Hideous Kinky

A young English mother takes her two daughters to Morocco in the 1960s, leaving behind their conventional life in London. The family settles in Marrakech, where they live in basic accommodations and survive on a combination of dress-making income and sporadic support from the children's artist father back in England. The narrative follows their immersion in Moroccan culture through the perspective of the younger daughter. The mother pursues spiritual enlightenment through Sufism while her daughters adapt differently to their new environment - the elder sister seeking structure through education, while the younger child navigates between two worlds. The family's journey through Morocco becomes both a physical and spiritual quest, touching on themes of identity, belonging, and the tension between freedom and security. This semi-autobiographical work captures the complex dynamics of family relationships against the backdrop of cultural displacement and personal transformation.

Readers find this autobiographical novel captures the sensory details and child's-eye perspective of Morocco in the 1960s. Many note the dreamy, fragmented narrative style mirrors a young child's memories and observations. Readers appreciated: - Vivid descriptions of Moroccan life and culture - Authentic portrayal of a child's limited understanding - Unique perspective on unconventional parenting - Atmospheric writing that evokes time and place Common criticisms: - Lack of clear plot structure - Confusion about timeline and events - Desire for more insight into the mother's decisions - Too meandering and unfocused Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (4,900+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (120+ ratings) Multiple reviews describe it as "more of a series of impressions than a story." One reader noted: "Like childhood memories themselves - sometimes crystal clear, sometimes frustratingly vague." Several mentioned struggling with the narrative style but appreciating the sensory details and cultural observations.

The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles Through the story of three Americans traveling in North Africa, this book captures the same sense of Westerners immersed in and transformed by Moroccan culture.

In an Antique Land by Amitav Ghosh The account follows an Indian scholar living in Egyptian villages, presenting a similar exploration of cultural immersion and personal discovery in an unfamiliar Middle Eastern setting.

Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach A woman's solo journey through Europe mirrors the mother's quest for self-discovery and independence in an international setting.

Notes on a Foreign Country by Suzy Hansen This memoir of an American journalist in Turkey reflects comparable themes of cultural adjustment and questioning one's Western perspective.

The Places in Between by Rory Stewart The story of walking across Afghanistan presents raw cultural immersion and the navigation between different worlds in a manner that echoes the Moroccan experience in Hideous Kinky.

🌟 The book is based on Esther Freud's own childhood experiences when her mother took her and her sister to Morocco in 1969. 🌟 "Hideous Kinky" was adapted into a 1998 film starring Kate Winslet as the mother, released just one year after her role in Titanic. 🌟 The peculiar title comes from a phrase repeatedly used by the narrator's sister - the only two English words she would say during a particular phase of their Moroccan adventure. 🌟 Esther Freud is the great-granddaughter of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and the daughter of renowned British painter Lucian Freud. 🌟 The book's portrayal of Sufism and spiritual seeking reflects a larger cultural movement of Westerners traveling to Morocco in the 1960s and 70s, including figures like William S. Burroughs and The Beatles.