You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
This is a Palestinian author, and this is a two part narrative, translated in 2020. The first part follows an unnamed soldier (presumably IDF, never explicitly stated) in 1949 setting up a checkpoint at the Egyptian border and essentially committing war crimes, including the rape/murder of a Palestinian girl. The second part has a modern Palestinian protagonist who investigates that rape/murder because it shares the same date as her birthday, and the plot follows her struggles to navigate the search given the heavy restrictions Palestinians live under in occupied Gaza. This is a controversial book—it won some awards then got them taken away when it was accused of being antisemitic propaganda. I didn’t get that vibe. Speaking out against Israel’s occupation of Gaza is frequently equated with being antisemitic, and the text was understandably critical. This is a translated work, so the narrative flow feels clunky in places. The first part read more like a traumatic parable than a story I could invest in, and motives of the narrator in the second part were implausible. But I don’t think those were the top priorities. I think the author’s goal was to show what life is like for Palestinians. The writing that gets out of Gaza is hyper controlled and minimal. And they’re voices we need to hear. From a literary standpoint, this wasn’t stellar, but it’s content that I would recommend to anyone seeking to diversify their reading content/gain insight on current events. It’s very timely.
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Loved the amount of insight it provides on the occupation but did that ending upset me (not in a sad way.)
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Deeply tense, painful, and thought provoking. The way the two authors engage with their worlds from outsider and sometimes discomforting mentalities heightens the devastating subtext that lingers in your mind
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fucking brutal. No doubt an incredible translation. Love the recurring motifs - the dogs, the insects, the self-cleansing - even if they could mean a hundred different things. Love the change in narration style between the two chapters. Hate the way chapter two SHOULD be describing a fictional dystopia and not the reality of living in occupied Palestine even before Israel started actively committing genocide.