Reviews

A Party for Thaera: Palestinian Women Write Life in Prison by Haifa Zangana

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pratiksha95's review

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

How random is life. I was called to office on a Saturday for some asinine administrative work. When I reached, to make matters worse, people were late! I sulked for a bit then went around looking for something to read- that's when I found this book on my colleague's table. It was a slim volume, and looked like something I could finish in an hour or so, and I almost did- finishing the last few pages at home.

What a wonderful wonderful piece of work- it's art. I want to frame some quotes like artwork but I have to instead trust my mind and heart to remember their words and how I feel right now. The ability of these Palestinian women prisoners to overcome all that is dark and suffocating about their experiences and struggle, about their immense personal losses- a youth behind bars, and pen down short stories / snapshots of their lives in prison is incredible. The foreword also mentions how they hesitate to write in Arabic, since it is a holy language for them and they must not commit errors. Given this, the endeavour is truly brilliant.

As I read their stories, I gained new perspectives - a few instances that stand out: one story where the women react indifferently when their 20 year sentences are pronounced, because they don't recognise the authority of the oppressive Israeli's 'justice' system; when they dress up wearing keffiyehs for their court appearance and make it a point to disrespect the judge; when they laugh and enjoy the rain even as they notice the jailor looking sad- does the jailor feel like a prisoner? That these women will leave one day but she must always remain here? Wow.

I must say- I feel so immensely indebted to all those upon whose shoulders we stand- as human beings, as women, as descendants of colonial subjects. The world is truly held together by the love, and I would add the courage & grit, of a few. We really need the stories of those incarcerated, to humanise them and make the world care. Despite being stories borne out of injustice, the authors have inspired me to continue fighting for the oppressed in a world where it's more convenient to look away. Has also reminded me how important it is to have more prisoners write about their experiences - to record them, to humanise them, to shake people up and spread the word about their life.

literaryaysh's review

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4.5

their stories keep the resistance alive.

zeef33's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense

zaryanna's review

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challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

4.25

Content Warnings

howard's review against another edition

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5.0

A quick but powerful read. Each essay was lyrical and moving in its own way. I appreciate all of these essays so much and the insight into the experience of formerly imprisoned women.