and another theme is fear. When all was said and done they were still afraid of rejection. He was afraid that if he told her the rumors were not true that she wouldn’t believe him and he was afraid that if he said the rumors were true that he would lose her again. She was afraid of telling him how she felt because she didn’t know if he would feel the same.
    The only thing that was a little difficult for me to follow was the dialogue. I wasn’t sure who was speaking when most of the time. I would have to reread and find out. This wasn’t the best love story I’ve read, because there wasn’t that much detail. I wished I could’ve read more about how they met how old they were how old they are now. I wish there was more description on the characters. They don’t even have names. Maybe that was all part of the authors way of writing, but it isn’t the kind of writing I’m attracted to. I did however, enjoy the ride this book took me on, the imagery was very detailed to the point where I felt the pain the love the joy and the sadness that the characters felt. It is a type of pain I haven’t experienced, yet felt as though I have. I believe that this novel would cater to those who have had similar experiences. I truly did enjoy reading the book though. I wouldn’t have personally picked it, but I am happy that I read it, because it is a great novel. It is a great tale of two lovers. I would hope to see it become a movie one day, I would definitely watch it.

  168. The first time I got this book, I thought it was a poem due to how it is organized and structured from top to bottom. It is unique because you read from the right side rather than the left like you would with any other book; It is translated from Arabic to English by a teacher educator and an educational researcher named Mouna Mana.

    “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour Al Doueiri is about two couples, a man and a woman, who fell in love at first sight since childhood years, but did not have the chance to express their feelings to each other because the fear of rejection and it is . The two characters does not have a name, but the author describes them as “him” or “her.” It took me a while to figure out who was speaking because the font is different in each chapter, but as I read along, I understood. Imagery is used a lot in this book, so you can actually imagine what the situation was like and I personally can relate to it. There were mixed emotions expressed in the story such as: jealousy, sadness, and passion. The feeling that they had for each other was powerful. Both characters were too afraid to open up to each other because they weren’t ready to be hurt or fallen out of love. It amazes me how after a year of being apart from each other, they were able to reunite together and catch up. Throughout the book, you follow through the journey of their relationship, how it grows yet there is conflict that they have to overcome. Although they seem to get through it in the end.

    I think the theme in this book is true love never fades away even if there are challenges coming ahead. Al Doueiri gives a message to the readers that people should not have to be afraid to express their feelings towards a person that they genuinely love because then it can be too late. We can’t experience love in our lives when we are surrounded by fear on the inside. If fear is stopping us, how are we going to succeed or get past in life?

    Overall, Breezes is a beautiful story that has a great ending.. I am not a fan of reading books, but I am a fan of watching romance movies. I actually learned a lesson about love from this story. If you are a fan of romance stories, this is a book you should invest in. It is must read!

  169. *Disclaimer*
    It may be important to note that this review may be a bit biased as I’m a sickening hopeless romantic; this novel is written in such a way that it fed me the perfect amount of “awww’s” with a decadent touch of “butterflies in my tummy”, something the average Joe may not be privy too. So you’ve been warned.

    Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, introduces the reader to Breezes, a short love story between an older man and woman which chronicles their longing for one another through the course of their life. I find it interesting that AlDoueiri never mentions either character by their respective names, but rather through gender pronouns; this minor detail is noteworthy as I’ve never come across a piece of literature that keeps the main characters so elusive, perhaps this was done to keep the reader engaged and focused on the unfolding love story without delving into personal identity.
    Speaking of love, this book takes the reader through the beginning of a flourishing love/lust/infatuation relationship between two students who seemingly do not know how (or do not want) to express their intrigue for one another. From the genesis of the novel, AlDoueiri delights the reader with images of whimsical, love filled prose by describing scenery which calls for doves filling the air, ducks cascading through the river, a gentle breeze filling the afternoon air, all of which begin the novel with a woman sitting on a bench under trees delighting in all that surrounds her. To her dismay and perhaps pleasure, the woman hears a voice that she recognizes from her past. It’s an older voice, but a familiar one. It is the man with whom she had long to speak too.

    I like what AlDoueiri does as she begins the book where it is going to end, though the reader doesn’t know this to be true in that instance; from there, the book takes us on a chronological journey through the thought process and fears that hinder a possible relationship in the early parts of their lives. It is through the journey of love and self-discovery, that the key theme of fear, or the fear of the unknown is introduced to the reader as both man and woman are fearful in expressing their feelings of love and desire for one another. It isn’t until a late encounter in life that they have yet another opportunity to surrender to their feelings and finally share what the heart had longed for.

    The novel in and of itself is extremely innocent and dare I say, refreshing? This love story does a great job capturing the beauty in pure, selfless love which is not a common topic of discussion within our current cultural climate. Like I said in my disclaimer, I’m a hopeless romantic and I can appreciate the “boy meets girl”, “girl meets boy” type of stories as it evokes the type of genuine love relationship most people want to relate too. Even if love stories aren’t your “thing” I think you’ll walk away from this short novel with a new perspective on pure and youthful love. Being that it’s a quick read, you won’t be to overcome by the richness of this Arabic to English love story. Furthermore, Breezes has various themes one can ponder; such as, the notion of fear of the unknown and the fear of being rejected, both of which the main characters must sort through. Finally, the story is written like that of a poem; I’m undecided on whether I like this approach or whether it would have been better to stick to a traditional novel format.

    Overall, I really enjoyed the novel and would definitely recommend it!

  170. I am not a big reader and I admit that I only read this book because I had to, but I am glad I did. Breezes is a love story that focuses on a couple who have not had the easiest ride. It is not your typical love story. Even the way that it is written differs from the way short novels are usually written. First off, it is originally written in Arab, but it has been translated into English. The way Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri wrote it makes it look like a poem but it is a continuous story throughout the book. It also shows more than one perspective. It gives a general narration of the whole situation along with the girl’s thoughts and the guy’s thoughts; it even includes the thoughts of the author. With that being said, reading it can get confusing at times but eventually you get to appreciate all the different sides in order to form your own opinion.
    The story itself represents both the strength and stubbornness of love. I specifically like this book because it takes you through the different stages of their relationship. It ranges from them being young college students to them in their old age, and the stages in between. AlDoueiri also does a good job at showing the thoughts that go on between two people who want to be together but are too scared to admit it. I believe that a lot of the scenarios AlDoueiri includes are scenarios that most readers, including myself, most likely have gone through when it comes to relationships. For example, she includes that stage when you like someone and want to be with them but then you start doubting if they feel the same way or if it is all just in your head. Parts like that make the book more real and relatable.
    What I really like about this book is that it doesn’t try to make it a fairytale. Instead it represents the real struggles of relationships. Like I said before, it takes you through that initial state of doubt; but it also takes you through the stage of miscommunication, jealousy, and uncertainty. Obviously no relationship is perfect and this book emphasizes that. However, aside from the negative aspects of a struggling relationship, it also shows how much potential love can really have. This is a story of love that can conquer all if it is truly strong enough. I feel like that is the main message the author tried to get out here.
    Overall this is a really good book, it makes you think about what kind of obstacles true love can overcome; like distance and time. The fact that it is not written like a typical love story, makes it more intriguing. I even find the title of the book clever and symbolic. The term “breezes” in this context, represents the feeling they get when they see each other. Just like the chills a person gets when a random breeze passes through them. This concept reminded me of the quote from the Nicolas Sparks novel A Walk to Remember when he says that “their love is like the wind, he can’t see it but he can feel it.” I believe that is exactly how this couple felt. Even after so many years apart they still had that love for each other and they still felt that same chill through their bodies. Even though at times, they have trouble admitting to each other their feelings, they are definitely still there. AlDoueiri does an exceptional job at giving a modern love story with all the real problems of a relationship.

