Catriona Ferguson reviews The Occasional Virgin by Hanan al-Shaykh, which is published by Bloomsbury.
"Huda and Yvonne grew up in Lebanon, balancing their hopes and dreams with the expectations of their families. Now in their thirties they have escaped their upbringing and are attempting to shake off their past. The Occasional Virgin is a frank examination of how women deal with their history and take control of their destiny."