Reviews

I don’t totally know how to describe everything that this book is, because it’s so many different things at once and has so many deeply important, emotional aspects that you just have to read to feel for yourself.

I really love how unapologetic and shameless the writing and depictions of everything are. So much of literature seems to be about hiding things behind fancy ways of saying things, but with subjects like the ones in this book, it can be so much more effective to abandon that, especially due to all the propaganda in the media with relation to Israel's actions against Palestine for the past 75 years. Palestinians shouldn’t have to hide their true feelings in order to get them heard, and I feel like this book mixed beautiful writing, emotion, and information really well. Because of how unique this aspect of the book was, I can tell that the writing and tone from this book will stick with me.

I also adore how vivid, unique, and complete all the characters are. It allows the book to tackle so many different things and makes the interactions so much more interesting because nobody is the same and the portrayals don’t rely on stereotypes. I think it’s really beautiful how all the diverse intertwined stories weave together through the story in realistic yet demonstrative ways.

Most of my critiques are common for the style of work. Mainly, there was a lot of telling instead of showing at times, but that makes sense because it’s supposed to be a reflection on the narrator’s life, and also a lot of things needed to be stated explicitly for a variety of reasons. So much also happens in this book, and I think some more emphasis on certain things could have made it a bit more cohesive at times, but then again that could just be the style and the fact that I spread out the reading for this a bit.

I feel like I should write more, but the book speaks for itself and I really don’t have the words. Perhaps another time…

amandaformby's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

jazzzzzis's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny informative 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? No

5.0

This is a sweeping story of Nahr, who recounts her life while in Israeli detention.

It is bleak, it is beautiful, it is tragic, it is hopeful, it is dark, and it is full of love. It also follows history within SWANA and Palestine in particular. Nahr refuses to let the world tell her story and is unapologetic in her choices and her life. It was really awe-inspiring to see her scrappiness, her resourcefulness, her love, and her growth throughout the book. She truly is a revolutionary, in the way that she is a dancer. The love Bilal and Nahr hold is so stunningly pure and beautiful. I really am moved by it, especially because it feels to real.

The writing style is very straightforward and bare, it truly does feel like a woman recounting her life. I won’t lie sometimes the writing style took me out of it at times, but the narrative was so gripping that getting back in was no problem.

beyondmonkey's review

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challenging emotional inspiring 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

4.5

rmacfarlane93's review

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5.0

This book was such a great read - captivating and harrowing all at the same time. I think the story is written beautifully and whilst it does bounce from the present day back to the main story - it is done in a way that allows you to follow it quite easily and when it got to the end, I desperately wanted there to be more book.

I will be following up with a light hearted book next week as there are alot of triggering story lines but overall I loved it. It was recommended to me and I'm so glad!