  171. Breezes book review

    The book Breezes is a collection of poetry about a story of two people journeying their love life. The poetry was very detailed in terms of the emotional and cultural aspect in their personality. The book started from when the two characters are in college and ends at old age. During their college years, the two characters have secret crushes with each other. The characters were shy and dependent on the unspoken reaction of the other person which promotes many misperception of the other person’s feeling. The two characters actually went to dinner but the situation was awkward and uncomfortable for both party because they both are frighten to say what they really want to say. The reason for this awkwardness is due to the fear of rejection. The girl character showed frustration at the boy’s repressed thought. Unfortunately, their love did not develop very far since, there were no confession of their true feeling and misperception evolved causing them a mutual separation. At an older age, they both meet each other again and finally able to express their feeling. I’m not too sure if they are truly in love because usually people who loves each other would develop their love early in their life regardless of the consequences. Instead, the development of the love in the story seems to begins at their old age. Many would argue that their love at the end is their fate but a more realistically speaking, the character might think that they are running out of time to find love so, they decided to finally expresses their feeling.
    The whole book was very interesting. First of all, the reading is from right to left and the right page is the story written in Arabic while the left side is written in English. The stanza is divided into conversation, the different font suggested different character thinking and talking; so, keeping track of the two characters talking is a little challenging. The style of the writing in this book is very creative and beautiful. It provides many vivid information of the environment surrounding the two characters as well as describing their emotion. One of the main theme in this book, that kind of frustrate me while reading it, is the fear of rejection. Rather than being straight forward and express their feeling, the character opted to read body language to get a feel of what the other person might be thinking. This non-expressive interaction leads the two characters into many misperceptions along their life and distracting them from actually developing their relationship, which is ironic. This action might be expressing conservativeness and respect of the Arab culture. Another thing that stood out to me is that the importance of approval from the family. When the character realizes that she was at his neighborhood and meeting his family. His family shows approval of her but since he did not express his feeling yet, she was a little annoyed. I think this is also ironic because she should be happy that he is introduced her to the family but she reacted the other way.
    Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It was a little difficult to read in term of keeping track of the conversation and I ended up reading the book three times. My experience reading the book each time was different and I really enjoy the experience. If the character can develop their love early in their life, I would find the book to be more interesting because life after marriage in the Arab culture would open up a whole different story and experiences.

  172. “Breezes”, by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is a love story between a man and woman. The main theme found in this story is how absence makes the heart grow fonder. Both characters were separated for a very long time, and eventually meet up again. From the moment their eyes landed on each other, there was an immediate connection that was never weakened nor broken. Throughout the story, there is a recurring problem of the lack of communication between the man and woman. Both are scared to verbalize their feelings for one another. Because of this, many actions and words are misinterpreted and many mixed signals are given. As the reader, the story was very engaging for me because the author did a good job with the dialogue of each character, which allowed insight to how they felt about each other. Since they were unsure of how the other person felt, it made the story much more exciting and entertaining. The man and woman both feared rejection, yet neither expressed this fear nor their adoration for one another. While there were many instances for them to explain how they feel, it had taken them almost a whole lifetime to do so. This passed time seemed to be painful for the characters and the reader as well. Their love is passionate and innocent. The detail in each word they spoke about one another perfectly depicted their deep love for one another that could not be avoided. The vivid imagery and poetic sequence throughout the story made it an easy read. I was able to appreciate each detail that described the characters. The author made it easy to connect with the characters, ultimately having the audience support and hope the man and woman will finally end up together.

    “Breezes” was truly heartfelt and connected to many occurring themes in the outside world. There is a lack of communication in many relationships today. Also, many have trouble expressing their feelings to a person of interest due to the fear of rejection. Something I really enjoyed as how even though years and years went by, their love for each other never died. They never strayed to another person or gave up on the feelings they had for one another. Their passion proved that things would happen if they were meant to be. In the end, it did not matter what they should have done or could have done. Their journey to find love was meant to happen the way it did. Although they did question if their love would ever be reciprocated, they never questioned if they loved someone else. It was frustrating to see them distance themselves from one another, but it was nice to see a happy ending. For real world instances, this story may seem hard to relate too, but it proved that true love does not change.

    AlDoueiri teaches the readers that our feelings and words should never go unexpressed or unspoken. We are never guaranteed a second chance and we must make the most of the time we have with the person we love whether it’s a friend, a significant other, or a friend. In conclusion, “Breezes” is very well written and I suggest it to everyone who is a fan of romance stories.

  173. The short novel “breezes” written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, a lawyer and educator, is a beautifully written novel that conveys the love of a couple through metaphors, imagery, and the sounds and sights of nature. Written in the style of a poem, Mansour AlDoueiri is able to effortlessly describe the love story between two young lovers who go through a series of trials and tribulation throughout their relationship. To begin, novel is written in two combined forms: the form of a diary and a mental dialogue between the two characters. Breezes may begin like any old run of the mill love novel but takes you through each of the phases and downfalls that comes with being in love. The novel opens with a woman; one of the two main characters that is nameless through out the novel and later introduces assumedly the male character of the novel. Having the characters be nameless allows you to personally interject someone that reminds you of one of the characters into the novel. The novel then takes you back to when the two first met and progressively brings up to the point where the novel begins. Communicating in silence throughout the majority of the novel the couple reflects on the years that they’ve been separated and the causes of it. Seamlessly working in metaphors of the breezes that carry their thoughts to one another and the suns rays that bring the warmth of their love Mansour AlDoueiri uses vivid imagery to convey one of her many message. Along with their passion came insecurities; Due to their nonverbal communication, feelings of missed opportunities and regret, they work through their adult years and begin to realize the jealousy that comes with being in love and begin to question each other’s intentions. Working and verbally communication through those insecurities fate brings them together once again. The plot of the novel was simple to grasp but eloquently written to draw you in. Mansour AlDoueiri writes this novel in a way that anyone who has or is in love can relate too and enjoy. With moments of pure joy and deep sighs to moments where I’m in tears this novel is one of the best that I’ve read in a while. From the effortless flow of the novel to the way its seamless written I would re-read this time and time again. Un-touchable by time this is a novel that will transcend throughout the years and always create that warm fuzzy feeling in your heart that’s to be expected when reading a romance novel. One reoccurring theme that I began to pick up on were fate would always bring you back together. Mentioned plenty of times throughout the novel by the male character always brings up that they were meant to be together no matter the number of years that they had been apart. Ironically knowing that they were meant to be together, Mansour AlDoueiri took quite some time to actually bring the two characters together. Allowing them to indirectly communicate through the breezes and components of nature. One of the other thing that I noticed throughout the novel was that the love that was depicted in the novel was sensual rather pure and emotion based which I really enjoyed. Typically in romance novels there is always some type of sensual connection between the two main characters, but in this novel she takes a different more universal, child friendly approach. All in all I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a good short read that will stir up all those good emotions.

