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pearsandmangoes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
See... this was a wonderfully written book. A great book. Susan Abulhawa is a fantistic writer. But even more so. It is a book about the daily realities of Palestinians. Especially with what is going on in Gaza today, it is important to remember to support Palestinians and their fight for liberation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Rape, Terminal illness, Violence, and War
thewitchsreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Ik wilde voor deze Asian Readathon ook graag een boek van een Palestijnse auteur lezen.
De eerste paar hoofdstukken moest ik er even in komen, maar toen gebeurde er echt zoiets heftigs in het boek dat ik niet kon stoppen met huilen. Vanaf dat punt moest ik gewoon doorlezen. Susan schuwt grafische omschrijvingen niet, dus zeker een TW daarvoor. Daarentegen is het ook nodig om grafisch te zijn, want dat is nou eenmaal wat oorlog is.
Enige minpuntje vond ik dat ik soms zinnen een paar keer moest lezen om ze taaltechnisch te begrijpen, maar dat kan ook aan de vertaling liggen.
Dit boek heeft me ontzettend ontroerd en aangegrepen, helemaal met de oorlog die nog altijd gaande is in Gaza.
#freepalestina
De eerste paar hoofdstukken moest ik er even in komen, maar toen gebeurde er echt zoiets heftigs in het boek dat ik niet kon stoppen met huilen. Vanaf dat punt moest ik gewoon doorlezen. Susan schuwt grafische omschrijvingen niet, dus zeker een TW daarvoor. Daarentegen is het ook nodig om grafisch te zijn, want dat is nou eenmaal wat oorlog is.
Enige minpuntje vond ik dat ik soms zinnen een paar keer moest lezen om ze taaltechnisch te begrijpen, maar dat kan ook aan de vertaling liggen.
Dit boek heeft me ontzettend ontroerd en aangegrepen, helemaal met de oorlog die nog altijd gaande is in Gaza.
#freepalestina
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and War
Moderate: Sexual assault
afrathefish's review against another edition
4.5
4.5
this book couldn’t be more poignant, especially considering that it looks at the lives of palestinians in gaza specifically. when applied to today’s context… yeah. yeah.
abulhawa writes with such vivid candor that lends itself perfectly to this type of narrative. following several generations of families originating from gaza but finding themselves across the world, this book directly recounts the realities of being palestinian in todays world, how israel’s expansion has worked and how it carries out its colonial efforts, and the specific feeling that you don’t have a place to go back to , that is distinctly palestinian, as more and more of their land gets illegally taken from them. the day to day liberties that they are denied, and how these experiences culminate into an existence defined by struggle. it also depicts the small joys, and how those joys come about. abulhawa also perfectly describes the role of religion in enduring these experiences, and as such, how religion comes to define and dictate a community. you see such dynamics play out in the west, but in much different circumstances. the subtle nuances caught in the writing also gives one much to think about. referring to the israelis as “the jews”, and what this means for the wider conflict … . abulhawa also writes with such vividness; every character felt real, tangible, and it’s what made these experiences feel so much more harrowing. you felt the horror when things were happening. and the ending . oh my god. how beautifully poetic. whenever i now think of gaza i think oh it as the space existing within the blue between the sky and water.
the only issue i had with it were specific triggers, but i guess that was on me for not reading them up before.
this book couldn’t be more poignant, especially considering that it looks at the lives of palestinians in gaza specifically. when applied to today’s context… yeah. yeah.
abulhawa writes with such vivid candor that lends itself perfectly to this type of narrative. following several generations of families originating from gaza but finding themselves across the world, this book directly recounts the realities of being palestinian in todays world, how israel’s expansion has worked and how it carries out its colonial efforts, and the specific feeling that you don’t have a place to go back to , that is distinctly palestinian, as more and more of their land gets illegally taken from them. the day to day liberties that they are denied, and how these experiences culminate into an existence defined by struggle. it also depicts the small joys, and how those joys come about. abulhawa also perfectly describes the role of religion in enduring these experiences, and as such, how religion comes to define and dictate a community. you see such dynamics play out in the west, but in much different circumstances. the subtle nuances caught in the writing also gives one much to think about. referring to the israelis as “the jews”, and what this means for the wider conflict … . abulhawa also writes with such vividness; every character felt real, tangible, and it’s what made these experiences feel so much more harrowing. you felt the horror when things were happening. and the ending . oh my god. how beautifully poetic. whenever i now think of gaza i think oh it as the space existing within the blue between the sky and water.
the only issue i had with it were specific triggers, but i guess that was on me for not reading them up before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Torture, and War
niamhyjay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and War
Moderate: Pedophilia
dizzle_reads's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and War
linhsreadinghour's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Beautiful historical fiction novel about a multigenerational Palestinian family. Tells the story of from the Naqba all the way up to the present day when the book was first released, I think in 2014.
The writing is beautiful and the family’s daily life and struggles was seemingly interwoven into the narrative and story, casting a real reflection on life in occupied Gaza. Has disability rep, themes of grief, lost, but also sisterhood, resilience and hope. An illuminating book.
The writing is beautiful and the family’s daily life and struggles was seemingly interwoven into the narrative and story, casting a real reflection on life in occupied Gaza. Has disability rep, themes of grief, lost, but also sisterhood, resilience and hope. An illuminating book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
papayat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
lizziejem's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Beautiful, magical but sad book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child abuse and War
stmagda's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and War
kimreadwithme's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really loved this book, it’s beautiful and a wonderful story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and War