Title: Intimate Fractures: The Aftermath of a Rape

Author: Wagih Abu-Rish

Genre: Literary fiction

 

In Intimate Fractures: The Aftermath of a Rape by Wagih Abu-Rish, Mustafa, a Palestinian student, has just started to adjust to his life at Duke University and is newly dating a spirited girl named Zeina. Shortly into their relationship, on his way to attend a political rally, Mustafa is attacked and raped by three young men, leaving him traumatized and reeling in the wake. Unsure who to trust or how to live around his friends, especially Zeina, he sets out on a cross-country adventure toward Stanford, his previous university, and meets a new girlfriend, Michelle, and has several experiences along the way.

Author Wagih Abu-Rish must be given props for choosing to tackle such a delicate subject matter. Since the book’s title and description mention this life-altering incident that deeply affects Mustafa, the reader is aware that it plays a critical role in the plot. However, potential readers should still proceed with caution, as the subject matter can be triggering for some. Abu-Rish’s description of the incident is not explicit, nor is the actual scene drawn out. The importance of this defining moment cannot go ignored. Unfortunately for the protagonist, his growth as a character depends on the struggles he must ensure in the aftermath. Real life often demands we overcome obstacles of various forms, so Mustafa’s struggle is relatable in that manner, even if our experiences differ.

Prior to the rape scene, there is a sex scene that should also be mentioned, as some readers may not wish to read such material. Although the author does not go into much detail, there is enough description of Mustafa making love with Zeina that readers who prefer not to read such content ought to be aware of it. At times, the scene almost feels clinical rather than intimate, however.

Mustafa is a complicated and sometimes frustrating character, as he is often closed up, thus making him hard to get to know, both for the other characters and the reader. Abu-Rish has effectively crafted a realistic character with his protagonist. Much like real life, sometimes people do and say things that are agitating or infuriating. A protagonist does not always need to be likable, but at the end of the story, we want to root for him. The author does a solid job of keeping the reader engaged in Mustafa’s story as he heals and learns. We want him to fall in love again and to stop living in fear, to open up to others and to live his life. When an author, such as Abu-Rish, engages the reader at the level of truly caring about a character’s welfare, he has succeeded in creating a character who is three-dimensional, authentic, and complex.

Intimate Fractures: The Aftermath of a Rape is a soul-searching novel that will keep the reader rooting for the main character, Mustafa. Abu-Rish has a knack for crafting relatable, realistic characters who undergo transformation over the pages. Readers looking for a story that will challenge them to reach deep inside and ponder how we overcome trauma will find Intimate Fractures a gem.

 

 

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