  174. Breezes is a romantic tale about two people reconnecting after a long time away from each other. While perched upon a beautifully described setting, the voice of a past lover is heard in the wind. The story goes tells itself in a somewhat reminiscent fashion, which can at times be somewhat confusing to the reader, but if you are into novels with romantic tension and a theme of what was, or what could have been, this is definitely a good read for you. Personally, I found myself looking back at past relationships, and because of that personal connection that I felt with the story, it made the read worthwhile for me. I thought that the translation was done very well; sometimes books translated to English don’t necessarily send the same message, but I think that this book was translated exceptionally. This is a unique perspective from a culture and era that is certainly misunderstood in many western settings, and it gives great insight to the similarities and difference between both cultures. Also, if you get somewhat confused following the story and dialogue, remember that bold/italicized text is from the female character, and text that is not italicized is from the male. I hope you enjoy this book as I did!

  175. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a lawyer, educator and community activist. She has lectured and provided training workshops in over 30 countries and has appeared on some media outlets. She continually advocates human rights both in her career and in her literature. She has published several books and articles, but Breezes is her first novel. Breezes was written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri but the english translation was done by Mouna Mana. In the novel we are taken through the story of a man and a woman and their journey of love. Breezes is about college sweethearts who lost contact somewhere along the way but are now recollecting in their senior year. We are not given names of these characters, which makes them a bit mysterious. The main theme in the novel is that love can overcome many things, time being one of them.

    The novel starts off with the young woman sitting on a bench overlooking the lake when she unexpectedly hears the whispering voice of her old lover. They start reminiscing and reflect on all their memories, trying to figure where they went wrong. From the beginning of their relationship they are both confused on how to confront and act towards one another. Wafica depicts what it is like in a fresh relationship; they both have these strong feelings for each other but act very juvenile when trying to communicate. One can see this conflict in the lines, “It was a fleeting handshake that camouflaged intense, repressed, invisible emotions. It was stirring, making the greeting a nagging invitation for a get-together. Yet neither of them revealed or announced this unspoken wish” (AlDoueiri 10). They first lost connection after the girl hears from someone that the young man is giving attention to someone else. Now as they are meeting again she questions him on this and wants to know if what she heard way back then was true or not.

    I found this novel interesting and relatable because I believe that it showed the conflicts of love in a very real way. When two people are really in love they are always challenged by the other, yet they never let go of the perfect image that they have of their lover. I did find myself lost at some parts of the novel but it later became clear when I continued reading. Wafica uses such beautiful imagery in the novel which sets a very fairytale-like atmosphere.

    Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to others. It is a beautiful story that I think many can admire for its many virtues. We are introduced to many conflicts that are associated with love and relationships. Breezes has a great story line and is written in a way that you can visualize every scene. It is all about true love overcoming what life throws at us.

  176. In the story, “Breeze’s,” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, readers follow the journey of a young man and woman who fall in love at a young age. In the beginning of the story, the woman seems to be very confused at the reasoning behind why the man does not approach her when they meet up later on down the road. The woman says when she saw him “his presence overshadowed every other presence.” The man explains that he was turned down before when he was in his 20’s by the woman and does not want the same thing do happen because that would be humiliating. The first words said between the two of them were the woman saying, “It’s a beautiful place,” after we read about how both the how woman and the man feel about the encounter after some time apart. In their first encounter we see that they both are misunderstanding the feelings they have for each other. Eventually when the girl works up the courage and they finally talk, and are able to rekindle the flame they had previously. The man then embarks on a journey by boat to Egypt and the woman watched from the boardwalk without the man seeing her. She is hopeful that he is thinking about her while going on his voyage and hopes that he brings something back for her. When he returns he sees the woman with a guy that is close to her and questions if she is with him so he then decided that he needs to take his opportunity of being with her so he doesn’t miss out on her. The woman becomes so happy and fears that it might not always be this way she is afraid that something will happen, and he started to distance himself again. The love between them was described as a “dormant volcano storing its lava and erupting,” page 63. It is easy to see the way that this love is taking a toll on both the man and the woman.
    The story references the ocean and the waves and the woman even makes a comment about the waves are like her heart beating up against the ocean. The love between the man and the woman never fails to continue to bring them together. In the beginning of the story it is important to note that the woman is the one expressing all the emotions she is feeling about the man, but towards the middle of the book we see a shift and we are able to see more of how the man is feeling during all of this. In our society today we have cell phones and many times when something happens between a man and a woman like what happened in the story, they decide they need to delete their phone number from their phone. In the story we read about the woman thinking that by doing this she would be able to “Delete,” the man form her life. But while doing this she can’t help but think about him. Throughout the story no matter what, they continue to meet with each other and at the end of the book once again they meet up with each other. No matter what you can’t fight love no matter how much it hurts.
    I think the audience reading this book would enjoy it. Although at times it is difficult to follow, in the end it all comes together and I found it to be very entertaining.

  177. Breezes is a novel by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri that reflects on the love and insecurities of two people who meet during their college years and never find the way to express the love they had for each other not until their senior years in life. The book is filled with many emotions and the author is able to show these emotions through the poetic format, imagery and dialogue between the two characters. The novel is written with the perspective of the two characters showing and expressing the many emotions of love and insecurities and through this the reader is able to understand the feelings the man and woman had for each other.
    The novel begins with two lovers, who are young and still discovering who they are as people, they find it hard to communicate or show the love they have for each other. As they reflect on their life it is shown how as they spend time together the way they reveal the feelings they have is very much like anyone who is young and in love would act, making an effort in saying the right things or acting a certain way. As time goes by the two characters have a falling out and although they are separate the dialogues show the emotion of insecurity they both had and reflect on how they did not want to lose each other but it was difficult for her to forgive him for what he did. But through the separation and uncertainties the characters are able to realize and restore the love that had always been present.
    An evident theme found in the novel is love, which is shown between the two characters as they reflect the love they have had for each other, when they first met and as the years passed by. Although they had lost communication there was still the sense of love that they had for each other. Love is a theme that is constant throughout the whole story as the two characters declare the feelings they have had for each other as they relive those moments that put them in the position that led to their separation. The theme of insecurity is shown in the novel as conflict in the relationship with ideas from others who created the feelings of uncertainty and the author is able to show this through the characters questioning the emotions they had for each other. The sense of insecurity is presented through the separation that ultimately discloses how they never lost love for each other.
    The imagery used by AlDoueiri throughout the novel gives the effect that as one is reading the story the emotions are easily perceived. The imagery throughout the story connects the emotions of love and insecurities. “Their thoughts crashed like waves in a storm” the use of the simile is able to display the emotions that the characters have for each other and through this the author creates visuals all through the novel. The dialogue and poetic language highlight the importance of emotions that occurred during their lives, although it was difficult at times to understand who was saying what at times the author was able to clearly state the emotions through this format. Each chapter gives the impression of the chronical consequences that occurred during the characters’ lives and how important it was for them.
    With all this being said Breezes is a novel I would recommend anyone to read from any age group. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri’s use of language and connections with imagery compel you in wanting to read more. A beautiful well written novel that expresses the emotions of love and insecurities through two characters that are molded into one with the poetic approach of the dialogue that highlights the portions of their lives they shared and were the most important.

