A Pure Heart is definitely my favorite book of August and possibly of the summer. It’s a beautifully told tale of family, faith, identity and grief.
I haven’t read many books set in Egypt, and I loved the way Rajia Hassib blended Egyptian history past and present into this novel, including the impacts of the Arab Spring.
The story is about two sisters, Gameela and Rose, born and raised in Egypt and very close until their paths begin to diverge as they grow older and their hearts yearn for different things. Gameela starts to embrace her religion more fervently, wearing the hijab, while Rose marries an American and immigrates to the U.S.
While Rose is abroad, Gameela is killed in a terrorist attack, but there’s mystery to why she was where the attack occurred in the first place. A mystery Rose is determined to solve to better understand her sister.
I loved the characters, the descriptions of Egypt and how the story slowly unfolded to give a better glimpse into the choices and actions of both Rose and Gameela. I highly recommend this poignant and powerful book.
Five out of five stars.
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