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4.57 AVERAGE
4.57 AVERAGE
An important book to read these days, a statement which I’ve learned in the past 100+ days, could mean any number of years since 1948. This book, part fact/part fiction broke my heart, and opened it too, to the enduring, tragic, compassionate, and hopeful lives of Palestinians. I thank this author for shining light on the strong family and land ties that a refugee weaves, often because of what they have lost.
Are the 1980s-2000s considered "historical fiction" now?
THIS BOOK. I managed not to cry until the acknowledgements. My rage held back my sadness until the author started talking about her friendship with Mame Lambeth. It reminded me so much of the relationship between Nahr and Um Buraq and then the tears. I cry a lot.
Nahr's story is about love, passion, loss, devastation, family, war, sacrifice, power, colonialism, and independence. It manages to beautifully bookend my 2020 reading.
THIS BOOK. I managed not to cry until the acknowledgements. My rage held back my sadness until the author started talking about her friendship with Mame Lambeth. It reminded me so much of the relationship between Nahr and Um Buraq and then the tears. I cry a lot.
Nahr's story is about love, passion, loss, devastation, family, war, sacrifice, power, colonialism, and independence. It manages to beautifully bookend my 2020 reading.
What took me so long to read this book?
I’m so grateful I finally read it, and with my BFF, Biblio Beth.
About the book: “A sweeping and lyrical novel that follows a young Palestinian refugee as she slowly becomes radicalized while searching for a better life for her family throughout the Middle East, for readers of international literary bestsellers including Washington Black, My Sister, The Serial Killer, and Her Body and Other Parties.”
Told in the present, with Nahr imprisoned in a state of the art jail cell, and in the past, following her early life in Kuwait, her time spent as a refugee in Jordan, and then when she visits Palestine, Against the Loveless World is a sweeping and powerful story. It goes to raw and dark places for Nahr, but the darkness isn’t what it’s about.
To me, it’s about the resilience of women, especially Muslim women. It’s about survival and family and love- all different types of love, and while it has a love story, my favorite focus was the one on self-love, as I observed Nahr develop love for herself and gradually open up and show more of her heart as that love deepened.
I’m grateful for a different perspective on conflict in the Middle East and how the story, though gritty and heartrending in places, inspires empathy and perhaps even hope.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I’m so grateful I finally read it, and with my BFF, Biblio Beth.
About the book: “A sweeping and lyrical novel that follows a young Palestinian refugee as she slowly becomes radicalized while searching for a better life for her family throughout the Middle East, for readers of international literary bestsellers including Washington Black, My Sister, The Serial Killer, and Her Body and Other Parties.”
Told in the present, with Nahr imprisoned in a state of the art jail cell, and in the past, following her early life in Kuwait, her time spent as a refugee in Jordan, and then when she visits Palestine, Against the Loveless World is a sweeping and powerful story. It goes to raw and dark places for Nahr, but the darkness isn’t what it’s about.
To me, it’s about the resilience of women, especially Muslim women. It’s about survival and family and love- all different types of love, and while it has a love story, my favorite focus was the one on self-love, as I observed Nahr develop love for herself and gradually open up and show more of her heart as that love deepened.
I’m grateful for a different perspective on conflict in the Middle East and how the story, though gritty and heartrending in places, inspires empathy and perhaps even hope.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So interesting in terms of setting, starting with the first gulf war from the perspective of Palestinians displaced to Kuwait. And then later, such a powerful depiction on life under occupation in Palestine in the second intifada. The subject matter was tough and told uncompromisingly. But Abulhawa knows how to tell a story and bring the balance you need to want to keep reading and spending time with her characters.
this book was so complex. it reminded me in parts of the handmaid's tale (particularly the bits in the cube), but of course it is so much closer to reality than the handmaid's tale/makes me think about how the fear in that story is drawn from pre-existing fear and horror. I love how family relationships and love in a 'loveless world' are portrayed so much, across time and space. nahr has truly been through so much and this was painful to read in places. while some things she says/others around her did were difficult to read and i wasn't sure if I personally agreed with them, the book does paint a picture of a societal context that lets you understand where these things come from. there is so much pain and injustice and anguish written throughout the fabric of this story and it truly does feel like a struggle against the loveless world. it also does a lot in terms of humanising palestinians in a world that so often dehumanises them.
This book felt like a Hosseini book and I loved it. I was worried, at first, about the author also being the narrator, but Abulhawa does a very good job, even if some of the voices were a little awkward at first, you got used to them.
I appreciated a book from the perspective of a Palestinian, something I wouldn't normally read. I really liked the build up to how Nahr ended up in prison with the mixed timeline. This story felt like it could be based on a true story. I also enjoyed a glimpse into Middle Eastern family dynamics, something that I don't get real life exposure to, helping me expand my own horizons (as reading does).
HIGHLY recommend this book, even if it contains difficult themes.
I appreciated a book from the perspective of a Palestinian, something I wouldn't normally read. I really liked the build up to how Nahr ended up in prison with the mixed timeline. This story felt like it could be based on a true story. I also enjoyed a glimpse into Middle Eastern family dynamics, something that I don't get real life exposure to, helping me expand my own horizons (as reading does).
HIGHLY recommend this book, even if it contains difficult themes.
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A must-read. Reading this well thought out and well researched historical fiction taught me so much about the lives of Palestinian refugees and how the statehood of Israel has chipped away at their humanity, dignity, and land. You learn about the little indignities along with the massive atrocities committed against Palestine. Beautiful story writing and it’s impossible not to fall in love with the badass Nahr. I will always remember this book.