  178. “Breezes”, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated by Mouna Mana, is a short novel depicting a man and a woman’s lifelong love story. The story shows the two characters, both in love but unable to reveal their feelings for fear of being rejected, reconnecting after a coincidental meeting. They recount their past and indulge in the memories of how their feelings developed, only to realize the love they have only increased through the separation. However, the author tells the story from both characters’ perspectives, including poetry to give the reader a more in-depth and relatable experience with the book.
    Poetry normally isn’t something that I personally find interesting or necessarily applicable to a story line. In the case of “Breezes”, I felt that the poems rather strengthened the emotional connection that I could feel with the characters since it allowed me to be able to better understand the history between the man and the woman, as well as be able to relate to the way that they feel about their situations. The characters overcome adversity such as the man leaving for Egypt at one point, as well as emotion distresses they individually feel. Yet, the unbreakable connection they have endures everything, even the inability to perceive it themselves. The two share a common problem, they both have insecurities about themselves. They fear of rejection and heartbreak as well as a deeper feeling of inadequacy, that if they ever did end up together they might not remain happy. The woman even fears this so much that at one point in the story she rejects the man’s wedding proposal because she thinks that the fiery love they share has an expiration period.
    To those reading the book it is clear that these two are connected on a deeper level than they know. They share a love that isn’t common, but they don’t realize it themselves until they are older. The love that they have endures through the years regardless of the distance, a love that is genuine and innocent.
    This is not typically the type of story that I enjoy, but the author’s use of poetry and ability to articulate the emotions and thoughts that the characters have is exquisite. This novel is not an overwhelming book, but the relatability gives it something that entices you. We all know what it is like to want something or someone, but find that our greatest obstacles are the ones that we place upon ourselves. This is what made the book rather enjoyable to me, despite being a love story, it portrays real human emotion and shows how people individually assess them. This is a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys love stories, but also people who enjoy connecting to characters. AlDoueiri does a phenomenal job presenting the characters in a way that allows the reader to really understand the emotions and fears they have. This is a book that everyone can get into, since everyone experiences love and everyone has their own insecurities.

  179. The book “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated by Mouna Mana is a story between a man and a woman who are in love with each other. The author shows the development of their young love through their adolescences and how it ends. But later meet again only to reminisce of their past. Even after not seeing each other for a long time their feelings for one another still lingers within them. AlDoueiri writes the story as a poem and uses metaphors to describe the scenery and the characters thoughts and emotions. The story starts off by showing the woman’s perspective and later shows the man’s perspective. Which shows the reader that both the characters are troubled with not being able to tell the other their feelings due to the fear of being rejected by the other. The title of the book is a metaphor that describes the love between the people in love.
    Normally I dislike reading romance stories and poems but I enjoyed reading this book very much. I highly recommend to read the short novel “Breezes.” The story is easy to read and understand with all the metaphors the author uses. AlDoueiri is trying to portray that love can be strong even if one try’s to fight against it. The plot shows their start of their love and after it end but still continues on. This book will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

  180. Book Review by Stephanie Marie Estrada
    As I read the novel Breezes, I found a lot of emotions that rose as the story became more intense. Breezes is a novel in which two people went to high school with each other, but never had the chance to actually see if they were meant for one another. During the story, it explained how they were both afraid of the ‘unknown’ that was created between them, as they feared rejection from one another as well as failure to make one another satisfied. I found it very lovely as a theme of ‘fate’ was the first thing picked up in this novel. The man and woman hadn’t seen each other in years and luckily they had crossed paths with God’s grace. One thing I did not favor was how the author set the story up, where the audience had no idea if they were actually speaking to each other, or if the words said were internal dialogue. One other thing I did not like was how the tension of love was throughout the story, without a resolution to whether or not they ended up dating. In the end is when we find the two senior citizens together by the lake, which clarifies what he were wondering. This story is great, and definitely proves to be realistic in today’s society, as many fear rejection from people they are interested in as well as fearing what the future has in store for a person. Another great theme that can be found in this novel was “absence makes the heart grow fonder”, as it surely did between the two characters. In the beginning, it was the rejection the guy received from the girl but towards the middle of the novel, we come to realize that she had “boycotted” against him for rumors she heard, but them ended up questioning herself whether or not she had made the right decision. Each character fought themselves through their silent dialogue which I thought was great because, we were given a chance to see how each person was truly feeling. I would highly recommend this novel to each individual that is interested in reading a love story, as it highlights important factors that a person should think of such as being hopeful for the future and letting fate take its course. This story as well explains how each person was crazy for one another, but inside they kept the fear that was holding each of them away from one another. I really enjoyed how the author gave the audience a chance to not only understand what events were taking place, but they offered readers the ability to vision what each character was doing as well as the beautiful scenery described. The author made sure to allow the audience a chance to take the story as we wish, whether the events were actually happening, or if this novel was made up of feelings each person had that were never said or acted upon. Breezes is a great story that shows was pure and true love is, as the couple ended up together by fate and actually turned out to be great for one another as they puzzled up the missing pieces from their love story. Love like the two had in the novel is something I hope to find one day. This novel has led me to believe that true love does exist, and that fate does work out with most people. I hope to find a love where the other person craves your attention, your affection, and to hold your hand and walk through your mind with a single touch to the face. The metaphors and similes used in the novel were great and I definitely would read this book over again. It was an honor to be able to read this book, as it was one of the best love stories that I had ever read in my life.

