A hilariously uplifting memoir by a half-Lebanese Catholic American
SNAKE HIPS follows an Arab-American woman’s life as she shimmies her way from getting dumped by her tattoo-artist boyfriend to coming to grips with being single, ample, and 30. Her heart broken, Soffee moves back home to wallow in self-pity. There she comes across a flier advertising the usual classes in yoga, vegetarian cookery, ballet and...belly dancing. Against the wishes of her extended family and friends, she enrols, hoping to heal her heart and reconnect with her Lebanese roots.
Soffee soon discovers that her life will never be the same after she enters the riotous world of belly dancing, a warm and welcoming subculture where younger and thinner are not necessarily better. Soffee’s ethnic high leads to Princess Jasmine fantasies – for example, being ‘third-favourite wife’ to a sheik she is cyber-dating, a perfect relationship until she realizes that being obedient is easier online. Then she falls for a beautiful Lebanese boy-next-door. Among the zils (finger cymbals) and thrills of performing in moose lodges and county fairs, Soffee is surprised to find happiness and true love along the way.
Author Biography
Anne Thomas Soffee was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She was educated at the College of William and Mary and received an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her hips were educated at Scheherezade’s, Sheva’s and ZZ’s Schools of Belly Dance. In the past, she has been employed as a bookseller, gas station attendant, heavy metal band wrangler, freelance music journalist, tattoo parlour lackey, and voiceover actress for kung fu movies. She now teaches special education.
Reviews
A hip, funny and uplifting memoir',Toss the Prozac and grab a tambourine – I very much like Soffee’s idea that a woman can belly dance her way out of heartache,Be sure to read this memoir before it gets made into a movie
