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Biography tells interesting story of Olds College instructor

This is a very readable biography of a young naive American girl, who left home to go to University in Tucson in 1962 and, through innocence and happenstance, fell in love with an Algerian Muslim student.
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Bend Like the Willow:

A Tale of an Arab Promise

By Susan Glasier

$24.75

This is a very readable biography of a young naive American girl, who left home to go to University in Tucson in 1962 and, through innocence and happenstance, fell in love with an Algerian Muslim student.

Susan’s mother had always been a “take-charge” type. Someone who, having missed out on many opportunities in her own life, wants Susan to be popular and successful at university. Susan is bookish and a good student but socially unprepared for the freedom involved in life on campus. Her roommate is the complete opposite of Susan; she invites Susan to the bar and she warns her about the “brown boys” who sit in a certain area in the lounge.

Of course Susie does meet one of those “brown boys,” named Mohamed Chaabane. “Mo” believes, from the talk of his friends, that all American girls are of easy virtue, so he pursues this new girlfriend. She is very innocent.

Her mother has told her many times to be a good girl, but has clearly not been specific enough.

Although her parents have travelled throughout the world, they are quite intolerant and have often told their daughter who would be a “suitable” friend.

Now, when Susie finds she is pregnant, her parents, although upset, make the best of the situation and grudgingly accept Mo as a son-in-law.

Mo is, first and foremost, an Algerian. His country and its troubled politics are what is important.

He has come to an American university to train in agriculture, and his plan is to go back home following graduation.

There are many books written about unsuccessful cross-culture marriages, with details of abuse by husbands. This is not that kind of story. Mo is educated and he loves Susie.

He wins the affection of her parents. He puts no pressure on her to become Muslim or to wear the veil. He prides himself on being modern.

Susie gives birth to a girl and a boy, the university study is finished and it is time for the family to go to Algeria. Susan’s parents are sad but resigned. It is time to go “home.”

The author goes back into history and relates the story of Mo’s family. Susan and the children become part of this large clan. There are uncles and cousins and exotic food and big parties. She is mostly accepted by the family. Many times she must “bend like a willow.”

When war breaks out in June 1967, Susan and the children fly home to America, but they plan to go back to Mo again. Her mother, however, is not finished running her life and they cannot return.

Susan and her children eventually moved to Canada, where she was employed as an instructor at Olds College.

This very long but interesting book was written largely for her children but is well worth reading. It can be purchased for $24.75 from www.ShopPagemaster.ca.

Peggy Freeman is a local freelance books reviewer.