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murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Such a poignant, important story. Abulhawa’s characterisation and style is striking. I’ll be thinking about this book for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape
Minor: Homophobia
emk5's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Abortion
merenr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Exquisite book that is currently in my runnings for best read of the year (so far). Abulhawa captures multiple worlds with feeling and gorgeous prose that leaves my eyes watering or downpouring. It is rare that I read a book and cry at both happy and sad parts.
Abulhawa offers priceless insight into why people keep going, despite the suffering of the "Loveless World." After hearing this book lived in her head for twenty years, I treat its pages as a reassurance to my twenty-year-old self and beyond.
I must acknowledge that the real life stories of Palestinians and the Diaspora may not experience as much luck as Nahr, though I hate to call it that (that Bilal is still alive and she is able to reunite with her family and friend); this makes reading the ending ever more like a lingering aftertaste of sorrow and pain for all those in real life who are displaced, martyred, and living with severe trauma every day because of white supremacy, settler colonialism, Zionism, racism, etc. First of all, I hope people already regard Black and Brown lives as indispensable and infinitely precious, but if they don't, I hope they can pick up a book like this one, make a new friend, do the work, and become an accomplice to liberation.
Abulhawa offers priceless insight into why people keep going, despite the suffering of the "Loveless World." After hearing this book lived in her head for twenty years, I treat its pages as a reassurance to my twenty-year-old self and beyond.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, War, Homophobia, and Abortion
emersoncochran's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Abortion, Confinement, Cancer, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual assault
tsoutham's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is an incredibly sad story of a woman in solitary confinement and yet it was one of the best books I've read in a while. It's believable and shines light on the atrocities being committed by Israelis in Palestine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Rape, and Violence
johanna_st_john's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such a gorgeous book. The writing was enthralling. When I finished the last line, I cried out because the ending took me by surprise and I was so moved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
sophierachel's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very important read in the context of today. I felt saddened to read some parts as the situations for Palestinians is still the same and even worse. Please read this and let it take you to dark thoughts for a bit, knowing it’s 24/7 for Palestinians in Gaza and the Westbank today.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and War
tatooinesunrise's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A harrowing but such an incredibly important read that speaks volumes of the suffering but enduring beautiful spirit of Palestine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, Xenophobia, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Rape, War, and Confinement
alexwasalinko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Genocide
alexcribbs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Really beautiful and heart-breaking and unfortunately relevant. The author paints such vivid landscapes and characters in a way that will make them hard to forget.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Minor: Torture and Child death