Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

24 reviews

tahsintries's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Colonisation, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, War, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Confinement, Child death, Abortion, and Classism

nenaveenstra's review against another edition

dark informative reflective 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? No

3.5

 I’m struggling to write this review. Obviously this book is very well-loved, which is in part of why I read it - the other reason why I picked it up is because I wanted to learn more about the Israel-Palestina situation, and it definitely achieved that. But I found myself feeling bored, having to force myself to pick the book back up whenever I had put it down. I am relieved now that it’s finished and get to move on to something else. 

Part of the reason why is the writing style. It is often very matter-of-fact, and filled with a lot of dialogue. I was confused about the timeline, and it was like the narrator was floating above the characters, observing the situation from afar rather than living - and feeling - it, which is weird, because Nahr is our narrator, and she has supposedly lived it all. As a result, I found it hard to distinguish the characters from each other - I had to consciously label them in my head as ‘the brother’, ‘the pimp’, ‘the wife of …’, etc. - and to empathize with them. 

I could sympathize, though, as Nahr obviously lives through very messed up situations. I think this book succeeded in teaching us about Muslim culture and the hardships Palestinians have to endure time and time again, treated as an impostor, even in their own country. It might not have hit me emotionally as much as I had hoped, but I still think people should read it, if only to understand why we should call for a ceasefire. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Death and War

Minor: Child death

issy_jacob's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Homophobia, Grief, Gun violence, Child death, Sexual assault, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Blood, Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Animal death, Infertility, and Genocide

Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use

Minor: Addiction and Vomit

chi__'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, War, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Rape, Cancer, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, and Miscarriage

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

5.0

This book is full of heart. Of longing, displacement, confinement, tragedy, love, heartbreak, horrors, revolt, strength, emotion, grace, dignity, humanity, inhumanity, honesty, empathy, and I (clearly) could go on.
The story it tells is utterly profound, and I am so grateful to have read it. All the horrors of occupation, oppression, misogyny, murder and injustices included - bc it is the truth.
I was infuriated by the violence and volatile, undignified humiliation tactics and pure evil that Palestinians face.
What a historical, enlightening and powerful tale.
There were maybe two pages that I wanted to move past a bit quicker, but I was completely spellbound by the complexity (simply put) of love and life from the perspective that we are afforded with this novel.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Blood, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Gun violence, Homophobia, Genocide, Body horror, Grief, Outing, Child death, Torture, Vomit, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Murder

milanaradic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual assault, Abortion, Child death, Homophobia, Gun violence, and Racism

jassiecones's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This tore me to pieces and put me back together in a way I can’t fully express. A harrowing story that I will never forget

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Blood, Child death, Gun violence, Cursing, and Torture

cosycorvid's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Sexual content, Deportation, Alcohol, Rape, War, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Infidelity, Death of parent, Dementia, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, Genocide, Grief, Domestic abuse, Torture, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Islamophobia, Infertility, Child death, Death, Colonisation, Murder, Medical content, Xenophobia, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Pregnancy, and Cursing

jordanrisa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

A story that immediately sucks you in, following rich, complex and unapologetic characters who live in the gray area of good and bad in a world that demands you see them as only the latter. It’s a journey through Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine and eventually, a prison in Israel. It is full of history and perspectives often untold. And at the heart of this story, is one of love — of self, of family and of deep, intimate romance. 

It is one I highly recommend — one that will challenge and also enrich you. I couldn’t put it down.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Trafficking, Rape, Child death, Sexual violence, Colonisation, and Sexual assault

anna_wa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Violence, Confinement, Trafficking, Medical content, Rape, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Hate crime, War, Child death, Genocide, Sexual assault, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Antisemitism, Homophobia, Vomit, and Excrement