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kirsten0929's review
4.0
[2017] [Translated from Arabic] notes to self...novella, atmospheric - dry, desert, heat, sand, repetitive, two stories: 1949 and present, really interesting character struggling with boundaries. Inspired me to learn more about the Israeli-Palestinian relationship history.
adrianr's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
jacob818's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
vrunda's review against another edition
5.0
Minor detail by Adania Shibli is one of the most harrowing reads for me. The book is written in two parts, the first one recounts the real life events of the gang rape of a (possibly minor) Bedouin girl by israeli soldiers in the august of 1949. They also further kill her, and bury her in the sand. The second part of the book is set in present. It is about a fictional palestinian woman who gets obsessed with the case of this gang rape and sets herself in the path towards discovering the truth.
I think no matter how much I try to put it into words, I won't be able to truly encapsulate how much of a silent gut punch, as well as a scream of resistance this book is. The writing was absolutely impeccable.
"Besides, sometimes it’s inevitable for the past to be forgotten, especially if the present is no less horrific."
This book is filled with allegories, metaphors, and narrative differences. In the first part, the man is bitten by a spider and is slowly getting infected and getting worse. I interpret it to be a metaphor for how horrific his actions seem to get along with the wound. The putrid smell in his hut, the infectious bite on his thigh, all of it is him. And he can't get rid of the smell or infection because the dirtiness lives within him, and around him. The narration of this first part is done so well, time is moving very slowly, but there is a warning in the air that something is about to happen. It is made so difficult to read this knowing that the events are real, and that this is probably a drop in the ocean where worst things keep happening.
In the second part, which is set in the present times, told from the perspective of a palestinian woman, is the other side of the coin which, unfortunately, brings events to a full circle. The narrative style of this part is so much different than the first one. It feels like the time is moving very fast, and everything is normal, even though the danger lurks right in front of our eyes. It shows in real time, how it is to live in an occupied territory. Most basic tasks like buying groceries or going to another place or renting a car are not to avail easily. It angered me and humbled me at the same time. The author shows the woman to be neurodivergent who focuses on the minor details. The narration of this part also forces the reader to take the 'minor details' into account as the title suggests. The parallels between both timelines were done so beautifully they bordered on horror. The dog, the desert, the camels, the girl, the hills, the mirage.
This book demands empathy, but doesn't give it to the reader. Such an horrifying tale written in such a beautiful narration. The irony of the perspective of both the oppressor and the oppressed reading the words "Man, not the tank, shall prevail". This was an act of protest and voice for the many others lost. A literary masterpiece.
I think no matter how much I try to put it into words, I won't be able to truly encapsulate how much of a silent gut punch, as well as a scream of resistance this book is. The writing was absolutely impeccable.
"Besides, sometimes it’s inevitable for the past to be forgotten, especially if the present is no less horrific."
This book is filled with allegories, metaphors, and narrative differences. In the first part, the man is bitten by a spider and is slowly getting infected and getting worse. I interpret it to be a metaphor for how horrific his actions seem to get along with the wound. The putrid smell in his hut, the infectious bite on his thigh, all of it is him. And he can't get rid of the smell or infection because the dirtiness lives within him, and around him. The narration of this first part is done so well, time is moving very slowly, but there is a warning in the air that something is about to happen. It is made so difficult to read this knowing that the events are real, and that this is probably a drop in the ocean where worst things keep happening.
In the second part, which is set in the present times, told from the perspective of a palestinian woman, is the other side of the coin which, unfortunately, brings events to a full circle. The narrative style of this part is so much different than the first one. It feels like the time is moving very fast, and everything is normal, even though the danger lurks right in front of our eyes. It shows in real time, how it is to live in an occupied territory. Most basic tasks like buying groceries or going to another place or renting a car are not to avail easily. It angered me and humbled me at the same time. The author shows the woman to be neurodivergent who focuses on the minor details. The narration of this part also forces the reader to take the 'minor details' into account as the title suggests. The parallels between both timelines were done so beautifully they bordered on horror. The dog, the desert, the camels, the girl, the hills, the mirage.
This book demands empathy, but doesn't give it to the reader. Such an horrifying tale written in such a beautiful narration. The irony of the perspective of both the oppressor and the oppressed reading the words "Man, not the tank, shall prevail". This was an act of protest and voice for the many others lost. A literary masterpiece.
mary_dreamy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
soovlaki's review against another edition
4.0
"I keep listening, my ears trained to the sound of repeated bombings, and I feel a strange closeness with Gaza, as well as a desire to hear the shelling from nearby, and to touch motes of dust from the buildings being bombed."
devieyes's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0