Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
Originally written in Arabic by Adania Shibli in 2017, its award ceremony was canceled by the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2023, because of the ongoing genocide being carried out by Israel in Palestine. This decision was made by a German literary association šš¼š.
One word: groundbreaking!!! šš I canāt even describe it š„¹ this book only has two parts, and as soon as you get into part two, itās just pure tension and nothing else! Until the ending thatā¦ š«Øš«Ø oh well š
Honestly, reading this made me feel so much more educated about āwhatā has been happeningānot just whatās happening now, but everything that has happened up to this point (from the Nakba to the present). Itās just heartbreaking. I need a moment to process alias bengong sejenak š
A haunting and elucidative read. This is a novella split into two parts - the first describes the rape and murder of a 12 year old Palestinian-Bedouin girl in 1949; the second follows a modern-day woman obsessed with uncovering the true nature of this crime. Throughout the book, seemingly trivial details become chilling reminders of the horrifying offense, and of Israelās inhumane occupation of Palestine.
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I appreciate the subject matter and am deliberately seeking out books from a Palestinian perspective. However, it didnāt land for me, mainly because it was a conscious stream of consciousness, which stylistically isnāt to my taste. .
It reminded me of the Urghur memoir: Waiting To Be Arrested At Night. Slow, subtle, eerieā¦ it depicts an ever-present apprehension and fear that something terrible could happen. Its important to share these stories and (personally speaking) makes for ann uncomfortable read. It is hard to comprehend how it must actually feel to live in such circumstances.
Part 1 from the Israeli soldierās perspective was slow. The bite that is infected and the paranoia over the insects in his room - is that supposed to be a foreshadowing of the things to come with the Israeli settlement of Palestine?
Part 2 follows the journalist with an obsession over the āminor detailā of history during the Nakba. The risks taken by the protagonist are seemingly unnecessary, as she eventually says herself, the expedition didnāt result in anything she couldnāt have found out on the internet from the safety of her home. Itās unsettling to follow her as she goes deeper and deeper across a border that she isnāt allowed to cross. But there must be a deep pull toward autonomy of movement that is hard to quell despite the known danger of such a journey.
Ultimately, I didnāt enjoy reading it. But I appreciate what it was trying to do.
It reminded me of the Urghur memoir: Waiting To Be Arrested At Night. Slow, subtle, eerieā¦ it depicts an ever-present apprehension and fear that something terrible could happen. Its important to share these stories and (personally speaking) makes for ann uncomfortable read. It is hard to comprehend how it must actually feel to live in such circumstances.
Part 1 from the Israeli soldierās perspective was slow. The bite that is infected and the paranoia over the insects in his room - is that supposed to be a foreshadowing of the things to come with the Israeli settlement of Palestine?
Part 2 follows the journalist with an obsession over the āminor detailā of history during the Nakba. The risks taken by the protagonist are seemingly unnecessary, as she eventually says herself, the expedition didnāt result in anything she couldnāt have found out on the internet from the safety of her home. Itās unsettling to follow her as she goes deeper and deeper across a border that she isnāt allowed to cross. But there must be a deep pull toward autonomy of movement that is hard to quell despite the known danger of such a journey.
Ultimately, I didnāt enjoy reading it. But I appreciate what it was trying to do.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
āBesides, sometimes itās inevitable for the past to be forgotten, especially if the present is no less horrificā
And that is exactly why we read about the on going genocide of the Palestinian. We canāt let people forget how horrific their situations are.
Minor Detail unfolds a story about a men journey to find out about what really happened on the raping and killing of a Palestinian girl years ago. But besides that, it actually also tells about whatās it like to live under occupation in Palestine. Itās hard to read but also a necessary (and a short) one. A must read for sure.
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Heartbreaking but an important read for everyone.
sad
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Short but difficult read.
The first half follows the point of view from a commanding officer of the Israeli occupying army a year after the Nakba, 1949, and the second half takes place in what feels like early 2000's and follows a Palestinian reporter trying to solve a mystery caused by said CO.
The commanding officer is heinous. The deeds depicted are absolutely atrocious and true to what many Bedouin, Arab, Palestinian women of the time faced. I was physically ill through most of the two stories and the end had me in furious tears. It was so difficult to read knowing this is rooted in reality, the weight of the importance is tangible despite the size of this novella.
A relentlessly true story that is approachable enough to get people to read the daily reality Palestinians have been subjected to.
The first half follows the point of view from a commanding officer of the Israeli occupying army a year after the Nakba, 1949, and the second half takes place in what feels like early 2000's and follows a Palestinian reporter trying to solve a mystery caused by said CO.
The commanding officer is heinous. The deeds depicted are absolutely atrocious and true to what many Bedouin, Arab, Palestinian women of the time faced. I was physically ill through most of the two stories and the end had me in furious tears. It was so difficult to read knowing this is rooted in reality, the weight of the importance is tangible despite the size of this novella.
A relentlessly true story that is approachable enough to get people to read the daily reality Palestinians have been subjected to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation