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laurynkelly's review
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Rape, Torture, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Gun violence and Grief
Minor: Islamophobia
This is a well written text about a Palestinian journalist who tries to uncover the story of young Arab girl who was killed by Israeli soldiers in 1948. It contextualises the Palestinian struggle well and is an important and informative read for our current times. Shibli viscerally portrays the trauma that war and genocide can have on humans.amschelly153's review
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Devastating. Enlightening. Courageous. Shocking. Real and horrible and I don’t believe I’ll be the same after this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
emily_mh's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a harrowing story about the horrors of settler-colonial violence, one that makes clear that these aren’t a thing of the past and that they will keep repeating so long as the settler-colonial state exists.
The simple writing style employed here is incredibly effective, allowing the reader to look beyond the denotative to the connotative. There was so much to think about, such as the potential insect metaphor for the futility and brutality of colonisation found in the first part (I could be wrong with this interpretation). Also, and I may again be off the mark here, but I believe the only time direct speech was used was when an Israeli character was glorifying the settler-colonialism of Israel. I thought this was significant, as it suggests that even within her own story, the Palestinian main character’s voice is given less weight (through indirect speech) than her oppressors, again illustrating the ills of settler-colonialism. There are countless more examples of deeper meaning to be found.
The book being split into two parts was another skilful choice as it provided the opportunity for parallels which demonstrated, sickeningly, the repetition of settler-colonial violence as well as providing clear contrast between the voices of the Israeli military officer and the Palestinian civilian.
Gut-wrenching is not a strong enough word for this story. I could not put it down. Shibli did not deserve to have her ceremony cancelled. Read books by Palestinian authors!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Physical abuse, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Excrement