  181. In the book Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri we learn about a young couple at first who are deeply in love with one another, yet have so much trouble expressing how they feel, then what happens when they are older and put in the same position. The author takes us on a trip to learn about the true nature of love and how much of an impact can it have on a person’s whole life. What the author try’s to express with this novel in simple terms is how strong “love” can be. All throughout the novel we get glimpses and a look into how the characters really feel about each other and how their love can overcome whatever obstacle is in their way. With this, I feel that the author is trying to not only show the true nature of love, but to show the reality of life and how things are unpredictable in all aspects of what we do.
    We first start at the beginning of the novel with the two main characters with each other. This is where they first introduce that they are in love with each other, the author does this by creating a dialogue with the boy and the girl, and we are able to know what he is thinking and what she is thinking. In the first pages we learn that they are not openly expressed with how they feel but only show and see each other as friends/acquaintances on the outside but feel a different way internally. An example of this would be where we see both of their internal thoughts (pg.22-26). We see how he is wondering if he should be more forward this time and really express how he feels to show her, and on the other hand we see how she is wondering why he isn’t doing anything, they are both clueless as to what is going on between them because neither one knows how the other feels. This is a very significant part of the story because it shows the carefulness of him asking himself if he should hold her hand and if it is disrespectful or demeaning to her. This expresses the author’s message in the novel to resemble the differences between the culture and times from then and now. Later on the line in “The Impossible Deletion” We learn about how this was the moment where she wanted to forget about him and move on with her life but she couldn’t. No matter how hard she tried to forget or preoccupy herself, he would always enter her mind again and again until she accepted her fate. Again, this is a very important chapter as a whole because this is where the author nearly defines the definition of “love” she is trying to show. She says “There is no point in attempting to forget or suppress feelings…for suppression enflames them and escape deepens the sensing of them. Why walk in the opposite direction that fate chose?” This means that if it is something that is meant to be then you will not be able to forget it, but must embrace what comes your way. She knows that her love for him is so strong that there is no point in even trying, she knows where her true path leads. The author ends the novel showing the readers that true love will always be together no matter what obstacle gets in the way, to be able to look at another person and gaze at them without saying a word, this shows how deep of a connection they have. After all the years that they have been separated from each other, their voice can instantly draw each other back.
    By creating a dialogue as the author did, she was able to convey her message in a spectacular way by showing what true love is. She shows where it comes from and how one reacts when it happens to them. This is truly a story worth reading due to the brilliant language and message that entails. I was very hesitant to dive deep into this novel due to the language and format that is used, but it works perfectly with the story. There was a sense of confusion for me in trying to understanding who is speaking, what the plot it, and even at times what is going on, but when you get deeper into the story things start to fall more into place. I would recommend this novel to anybody who is ready to challenge their mind and understand it to its fullest. In life we go day by day not knowing exactly what will happen next, we are simply a breeze going wherever the wind takes us.

  182. I enjoyed this novel. I think it is relatable for most people, despite cultural, geographical, or spiritual differences. The majority of people experience a “first love” at one point in their life. This novel embraces the intense emotions, innocence, naivety, and passion that are present in a “first love” or “first crush” experience. I think when people look back at that point in their life when they had their first love, it entails feelings of a more “innocent” time in their life and a more simple time perhaps. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri successfully depicts the first love experience. The story follows two people who fall in love in their youth and, as a result of their adolescent ways lose each other, only to find themselves years later reminiscing their past together, analyzing each other’s actions, discussing their dreams and failures, explaining their disappointments, offering forgiveness, and eventually discovering that time has only made them grow fonder of each other. As for format, the author writes in free verse providing dialogue from both the man and woman in the story at different times in their lives from each character’s point of view. AlDoueiri illustrates the beauty and pureness of their relationship through nature. I liked this aspect of the novel the most because I can relate to the same depictions and metaphors he used to compare physical nature to the emotional and physical nature of the relationship. He uses phrases such as: “painful for someone living a first crush filled with all flowers of all the gardens and all the expectations of everlasting joy,” “the river seems pleased with the innocent life of these docile animals,” and “leading the observer…to swim in one’s imagination among the ducks” to paint and connect the image of the beauty of nature with the beauty of being in love. In addition, the narration also adds “they became part of the tableau,” representing the novel as a whole: like nature, their relationship takes its course, and despite the fact that their lives didn’t go the way they had hoped for in their dreams (they lived separate lives) they reunite unplanned and without force. Although the ending may sound unrealistic, it is a not-so-typical romance. In short, I would read the novel again because I appreciated both the complexity and simplicity and the level of relatability that the plot offers.

  183. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri writes a beautiful love story in the short story breezes. The poetic opening to the story captivates you in all aspects of her writing. Possibly one of the most relatable love stories of all time, AlDoueiri writes about the rollercoaster ride of two lovers through their own words and thoughts. Throughout the entire story we come to understand how each of the lovers interprets the love shared by one another. We start out meeting a young girl and boy who cannot seem to express the love they have for one another. The innocence of the relationship brings out the thoughts of each of the characters. The ups and downs where at times it seems like the full potential of their love may never be seen because of the mere fact that these two virgin lovers cannot get out of their own way. AlDoueiri uses many symbols such as the ocean, birds, flowers, and most of all, the breeze to express the impact that the two lovers have on each others lives. Once past the first chapter, you realize the story is told by a couple reminiscing on their imperfect relationship. This is not a simple love story where the boy falls in love with the girl and they live happily ever after. This love story is very complicated and goes through many stages before you can come close to realizing the true status of their relationship. This is a love story that is truly only seen through the heart of the characters. Their love is not vocalized until later on because they can simply communicate through their heart, soul, and eyes. But with this lack of communication comes a lot of uncertainty as well. We learn that the girl becomes very unsure of his loyalty when he is seen talking to another girl and fighting for her attention. She later on explains this to him and he tries telling her that none of this is true and that it is just a lack of communication in their unrealized relationship that is killing them and stopping them from seeing their full potential as lovers. “Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait”. If only youth new, and if only age were able. She tells him this French quote explaining how if she knew at the time what she knows now, that she never would have been upset with him but that she cannot go back in time and change how she felt. She ignored him for very long without him knowing why and when they finally vocalize how they felt, they both realize that a lot of scar tissue was left by unsaid feelings. They each explain how if they would have known how each other felt then they could have saved themselves many problems through their relationship. He now explains that now that they understand each others feelings, that they can enter a loving relationship and live happily. This isn’t quite how she sees it though. She explains how they have loved each other for so long because they have been away from each other and she doesn’t know if their relationship will be as strong if they share this relationship together. She tells him that their relationship wont suffer just because they are not together. “Because hearts communicating with each other aren’t limited by distance/And are not disabled by barriers/And not prevented by silence and inability to speak what stirs in the heart.”
    AlDoueiri tells a great love story is relatable to everyone. From the beginning to the end of the story we are captivated by these two lovers because of the language used by AlDoueiri. If you cannot come away from this story learning something about yourself then I don’t believe the true potential of this book has been realized for you. “Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait.”

  184. Breezes was a nice book. It was much different than what I expected mostly due to the fact that I partially read the book description before reading the book itself. This book was written in the form of poetry. This book was themed around romance. It discussed the love between a man and a woman over a period of time. This love started when they were rather young and continued through their old age. There were moments of love and moments of struggle.

    The book itself was very authentic. Just the fact that it showed struggle and not pure love was great. It depicted reality and not something that is fairy tale like. That was one thing I loved. Many poems I feel will simply show love or pain figuratively. Many showing that love or pain at a certain point of time. Also, there are other types of poetry that just describe relationships. This book described it all from the beginning and it was a continuing story. Throughout reading the story I did find myself wondering what’s going to happen next. Are they going to rekindle their romance right now? Are they going to face more difficult issues along the way? Those are just a couple of the questions I found myself wondering about when reading the poems.

