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4.57 AVERAGE
4.57 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is a masterpiece. It was well written, engaging, and interesting. While it is not a happy book by any stretch of the imagination, I was hooked from the beginning.
Following the life of Nahr, a Palestine political prisoner, this book is one that feels real. There were multiple times where I actually forgot that this was a fictional story. The way the author crafts this novel is one that showcases her mastery in telling this story. It is one that will remain with you and make you think.
Be warned: this book is a big old bummer. It is not a happy story. Anything really bad that can happen to the narrator does. But I don’t think that takes away from the excellence of this book. It’s a a story about life and for some, life is often times tragic.
Overall, I think this is an exquisitely written novel. Read it if you like tragic books, engaging stories, realistic conflicts, and strong female characters. Check for triggers though!
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
This is a hard one to review. The first part of the book was great. I was already thinking about the people I’d lend it to. A poetic first person narrative that writes about Palestinian love, endurance, and agency under colonial rule. But something happens when more characters are added...the writing falls into YA/Marvel trope territory, where we have a half dozen characters whose purpose is just to make one (1) sassy remark per page, just to remind you which of the character types they are. We have The (not Weasley) Twins. The cold girlfriend. The traditional man. The competition. It just felt like such a disservice to the characters we already knew. I probably skimmed 100+ pages.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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:
No
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
4.5 ⭐️ This novel is a historical fiction that the author, Susan Abulhawa, blends with some of her personal experiences and research. The novel follows Nahr, a Palestinian refugee, who shares her life story while being held in an Israeli solitary-confinement cell. Nahr is one of the best narrators/protagonists I’ve ever read. Although this novel delves heavily into middle eastern political conflicts, it is culturally immersive and a love story. The novel is dark and heartbreaking, while also offering light and hope shown through the strength and resilience people embody during times of oppression and hardships. Abulhawa is a beautiful story teller. She has a rare gift of making the reader feel fully immersed in the environment she is portraying. This is such an impactful read that will stay with me for a long time.
A masterful story with hard truths that expertly addresses sensitive topics. Hear my full review at the Diversity is Lit Book Club discussion: https://www.youtube.com/live/jHkbo3kEbbg?si=k4-xXh0kOLrMO-vb
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No