My Dreadful Body

"A potent portrait of illness and gender oppression . . . This passionate and lyrical work packs a stinging punch."—Publishers Weekly

A dazzling debut novel about a young woman's vexed coming of age in a traditional Azerbaijani community in Russia, grappling under the weight of Muslim patriarchal norms and a debilitating neurological condition. The mysterious affliction leaves her unable to control her muscles, plagued by pain and speech disorders, defying diagnosis. Addressing each body par...