Egypt

Memoirs of a Woman Doctor by Nawal El Saadawi, translated from Arabic by Catherine Cobham was published by Saqi Books.

El Saadawi tells the story of a woman from her childhood to adulthood, charting choices that allow her to work in a very traditional culture that has other expectations of girls and women. This was a short book, very pointed but emotional, focusing strongly on the feelings of this working woman. It is told entirely from her perspective and it has a quiet power and radicalism.

It was difficult to find a contemporary Egyptian novel written by a woman though I am sure there are many, so instead I chose this late 20th century novel, written around the same time as the North Korean story I've previously read.