    Although this was a good book for the most part, there was one thing in particular I did not like. The dialogue, or so called dialogue, was difficult to understand. Whether it was dialogue or imaginary dialogue was unclear. There were sections that were bolded and others that were written in small print. These sections both appeared to be conversational and imaginary. Due to that it was hard to tell the difference. As I continued to read I was hopeful that there would be an indication as to what was what. However, that was not the case. I found myself having to guess at what was truly happening and what was not happening based on what I would read in the next poem. Overall, the verbal dialogue and non-verbal dialogue is something I would have liked to be different. In order to change that I personally would have added specifications in the beginning as to what it what. I would also slightly change the way things were written along with the fonts of the writing. Therefore, it would pave the way for smoother reading and it would also cause less confusion. Also, it would give the reader more time to focus on the story being told through each poem itself as opposed to whether he or she understands it or not. Another thing I disliked that I saw was that I found there to be a lack of explanation to unfamiliar terms. There was a part in the book discussing an instrument that is not commonly heard of here in the U.S. When I normally read books I’m used to seeing asterisks next to unfamiliar terms. That would have been a nice feature to add to this book. Besides those things the translator did a wonderful job translating this book into English.

    Overall, I would recommend this book. It was a great read. There is something to get from this book for most people. However, I do believe that this book would speak more to those that are in relationships or individuals who have been in love/loving relationships at some point of their lives. Due to the content of the book I think someone who has never been in love or in a loving relationship would just view this as another love story.

    -Destiny Livingstone

  185. I found this book to be somewhat of an interesting read. This book was a collection of poetry in which all poems were a part of one story. The story being told revolves around romance. It was about a man and woman who met and started a relationship in their college years and the story continues to follow them until they’re much older. The poetry discussed everything from their love to their problems. Because of that I would have to say this is one of the more realistic love stories I have read. When you read the poems you get the feel that these are average individuals facing “average people” problems. In fact, the story made me think of how many couples face the problems that the couple in the story faced. That was one aspect of the story I found to be interesting. An aspect of the book I disliked was generally how it was written. There were times I was unsure as to who was speaking. I would try reading it over again thinking that things would be much clearer the next time around but that was not the case. Another thing I found confusing were the conversations between the man and the woman. Some of these conversations were real while other conversations were just make belief in the woman’s head. It was difficult to distinguish the real conversations from the make belief conversations. That was probably one of the more frustrating parts of this book. I also disliked the ending of the story. I felt that it did not do the entire story any justice. Considering how straight forward most of the story was I expected the ending to be somewhat straight forward. In a way I felt the ending was very much separate from the entire story. It was like an independent poem.

    I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys love stories along with poetry. Someone who enjoys love stories would appreciate this book. Anyone who loves poetry and does not mind love stories would appreciate the somewhat simplicity of this poetry. Many poems out there can be difficult for the reader to interpret so it was nice to read poetry that was not overly complicated.

    -Rafael H.

  186. Donn Maul

    “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a novel about the love between two people who met in college and who reunited in their later years at a bench near a lake. The novel is comprised of short stories from the couples past and shows the adventures they went on together. I enjoyed this novel because it was written in a poetic form. It makes it for a more elegant read and more enjoyable as well. It allows you to feel like you are almost with the characters and like they are telling you the story in person. I liked how the author mentioned their past love and shows the circle of life. He explains the love that they have for each other, but at the same time explaining how true love never fails and how it will all work out in the end. I also liked how the author allows us to get the viewpoint of both characters. That allows us to really feel connected to both of them. I like how the author makes them go their separate ways at the beginning, because it is relevant to the bystander effect, where you expect someone else to make a move or do something, but since you both think that, neither of them do anything. I also feel like this is relevant today in our society as well, when you see couples who have small issues or rumors that spread about one or both of them, there tends to be more arguments and eventually a break up, because both are to afraid to try to work it out. People are to afraid to commit to something that is worth committing to. I enjoy how they meet up in their senior years because it also shows how when we are young we are still ignorant and blind, but how with age comes great amounts of knowledge. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel because I am not normally into love stories.

  187. If you are a big fan of romantic stories,”Breezes” by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri is for you. If you are a person that is not really into romantic stories and happy endings like myself then this story is not for you. Going into this novel, I wasn’t really interested in reading a love story. “Breezes” by Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri is based on the journey of a young “couple” that is in love with each other but end up separating for a long time until they both aged. They were finally able to express to each other how they felt about one another and discuss the past as far as what causes them to split and what it did to them both after the split. Throughout the story, it shows how if something was meant to be it will happen, in other words how love can withstand any tough times and last. It also shows hat fear can truly stand in the way if you allow it to. The reason why I say this, is because the couple was so scared of being rejected they allowed a lot of time to pass before they decided to speak up about how they felt towards one another. For this reason, one of the constant reoccurring theme throughout the story besides love, would have to be fear and rejection. They allowed the fear of rejection to stand in the way of their happiness for years and years until they were finally able to truly express their love for each other and realized they both felt the same way. This goes to show, if you want something/ someone you can’t allow the fear of rejection to keep you from moving forward because when you don’t take risks how can you get rewarded. This story talks about the things in life that most people go through when trying to love someone while having fear of being hurt. A part in the story that I found funny would have to be when she created this huge problem because she thought he had a girlfriend/another girl (which he didn’t). I thought this was funny because she loved him so much that she felt he was already hers even though he technically wasn’t. This shows how much she loved him because she couldn’t stomach the thought of him having someone else. Overall, it is a pretty good story that needs some work in certain areas but I would recommend it to people who enjoy romantic love stories. I think the areas hay needed improvement would have to be the dialogue and details. at times I didn’t know who was saying what, which could be a little frustrating because I had to often retread pages. Also, I felt there could have been more detail to catch the readers attention more as well as giving more depth. But I would still recommend this story to anyone who enjoy romantic books.

  188. Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri and translated by Mouna Mana tells a romantic story about two lovers who sit on a bench looking over a lake reminiscing about the past. The book talks about how they missed the chance of telling each other how they feel about one another. It begins with the woman sitting on a bench when she hears “what are you daydreaming about.” She then sees the past approach her, her ex-lover, and sits next to her on the bench. The begin to talk about the ‘past and the feelings they had for each other. The book goes on both point of views of what they thought and felt but never were able to say because of the fear of rejection. Both of them were madly in love but never said anything all these years up to the day at the bench were everything poured out like a can of beans. A confession made later in the book the woman said that the man remained on her mind day and night whether it was in her dreams or in the day time, “With my veins pulsing from your heart.” He had her attention a love that would and could not be lost. It then goes to the man’s point of view, “…and the flowers of the meadows… a symbol for the spring of our age.” More into the book they talk about how they had fear to glaze into each other’s eyes because of the chemistry and love they had for each other was unbearable, but with fear of themselves they could not act on their emotions. Now looking in the present although they were older and wrinkly the burning love they had for each other felt like the first day they did when they were younger. In my honest opinion this novel was amazingly written and had a great theme. This short story was very easy to read and literally takes a day or two to read all of it. Although I did have some trouble reading it online because it was on iTunes and I did not have an iPhone or iPad until one of my friends let me borrow their phone and I was able to read this in one and a half days. If you are interested in reading a novel that is short and romantic, I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed this story very much but mainly because I find romantic novels very interesting. It’s not like other cliché novels where it all starts with a young couple where the mean girl tries to separate them and then they live happily ever after or a novel about a prince saving the princess. It shows the reality of love actual love that actually composes the emotions of love. I have known many people who have had feelings for one another but are scared to tell the other person how they feel because they have no clue how the other person feels towards them. Which brings up the theme of the fear of rejection. In the novel it also shows the joy, sadness, pain, and passion they go through throughout the book. As well as showing the physical and emotional ways their love affected them both. The ignorance of their youth had them never acting on their feelings which made them fouls. They had ages full of regrets but the love had never gone away. The love, fear, and regrets throughout the novel was so vivid that it kept you interested on what would happen next. It also focused on the actual meaning of love not just the sexual or lust part of it. For that reason, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested on a short read or romantic novel.

