What People are Saying

“If you are looking for a story of true romance, punctuated with heartbreak, then this is the story for you. This book’s value, however, goes far beyond being an engrossing memoir. It cuts right to the heart of the mental pathology which drives the violence of so much of the Moslem world. Yeah, I said it! For this, you could not have a better eye-level, firsthand and personal account than that of Laila El-Sissi. She vividly describes a culture in which corrupted pride can trump the most fundamental love that any father should have for his daughter, or any brother for his sister, to the point that these are willing to savage the very ones they should most cherish and protect just for the sake of their delicate masculine egos. This is a tale that should be read, not just by romantics, but by world leaders trying to understand the dynamics of Middle East culture, a culture which licenses, under legal sanction no less, the aberrant pathology manifesting in fathers treating their own daughters like property, to be auctioned off as virtual sex slaves, to men often old enough to be their fathers, all under the rubric of marriage and tradition. You can’t cure a mental illness if you can’t even discuss the etiology of that illness. Ms. El-Sissi has opened the door for that discussion.”

December 31, 2014

Hi Laila! I’m reading your book now. Already in Chapter 10, and truly enjoying it. I love your writing style and voice.:) Your book keeps me awake till the wee hours of the morning. Can’t put it down. You have a good voice and it shows the sweet person you are. I’m sure this book will be a hit.

January 2, 2015

It’s 5am and I just finished your book. Wow!! You really kept the suspense going that I had to lose sleep to finish your book.:-)
What an incredible story or shall I say stories. The book is so rich with flavor that I envisioned this to be as successful as the Kite Runner.
I really sympathized with your story. There are themes of freedom and the power of love between sister. I was really routing for Ghassan. How sad! I want to know more after you left Lebanon and migrated to Canada.
All the characters in the book have such a rich voice. I truly loved the relationship between you and your sister and I feel so bad that she died.
Laila, you’ve lived such a bittersweet life and have been through so much tragedies and triumphs as well. Your story will touch a lot of women who suffered the same situation as you.
You deserve an award and recognition for this book, Laila.

December 31, 2014

Michele loaned me your “Out From The Shadow Of Men” memoir. I started last night and couldn’t close it until 5am this morning when I read the last drop. Compelling, absolutely. Historical, yes. And stomach churning at the very least. I haven’t gobbled up a book like that, other than those related to my work, in such a long time.
I want to say thank you for writing such a vivid and courageous story of your family life in Egypt. You and your dear sister are true Spirit Warriors in every sense of the word. To walk to the beat of your drum in a culture that sees girls and women as possessions – still – is so meaningful and brave.
 Although my cultural upbringing was strict – but nothing like what you experienced. I was called “The Rebel” in my family because I refused to walk their old fashioned and restrictive walk. Looking back and comparing, my walk was a piece of cake compared to yours.

“Some books are important. Some books you can’t put down. Out of the Shadows of Men is both. Laila El-Sissi has given us a ground-breaking memoir of two young sisters growing up in Egypt whose courage, devotion to each other, and struggle for their own autonomous lives will make you fall in love with them and remember their story forever.”

“Out of the Shadows of Men is a powerful story of a courageous young Egyptian girl who defies all odds of culture, religion and power to change her destiny. Laila El-Sissi’s story is captivating and meaningful and her writing is superb.”

“Out of the Shadows of Men takes readers into the mind and heart of a young woman battling against the odds within an oppressive family to gain her freedom and live the life of her dreams. Laila El-Sissi has given us a memoir written in a voice that’s unforgettable: it is the voice of a girl discovering her womanhood as she struggles to understand the conflict between her desires and the rules of her environment.”

“Out of the Shadows of Men takes readers into the mind and heart of a young woman battling against the odds within an oppressive family to gain her freedom and live the life of her dreams. Laila El-Sissi has given us a memoir written in a voice that’s unforgettable: it is the voice of a girl discovering her womanhood as she struggles to understand the conflict between her desires and the rules of her environment.”

“From the first time that Laila began to read her story to us at a Fremont Area Writers Open Mic Night a couple of years ago, I thought immediately that what I was hearing were the polished words of a published writer. Only when she was finished reading did we find out that this was her first book. Wow! Laila has the talent, drive, desire, and capability to go a long way in the publishing world. Her story captivated all of us that evening and should do the same to many readers worldwide.”

Congratulations on your award…

August 16, 2010

Dear Laila El-Sissi,

Congratulations on your Honorable Mention Award for your fine piece, “Out of Alexandria,” in the New Millennium Writings competition that closed January 31, 2010. Your name will appear on a special Awards page in our next issue of New Millennium Writings, 2011, due out in December, along with other finalists in our 29th Consecutive Awards. The winners and runners-up, including your entry, were selected from about 1,200 total submissions in four categories. The quality was high, and you should be proud of your accomplishment. We certainly are. Feel free to forward or copy this letter to anyone, to post it to blogs or paste it to other applications in order to print and or keep in a suitable format.

By August 31, we’ll contact any Honorable Mention winners we’d like to publish. You’ll receive your free copy of next year’s issue before the end of January.

In answer to other frequently asked questions, no, your good showing does not disqualify you from entering this or any other contest as often as you like, with this or any other work of your choosing. We accept non-contest general submissions in the months of January through March only. If you’re interested in our next contest, which has a deadline of Nov. 17, 2010, please visit our website at www.writingawards.com, now undergoing re-design, or follow guidelines below.

Mostly we just want to say we appreciate your interest in New Millennium Writings and the part you play in our success. Please tell others about us. Again, congratulations on your achievement.

Sincerely yours,
Don S. Williams