Snake Hips Belly Dancing & How I Found True Love

This hilariously uplifting memoir follows an Arab–American womans merry life as she shimmies her way from getting dumped by her tattoo-artist boyfriend to coming to grips with being single, ample, and 30. In the tradition of Bridget Joness Diary but true, this uniquely American story is filled with colorful characters such as Rosie, the corn-rowed truck-driving belly dancer; Fahed, cologne-doused rich loser; Too-Tall Mary, a member of an amateur belly dancing troupe; and Gimmel, the authors Jewish great-uncle. While searching online for a sexy sheik to save her from her lackluster existence, Soffee finds a belly dancing class in a catalog and, against the wishes of her Lebanese–American extended family, enrolls in an attempt to find her roots and heal her heart. Her life will never be the same as she discovers the riotous world of American belly dancing, a warm and welcoming subculture where younger and thinner are not necessarily better. Surprised to find happiness among the zils and trills of attending classes and performing in moose lodges and county fairs, she finds true love along the way.

“Told with honesty, humility, and hilarity.”  —USA Today

“A hilarious, sometimes embarrassingly revealing memoir.”  —The New York Times

“Toss the Prozac and grab a tambourine—I very much like Soffees idea that a woman can belly dance her way out of heartache.”  —Tom Robbins, author, Skinny Legs and ALL and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

“Full of belly laughs.”  —People

“Her prose sparkles and teases.”  —The Boston Globe

“Its a hoot.”  —The Virginian-Pilot

“Snake Hips is a hip, funny, and uplifting memoir . . . the perfect pick-me-up for the newly single.”  —Grace magazine

“Fascinating.”  —Bust magazine

“Hilarious.”  —Publishers Weekly

“Finally a warm, smart, edgy, truthful, hilarious account of the true-to-life adventures of a Lebanese wild woman.”  —Kathy Najimy, actress

This hilariously uplifting memoir follows an Arab American womans merry life as she shimmies her way from getting dumped by her tattoo-artist boyfriend to coming to grips with being single, ample, and 30. Feeling lost and heartbroken, Anne Thomas Soffee moves back home to Richmond, Virginia. Against the wishes of her extended family and friends, she enrolls in a belly dancing class hoping to heal her heart and reconnect with her Lebanese roots. Her life is never the same after she discovers the riotous world of American belly dancing, a warm and welcoming subculture where younger and thinner are not necessarily better. Wildly funny adventures ensue as a newly confident Soffee embarks on romantic adventures with a domineering sheik and a beautiful Lebanese boy-next-door. Among the zils (finger cymbals) and thrills of attending classes and performing in moose lodges and county fairs, Soffee is surprised to find happiness and true love along the way. This replaces 1556524587.

Anne Thomas Soffee is a belly dancer and special education teacher. She has been employed as a bookseller, gas station attendant, heavy metal band wrangler, freelance music journalist, tattoo parlor lackey, and voiceover actress for kung fu movies. She lives in Richmond, Virginia.