  189. Breezes by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is a very emotional and loving story that will really show the reader what true love is.¬ This love story is not like most love stories, the couple in Breezes are separated at a young age which led to suppressed feelings and emotions that were not able to be expressed as wished. Memories between the two play a huge role throughout the story, memories is what pretty much ties the two together and shows their love for each other.
    I found it very interesting how the short novel was originally an Arabic writing and then later translated into an English piece. A good amount of the story was written in a poetry like passage, which was something that really opened up my emotional side. With the story having poetry like features it really helped me relate and become more intrigued into the story. There are a lot of literary devices used in the story that was also very helpful in connecting the reader to the story. A lot of imagery was used throughout the short novel, which helps the reader to feel as if he or she is really able to understand what the two lovers are feeling. Although this short novel is in fact and romantic love story, it was not all love and romance. A good portion of the story is the expression of how the two lovers were faced with difficulty and hardships to be together. At some points throughout the story you may even find yourself feeling a bit sad or bad for the unknown characters. The two lovers face obstacles such as jealousy, fear of rejection, and the basic feeling of wanting someone you feel you cannot have. Despite the two characters being apart, they were still confident in hope they will be together and eventually reunite to share their love with each other. They both were very understanding in the fact that it would take some time for them to be together again, patience and the will to make their love work was the main factor in doing so.
    Imagery, being the main literary device in this story (in my opinion), played a huge role in exemplifying the love and emotional connection between the two lovers. Imagery was used to display both negative and positive sides of the story. These examples of imagery were given through their memories to show the deep love they had for each other as they were apart. I am sure there is a lot more literary devices throughout the story, and with these I feel it is what really made the story the masterpiece that it is.
    Although there were few difficulties in completely understanding the story due to translation issues, I really enjoyed the story and the message it sent to the readers. The difficulties that the two lovers faced throughout the story is extremely relatable to a lot of relationships that are current in today’s society. Lots of people face separation or fear of rejection as the two characters did in the story, which is why it helped me relate to and help me be interested throughout. The details in the story were very vivid which was another great aspect of the story, the imagery used to show the love and fear is that of no other. There were not many flaws throughout the short novel but one that I did notice is that it was a little difficult understanding the dialogue between the characters. Overall, the story was well put together and is a story I would recommend to anyone; especially if the person is into romance or love stories.

  190. Timothy Simmons

    “Breezes”, written by Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, is one of the more realistic depictions of love among the vast array of love stories out there. For this reason, for many potential readers, this may represent a more relatable love story that resonates with them at a deeper and more fundamental level than the typical bubble gum happily ever after love story. In the real world, the type of love that many potential readers may be going through is not all happily ever after all the time. There is struggle, there are extremely difficult times, there are times when miscommunications that seem to threaten the relationship will arise, and there are times where it may seem as if you hate the other person and can no longer be with them. Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri is able to capture this, and excellently put so much possible emotion into written form. From this, I gathered one overarching theme throughout the novel; love is pure, love is powerful, and love is beautiful, but contrary to naïve ideals, love is not invincible.
    The love of our two main characters begins young. From the outset, we can see that these two are destined to be in one another’s lives for the rest of them. There is a connection between them, one that is powerful undoubtedly, and it is one with the power to transcend certain bounds that other emotions can not. The power and transcending nature of the love shared between the two characters is purposefully embellished by the overall poetic nature of expression used to communicate the feelings of each of the characters toward one another to the reader. The evocative words serve to penetrate the reader’s emotions at a deep level, one that is actually going to make them feel something, perhaps recall an emotion or a relationship that they have actually gone through. This is a great service to the audience; it is simply a beautiful story to read. I feel that far too often in literature, the topic of love and romantic relationship is romanticized to such an extent that it begins to seem unrealistic and unobtainable. Therefore, rather than making a connection with a potential reader, the authors actually lose the reader’s interest and/or emotional involvement in the story because they begin to feel that it is something forever beyond them. The story of “Breezes” actually avoids this common pitfall of romantic literature by not just showing the undoubted pleasures of love, but the intense struggles and rough times that exist as well. There are many times throughout the story where we wonder if our lovers will rekindle their love, or if it is forever lost; if they will remain enchanted with one another, or if another hardship that will test the strength of the connection is but around the corner. We’re kept on the edge of our seats and of our hearts, signs that a deep connection is being made with us. This is how love is in real life; sometimes we do not what will become of our relationships; we do not know if the strong connection with our lover will be lost due to a serious clash, or if the love is strong enough to withstand that clash. It’s something that’s both beautiful and unbelievably trying, which is why it has the potential to be so rewarding. Life tests very often, and this is something that is skillfully and beautifully brought out in this book. The book is of a continuous nature, meaning that it shows the love of our characters from its very beginning all the way throughout. We see all the romance, the hardship, the beauty, the sadness and extreme pain, and the intense feeling of togetherness. It seems like we are right there with them, going through every moment and every cycle, seeing it through their eyes. In this story, we are at least one character at any given time, and sometimes we are even both characters. For many of us, not only does it seem this way because of the well done writing, but because we actually have been there before. We have been on both ends of love, and we know what both sides feel like. The author is able to tap into this and create a story with a powerful message and a powerful theme.
    In creating such vivid imagery, it sometimes became confusing whether we were within or with-out the minds of our characters. In other words, it was at times difficult to ascertain whether what was being said were thoughts within the minds of either characters, or if it was actual dialogue between the two of them. This did not interrupt the flow of the story too much, however it did make it difficult at times to keep what was being communicated in its proper context as it created a degree of ambiguity. One at times might have to re-read a certain section a few times in order to make sure they really comprehend what is happening.
    There exists throughout the story a degree of romantic suspense that never seems to really get all the way resolved. To many this might be a turn off; everyone wishes for a satisfactory conclusion, whether it is happily ever after or a tragedy. Either one will result in a conclusion of finality. However, this one does not. To me, this is simply a part of the realistic depiction the story remained consistent with. Sometimes, things in life are never truly resolved, and never will be. Yet we live with them, we have learned to coexist with blurred lines of grey. Some even embrace non-finality; it allows us to write our own endings, and especially allows us to freely interpret certain things. Such is the case with literature that has a non-final ending, we are then allowed to interpret certain moves the author made in our own way, which can make the experience overall even more enjoyable.
    Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The realistic depiction of love was something I truly enjoyed, and something that was a breath of fresh air among all the hyper-ethereal manifestations of love in literature. The vincibility of love is a theme that stuck with me; love is vulnerable, and it can seem like a knife piercing right through those in love. I greatly appreciated a love story that was more grounded in actual reality and possibility. I would highly recommend this book to someone who is looking for a romance novel unlike many others; something unique for the simple reason of realism.

