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ruthhelizabeth's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
gorgeousgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, and Colonisation
bswanntastic's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Violence, and Xenophobia
kristinhunziker'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
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Murder
savvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
Part two features a first person perspective twenty five years into the future, focused on a Palestinian woman. After connecting closely with a news article, she embarks on a dangerous journey across occupied territory to discover the truth behind a brutal story. The way that Shibli has woven terror into this woman's daily life under occupation is heartbreaking and unsettling. She's adjusted to the sounds of bombings, to being confined to a settlement, to constantly encountering callous and violent Israeli soldiers. And the conclusion of her story? Absolutely brutal.
As a whole, I think that Minor Detail is a very powerful read that offers an enlightening glimpse into the common cruelties of life in occupied Palestine, prior to the current genocide.
Graphic: Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
thelilithjames'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Murder, and War
alexandryareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Murder and War
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping
bookswithbethx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War
bookishbrenbren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I did think this book was well-written and compelling but to be honest, the second half of the book was so boring that it ruined the book for me. And the first half was so grotesque, both with violence and body horror, that I was looking for the second half to save it, so was let down doubly. While the book had moments that were compelling, especially the character development of the MC, and the portrait of modern life under israeli occupation, the vast majority of it was just a list of uneventful actions, e.g., "she got in the car, she walked into the museum, she looked at this thing, she looked at that thing," ad nauseam. Whatever the point of that particularly literary tool was, it was lost on me and I can say confidently, it was over-used.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
emilily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Utterly challenging, this book feels sluggish and repetitive at times, but shocking and jarring at others. This books is divided into two parellel stories of Israeli soldiers in 1949 who capture, assault, and kill a young girl, followed by the modern day story of a young woman who learns of the historic tragedy, and becomes obsessed with uncovering more about the murdered girl.
The prose is carefully considered, but uncomfortable to read. 'Minor details' are ever present -- the storytelling often gives much attention to little, mundane details, to the point of feeling irritating. I often wanted the author to get on with it, instead of spending such a long time on seemingly irrelevant details... but I think that was the point. The author seemed to want the reader to feel uncomfortable while reading these passages. It hits harder when you realise that exceptional care is taken to describe these minor details in the commander's life, while virtually no detail is provided about the captured girl. This creates space to reflect on the fact that 'history is told by the victors', while victims seldom have their stories recorded in the same detail.
The book is also filled with minor details drawing attention to the similarities and differences between the region in 1949 vs the present. Throughout the story of the modern day women, readers are provided insight into the current challenges of living as a Palestinian, while noting how little has changed since the troubles of 1949.
Minor Detail is not an easy read. It is horribly uncomfortable and challenging, yet there is no denying that it is impactful. I'll be thinking about this read for a long time.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Hate crime, Sexism, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and War