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kirstym25'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Death, Islamophobia, and Murder
rorikae'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? Yes
4.0
While visiting her sister in Haifa, Sonia is introduced to Mariam, who is staging a production of Hamlet in the West Bank. In need of more actors, she casts Sonia as Gertrude. As rehearsals ramp up, so too do the obstacles that the production has to being put on. As Sonia reconnects with her past and works to heal from her time in England, the production of Hamlet becomes an act of resistance.
Hammad has created a deeply human story rooted in the importance of art as resistance. Sonia is a flawed, complex character, which makes her all the easier to sympathize with. Her past slowly unfolds as she reconnects with her sister and the land. This story also showcases the stark realities of occupation in Palestine, including the violence and persecution that Palestinian people are subjected to. Parts of the story were told through scripts, which was a great use of form though it didn't translate as well to audio as I think it does in print. My favorite aspect of this story is the actual production of Hamlet and how the company uses the play to speak to their current situation.
Graphic: Miscarriage, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Islamophobia
Minor: Death and Violence
tashtasher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
mlewis'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
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
rhii_reading'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Islamophobia and Colonisation
allymute'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: War
Moderate: Islamophobia and Murder
mmefish's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I never know what to say in a 5 star review; I just loved everything about it.
The sex was like his rehearsal room: he drew me out, I waited for his approval, his adjustment, his suggestion; he the leader, I the star. I told him one evening that I wanted him to destroy me. I was shocked by the sound of that word in my mouth. He responded by becoming slightly violent, although the violence was more suggested than actual, more fleeting reminders of his physical strength. The oblivion I was asking for but did not understand persisted on the horizon of our affair like a summer thundercloud, and in the nights I ran through its long shadow as though I might reach it, while it remained there, taunting me from a distance, unbroken rain.
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Islamophobia, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Sexual content
jenmcreads'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
4.25
Graphic: Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Abortion, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Hate crime, Sexism, Torture, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War