  191. Author Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri, immediately captivates her audience through the distributive essence she displays in her publication of the romantic novel Breezes. Throughout the passage, Wafica draw the attention to the youthfulness of love as well as the challenges of love and relationships. She shares with us a story that can be related to by all generations and cultures. And thanks to the translation by Mouna Mana, many more readers can indulge in the beauty of the story, Breezes.
    I found many of the aspect within the story to be very relatable. Although, rewarding love can be very tricky and complicated. We see this demonstrated in Breezes by two love stricken characters, a man and a women. The love story begins alongside a lake when unexpectedly the lifelong lovers are reunited. Now old and gray the once college sweetheart reminisce on their innocent encounters. Reluctant at first, the two are unable to put any words to their thoughts. Although immense feelings of passion still remain true, the characters find it difficult to express any of their thoughts or emotions. As time progresses, the characters are finally able to open up to one another, and share some of their most memorable encounters. However on their journey to the past, the two lovers encounter an unresolved issue. A rumor of cheating arise. After hearing such a rumor, the girl disconnects all contact from her lover as a way to spear herself of heartbreak. The Rumor, miscommunication, and ignorance, ultimately leads to the lovers’ separation. Yet many years later, they are reconnected. Although both characters still encompass a passion and love for the other, they are unable to admit it due to the fear of rejection. While recalling such events, the characters struggle internally whether to continue to embark on this emotional journey once again. This fear steams from the fear of the unwanted memories disrupting the simplicity of their encounter, as well as a fear of being rejected if their true feelings are expressed.
    I often find romance stories as extremely unrealistic, however Breezes is very relatable and it is much more than a romance story. Breeze shows the difficulties of all relationships, whether is with a lover, family or your culture. The more obvious relationship we see in Breezes is between the man and the women. However I noticed a lot of internally conflict take place as well as a battle to maintain relationship with their values and culture. In the passages “The first Trip” and “A definitive Trip”, we see an example of this. Before the man from the story could pursue a relationship, he feels the need to introduce the women to his family. A custom of his culture and a way to recognize his values and desires. I think that the struggle to maintain healthy relationships is one we can all relate to. I also think that many of the emotions that the characters emote are similar emotions that we all can recall feeling at some point in our lives. However there was one aspect that I loved yet found a little hard to understand at times. Throughout the passage, the author brings in the characters’ thoughts. This Literary tactic really allows the reader to have a better understanding of the love connection between the two characters. You almost feel as if you are a friend who has witness the whole love story from beginning to end. Yet I found it difficult to distinguish between which thought belong to which character. At times it was even hard to determine if it was dialoged between the characters or just a private thought of that one character. Nonetheless I thought Breezes was a beautiful story. You don’t have to be from one specific culture to appreciate author, Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri’s work. It contains universal characteristics and values that we all can relate to. And that is what makes the novel Breezes amazing. I highly recommended it.
    -Anna Frey

  192. Author Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri, immediately captivates her audience through the distributive essence she displays in her publication of the romantic novel Breezes. Throughout the passage, Wafica draw the attention to the youthfulness of love as well as the challenges of love and relationships. She shares with us a story that can be related to by all generations and cultures. And thanks to the translation by Mouna Mana, many more readers can indulge in the beauty of the story, Breezes.
    I found many of the aspect within the story to be very relatable. Although, rewarding love can be very tricky and complicated. We see this demonstrated in Breezes by two love stricken characters, a man and a women. The love story begins alongside a lake when unexpectedly the lifelong lovers are reunited. Now old and gray the once college sweetheart reminisce on their innocent encounters. Reluctant at first, the two are unable to put any words to their thoughts. Although immense feelings of passion still remain true, the characters find it difficult to express any of their thoughts or emotions. As time progresses, the characters are finally able to open up to one another, and share some of their most memorable encounters. However on their journey to the past, the two lovers encounter an unresolved issue. A rumor of cheating arise. After hearing such a rumor, the girl disconnects all contact from her lover as a way to spear herself of heartbreak. The Rumor, miscommunication, and ignorance, ultimately leads to the lovers’ separation. Yet many years later, they are reconnected. Although both characters still encompass a passion and love for the other, they are unable to admit it due to the fear of rejection. While recalling such events, the characters struggle internally whether to continue to embark on this emotional journey once again. This fear steams from the fear of the unwanted memories disrupting the simplicity of their encounter, as well as a fear of being rejected if their true feelings are expressed.
    I often find romance stories as extremely unrealistic, however Breezes is very relatable and it is much more than a romance story. Breeze shows the difficulties of all relationships, whether is with a lover, family or your culture. The more obvious relationship we see in Breezes is between the man and the women. However I noticed a lot of internally conflict take place as well as a battle to maintain relationship with their values and culture. In the passages “The first Trip” and “A definitive Trip”, we see an example of this. Before the man from the story could pursue a relationship, he feels the need to introduce the women to his family. A custom of his culture and a way to recognize his values and desires. I think that the struggle to maintain healthy relationships is one we can all relate to. I also think that many of the emotions that the characters emote are similar emotions that we all can recall feeling at some point in our lives. However there was one aspect that I loved yet found a little hard to understand at times. Throughout the passage, the author brings in the characters’ thoughts. This Literary tactic really allows the reader to have a better understanding of the love connection between the two characters. You almost feel as if you are a friend who has witness the whole love story from beginning to end. Yet I found it difficult to distinguish between which thought belong to which character. At times it was even hard to determine if it was dialoged between the characters or just a private thought of that one character. Nonetheless I thought Breezes was a beautiful story. You don’t have to be from one specific culture to appreciate author, Wafica Mansour Aldoueiri’s work. It contains universal characteristics and values that we all can relate to. And that is what makes the novel Breezes amazing. I highly recommended it.
    _Anna Frey

  193. The short novel, “Breezes” written by an accomplished lawyer, an educator and a community activist who has advocated for human right named Wafica Mansour AlDoueiri, writes about a typically love story between two, but because of the fear in rejection their connection was once lost. She writes this like a poem. To me it is like a bunch of poems put together rather than a novel. But, I found which style very unique.
    The characters in Breezes are well relatable to anyone, which I think is how it really kept my interest in the book. She writes her love story from beginning to end. If you read each chapters you can see the build-up of her love story that she’s telling. Instead of the leaving each chapter untitled he gives each a name. Each name of the chapter to me are really significant because you can sort of think about what the chapter is going to be about even before reading. She does an amazing job of imagery and being very descriptive. I felt like I could really see what she writing and that helped with really understanding the feelings and emotions of the characters.
    In the book there is many themes showed. The fear of rejection is a big fear for a lot of people. Although it is a short novel, you can still take away a lot from it. This novel is a love story and it focus is just that. Love is something everyone wants to feel no matter the age. The two characters show just that. No matter how much time has passes, they found their love for each other was always there. I found the novel really interesting because of the theme, and being a young person you can definitely relate to the feeling of wanting to be loved, and to love someone.

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