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caitfoges's review
3.0
This book was not what I expected, and I am honestly not sure how I feel about it. The writing itself leaves much to be desired, as the author does a whole lot more "telling" than "showing" and repeats herself quite a bit. It still mostly held my attention though, I think due to Najla's candid voice and my prior interest in the subject matter.
As an American who lived in the Middle East for several years, I definitely related to Najla grappling with her privilege while interacting with the region, yet I was frustrated with how long it took her to get to this point. For much of the book, I struggled to be sympathetic as she complained about not liking her fancy summer camp or being a little less wealthy than the others at her high-class prep school in New York. She did encounter aspects of the war in Lebanon during summer vacations, which I am sure was challenging, but also she was able to fairly easily escape, unlike her extended family.
I don't want to be too harsh though, as I realize everyone is on their own journey of understanding the world and their place in it (including me, of course). I do relate to some of the very real difficulties Najla faced (especially her anxiety), and I admit to not really understanding others (what it's like to live as an immigrant in America).
In the end, I think this memoir does bring up some important issues through an interesting perspective. I can see it having a powerful impact on young Arab Americans wrestling to come to terms with their personal identities, as demonstrated through the touching quote on the final page.
As an American who lived in the Middle East for several years, I definitely related to Najla grappling with her privilege while interacting with the region, yet I was frustrated with how long it took her to get to this point. For much of the book, I struggled to be sympathetic as she complained about not liking her fancy summer camp or being a little less wealthy than the others at her high-class prep school in New York. She did encounter aspects of the war in Lebanon during summer vacations, which I am sure was challenging, but also she was able to fairly easily escape, unlike her extended family.
I don't want to be too harsh though, as I realize everyone is on their own journey of understanding the world and their place in it (including me, of course). I do relate to some of the very real difficulties Najla faced (especially her anxiety), and I admit to not really understanding others (what it's like to live as an immigrant in America).
In the end, I think this memoir does bring up some important issues through an interesting perspective. I can see it having a powerful impact on young Arab Americans wrestling to come to terms with their personal identities, as demonstrated through the touching quote on the final page.
ariellesandtoes's review
2.0
Looking for Palestine?
Girl, same. I'm looking for where the hell Palestine is supposed to be in this book??
This was not what I signed up for and I am giving this two stars despite the fact that I did not enjoy this at all simply because I will appreciate perspectives that help to paint that people of color, importantly Palestinians, are more than their resilient and traumatic histories.
However, Najla comes from a wildly privileged background but both attempts to downplay it but also spends a lot of time humble bragging.
this was just not an experience I enjoyed reading about.
Girl, same. I'm looking for where the hell Palestine is supposed to be in this book??
This was not what I signed up for and I am giving this two stars despite the fact that I did not enjoy this at all simply because I will appreciate perspectives that help to paint that people of color, importantly Palestinians, are more than their resilient and traumatic histories.
However, Najla comes from a wildly privileged background but both attempts to downplay it but also spends a lot of time humble bragging.
this was just not an experience I enjoyed reading about.
sagittariusreads_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
onewoman_bookclub's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Islamophobia and War
taratearex's review
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
This is a memoir by the daughter of Edward Said, it is apparently based on a play that she performs about identity and her life trying to figure out who she is in a world that is extremely racist towards Arabs. I think the part of the title Looking for Palestine is a bit misleading as there are brief moments where she talks about her relationship to Palestine, but she talks much more about Lebanon, and this is more about the other part of the title- where she is confused and trying to understand her identity and where she fits in in the world. Overall an enjoyable read, but I found myself more interested in her parents, which would probably be very annoying for her to hear! But she was very disengaged and trying to avoid politics most of her life. But her fears and disengagement make sense and this does really show the impact of racism on someone and how much that effects someone's confidence and health.
TW: War, Eating Disorder, Racism/Xenophobia, Parent death, Cancer
TW: War, Eating Disorder, Racism/Xenophobia, Parent death, Cancer
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, Eating disorder, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
rami_reads's review
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
wren_wren_wren's review
Big love. Very informative for me as a white, Settler reader