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musaho's review against another edition
5.0
This book was gut-wrenching, for multiple reasons. Still formulating my thoughts, and I will come back to it.
Alright, a week later. Thought's formulated enough, I think. This novella is divided into two parts, the first is a fictionalized retelling of a true event that took place in the Nagev desert in 1949, where settlers killed an entire Bedouin-Palestinian family save for one teenage girl who they tortured and r-worded before also killing her. The second part follows a woman in modern day Ramallah (well, based on context clues, I'm assuming it's set sometime in the early 2000s) who becomes obsessed with the story of the Bedouin girl. She travels throughout the land of Historic Palestine, looking for more clues and information.
It's still difficult to say what this story's purpose was, other than to just tell a story of occupation through little moments and descriptions, minor details if you will. The second half of it made me feel less like I was reading a story and more like I WAS the woman searching for answers. We both read the first story together, we both became curious about it, and we both went on a journey to look for what? I'm not sure, and neither was the MC. I felt so deeply connected to this book while I was reading it.
Incredibly enthralling, so heartbreaking. Such a necessary story as well.
Alright, a week later. Thought's formulated enough, I think. This novella is divided into two parts, the first is a fictionalized retelling of a true event that took place in the Nagev desert in 1949, where settlers killed an entire Bedouin-Palestinian family save for one teenage girl who they tortured and r-worded before also killing her. The second part follows a woman in modern day Ramallah (well, based on context clues, I'm assuming it's set sometime in the early 2000s) who becomes obsessed with the story of the Bedouin girl. She travels throughout the land of Historic Palestine, looking for more clues and information.
It's still difficult to say what this story's purpose was, other than to just tell a story of occupation through little moments and descriptions, minor details if you will. The second half of it made me feel less like I was reading a story and more like I WAS the woman searching for answers. We both read the first story together, we both became curious about it, and we both went on a journey to look for what? I'm not sure, and neither was the MC. I felt so deeply connected to this book while I was reading it.
Incredibly enthralling, so heartbreaking. Such a necessary story as well.
rayinbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Death, Violence, War, and Emotional abuse
aspenapple's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
akrreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Colonisation, War, Animal death, Death, Hate crime, Genocide, Torture, and Gun violence
peakoldladylife's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
boldduck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sabrinalefebvre's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2.5 ⭐️
I’m glad so many people enjoyed this one, unfortunately it wasn’t for me.
I thought the two point of views to be too disconnected to link them coherently. The second point of view was told in a “this happened, and then this happened” format, which I hate. All in all, I thought this book would have more of an impact than it actually did.
I’m glad so many people enjoyed this one, unfortunately it wasn’t for me.
I thought the two point of views to be too disconnected to link them coherently. The second point of view was told in a “this happened, and then this happened” format, which I hate. All in all, I thought this book would have more of an impact than it actually did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Gun violence
Minor: Confinement
lamisosoup's review against another edition
3.25
I literally had to take a break from this for weeks to brace myself for reading certain scenes and then I still ended up skipping most of them.
I think this could be an incredibly enlightening read for those who don't know anything about palestine. on a purely literary level, I found it a little lacking, but ultimately I think I would still recommend it
I think this could be an incredibly enlightening read for those who don't know anything about palestine. on a purely literary level, I found it a little lacking, but ultimately I think I would still recommend it
clogluvr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tavi_c's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0