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bahoulie's review
2.0
I cannot bring myself to read this book. Makes me a bad person, but it is what it is.
brew_and_books's review
3.0
Memoirs, historical chronicles, and biographies have become my go-to genres lately, and 'Night Draws Near' is a standout gem. As a Lebanese American journalist, Shadid dives deep into the heart of the Iraq war, giving us a raw and authentic perspective from the everyday Iraqi folks. This book had me hooked from the start—a gripping and eye-opening account that pulls back the curtain on what life is really like during war.
What blew me away was Shadid's incredible access to people from all walks of life in Iraq. Their interviews, especially when you reflect on them now, are mind-blowingly accurate in predicting how the conflict would unfold over the years after the invasion.
Shadid doesn't hold back in showing the devastating impact of years of bloodshed, violence, dictatorship, and years of sanctions on regular people's lives. It's a heart-wrenching narrative that contrasts the vibrant history of Baghdad with its current state of ruin. The destruction caused by the occupation is just mind-boggling, and it's hard to fathom how a place so culturally rich has been left in shambles.
I can't stress enough how enlightening and eye-opening 'Night Draws Near' has been for me. It's expanded my understanding of Iraq and the broader Middle East in ways I never imagined. If you're looking for a thought-provoking and captivating read, this book is an absolute treasure.
What blew me away was Shadid's incredible access to people from all walks of life in Iraq. Their interviews, especially when you reflect on them now, are mind-blowingly accurate in predicting how the conflict would unfold over the years after the invasion.
Shadid doesn't hold back in showing the devastating impact of years of bloodshed, violence, dictatorship, and years of sanctions on regular people's lives. It's a heart-wrenching narrative that contrasts the vibrant history of Baghdad with its current state of ruin. The destruction caused by the occupation is just mind-boggling, and it's hard to fathom how a place so culturally rich has been left in shambles.
I can't stress enough how enlightening and eye-opening 'Night Draws Near' has been for me. It's expanded my understanding of Iraq and the broader Middle East in ways I never imagined. If you're looking for a thought-provoking and captivating read, this book is an absolute treasure.
jess_segraves's review
4.0
I read this book for a class called America's 21st Century Wars; it was selected to provide students with a different perspective on how the war in Iraq has affected Iraqi citizens and society. Written by a Lebanese American, it may surprise people in how not biased it is. Shadid interviews people from all backgrounds, classes, and perspectives. He provides quite good coverage of people's experiences and emotions during the invasion and occupation. I'd recommend this to anyone who's interested in current events, but wants to read something that isn't too dense or overly political.
aartireadsalot's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.25
bobuva's review
5.0
I'm about one-third through this book and feel compelled to start writing about it. This is the story of the war in Iraq and its aftermath from the point of view of the people of Iraq, on the ground, innocent, and helpless. The late Anthony Shadid "embedded" himself, not in the military ranks, but among the helpless people of Baghdad as the war began and throughout its aftermath. He skillfully embued his story through the stories of ordinary, and some extraordinary, Iraqis who lived through the calamity of war. For example, a fourteen-year-old girl kept a diary starting around the beginning of the war and it is through some quotations from that diary that Shadid explained the mindset of this child and of the people of Baghdad. It would be poignant were it not that THIS WAS A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL LIVING THROUGH THE HELL OF WAR!
Some of you who will read this know that I enjoy reading stories of World War II. Having been born eleven years after that war ended, I was enough removed from it, yet strongly influenced by veteran and historian's accountings, to relish the bravery of soldiers and to appreciate the importance of responding to tyrants early. Reading Night Draws Near broadens my understanding of war and its effects on ordinary people. It's not that I was naive. It is that, given a choice whether or not to invade Iraq, the US used its best marketing of the American people to accomplish only one goal -- the removal of a tyrant. It completely and utterly failed to consider the millions of people on the ground in Iraq and how to reconstruct that country! As an engineer used to thinking problems through, risk assessment and planning, I have to wonder who had the ear of the President at that time. It certainly does not seem like it was anyone who understood Iraqi culture and was serious about rebuilding the country.
Now, having finished the book, I can only recommend this as an example of the highest level of journalism. Shadid was able to take a complex, unpredictable situation and environment and explain it beautifully, but tragically, through the lens of the people of Baghdad and its environs. An incredible book.
Some of you who will read this know that I enjoy reading stories of World War II. Having been born eleven years after that war ended, I was enough removed from it, yet strongly influenced by veteran and historian's accountings, to relish the bravery of soldiers and to appreciate the importance of responding to tyrants early. Reading Night Draws Near broadens my understanding of war and its effects on ordinary people. It's not that I was naive. It is that, given a choice whether or not to invade Iraq, the US used its best marketing of the American people to accomplish only one goal -- the removal of a tyrant. It completely and utterly failed to consider the millions of people on the ground in Iraq and how to reconstruct that country! As an engineer used to thinking problems through, risk assessment and planning, I have to wonder who had the ear of the President at that time. It certainly does not seem like it was anyone who understood Iraqi culture and was serious about rebuilding the country.
Now, having finished the book, I can only recommend this as an example of the highest level of journalism. Shadid was able to take a complex, unpredictable situation and environment and explain it beautifully, but tragically, through the lens of the people of Baghdad and its environs. An incredible book.
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