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siobhanward's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Using Hamlet as a backdrop for this story really tied things together, and Hammad used it well. My biggest frustration in the story was Sonia. There was so much happening beyond her and despite moments of clarity, she was often tunnel-visioned into herself and couldn't see beyond her own challenges. I'm also not sure the side plot with Harold added anything apart from taking away time from the rest of the book. The book was impactful and well-written, I just wish Sonia had been a different protagonist.
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder
nicmgray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
Moderate: Pregnancy and War
ekg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, and War
meltotheany's review
- 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
being born into this genocide, and knowing your parents were also born in this genocide, and your grandparents, and so on for over 100 years. all having first memories of realizing they were living under occupation. all having first moments of being a part of an uprising to protect their land. all having stories that may feel unspeakable to even pass down. and all the childhood trauma, growing up in this trauma, trauma still being inflicted in 2025, … it’s so harrowing i don't even have words for it.
but there is also such a strong message of hope, and finding art to help you, and finding power that others cannot take from you. i highly recommend this one. and please remember that Palestine should be free, and we all should be helping to contribute to that freedom, with our voices, our money, and our politicians.
trigger + content warnings: harassment with airport security, racism, xenophobia, colorism, talk of infidelity, genocide, occupation, colonization, war, murder, death, torture, starvation, gun violence, attacks, violence, talk of medication abuse for weight loss, mention of disordered eating in past, abortion in past, miscarriage in past, divorce in past, depression, grief, blood, bad medical care (unprofessional doctor giving pelvic exam care (mental / emotional abuse)
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, and War
risemini's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Abortion, Alcohol, and War
waybeyondblue's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Violence and Police brutality
Moderate: Miscarriage and War
azrah786's review against another edition
4.0
CW: violence, police brutality, colonialism, war, genocide, murder, death, grief, racism, xenophobia islamophobia, hate crime, miscarriage/abortion, infidelity
--
Enter Ghost is a story about a British theatre actress with Palestinian heritage who after years spent away returns to Haifa to visit her sister as a way to get away from the end of a bad relationship. Childhood trauma as well as family issues mean Sonia feels a detachment from Haifa and Palestine as a whole but getting pulled into doing an Arabic production of Hamlet in the West Bank allows her to start renewing her relationship with her family’s homeland.
This is a multi-faceted book that not only brilliantly explores art as a form of resistance but also focuses on the casual drama that occurs within a theatre production as well as more personal relationship dynamics, both familial and romantic. This is all tied together with themes of identity, belonging and perseverance, particularly with regards to the lived experiences of Palestinians under occupation. Not only do we get perspectives from the West Bank but also that of Palestinians on the “inside” who have grown up post 1948 and currently live in those areas that were sieged during the Nakba.
There is never a preachy tone to how any of this is addressed but the underlying messages cannot be more clear-cut than when the exact events that are being immortalised via fictional text are being recorded on social media for the world to witness in real time.
Hammad’s prose is brilliant though I actually struggled with getting into the story initially as the writing is very much attuned to the personality and emotions of our protagonist. Sonia isn’t the most vibrant of characters and her mannerisms at times make her a little unlikeable. I was more drawn to her strained relationship with her family members than I was to her romantic life but it was the use and performance of Hamlet within the story which stood out most to me.
Hamlet is one of the Shakespeare plays that I didn’t study in school and never got around to reading but let me tell you when you read this book your understanding of the classic will be altered whether or not you’re familiar with the original.
The narrative does jump to a script format every now and again when the theatre group are assembled, rehearsing and speculating about the play which I feel at times worked and at others disrupted the flow of the overall story which was another minor grievance I had with the book. However, the portrayal of how culture and the arts are a source of hope in the face of repression by apartheid and occupation was beautifully done.
The place on the Women’s Prize shortlist was well-deserved. Go read it!
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
Graphic: Miscarriage, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Infidelity, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and War
adrizeuza's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Sexual content
noelleingway's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Genocide and War
amyvl93's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: War
Moderate: Racism