Review: A Week is Not Forever by Firie Mhèné

The heartfelt emotions and thoughts of a lonely woman are laid bare in A Week is Not Forever, a multicultural romance debut by Firie Mhèné.

Having left behind her family and an emotionally-barren marriage in Europe, Gazina has been working on her doctoral research on a small island in Asia. Prior to arriving on the island, Gazina had filled the void caused by her husband’s indifference to their relationship with study, work, learning languages, buying herself clothes, going on holiday, and dining out, but here on the island, with no close friends to speak of and nothing in the way of culture, the emptiness envelopes her – until Gazina clicks on a random new contact on her social media page that radically changes her life.

Gazina doesn’t know whether such a thing as love at first SMS exists but there’s no other way to describe the feelings that Gamaal, the very tall, very handsome Egyptian university professor brings out in her during their subsequent daily talks. Like her, he’s married and unhappy and their growing relationship with one another represents a lifeline to which they both cling.

Gamaal gives Gazina her freedom and ability to grow and he has drive and aspirations which she loves. Two marriages and a divorce later, Gazina knows she must tread carefully where Gamaal is concerned, yet when he volunteers to visit heron her island and then later at an Egyptian resort, she doesn’t try and stop the meetings…

To say that A Week is Not Forever delves into the thoughts of a woman in love and explores the emotions of love is somewhat of an understatement. Mhèné touches upon every nuance, every brain surge and jolt of emotion, that courses through the body when one feels energized and excited by the possibility of a new love. She also brings to the table the conflicted feelings of guilt as Gazina grapples with the failings of her current relationship and the potential religious upheaval to Gamaal’s conservative Muslim beliefs if they were to embark upon an affair – which is surely in the cards for both of them – and then elevates her characters’ inevitable physical union into a spiritual joining once they consummate their relationship.

Although Mhèné skillfully lays bare the religious, emotional, and intellectual conflicts that inevitably arise from a multicultural romance in a very conservative part of the world, the book itself lacks the necessary skill sets in execution. The unfolding events in the book are told to the reader from the viewpoint of Gazina, with the narrative every so often making reference to “you” – presumably, in making a direct statement intended for Gamaal – which is not quite consistent. The sporadic dialogue is improperly executed and at times confusing to the reader. There is a general lack of balance between narrative and dialogue, to keep reader interest, as well as an inconsistency in the spelling of character names.

While A Week is Not Forever requires some reworking to reach its full potential, it is nevertheless a meaningful emotional journey focusing on a number of timely issues, and a unique tale of romance.