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sophiareads_'s review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Rape, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Animal cruelty
etbliss's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Animal cruelty, and War
shelvesofivy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Police brutality, Rape, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Death
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Vomit and War
arachnophobiareadingwithcoffee's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Murder, Death, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Xenophobia
yomireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, War, and Gun violence
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty
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, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Murder, War, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
Moderate: Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Colonisation, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, War, and Antisemitism
nadia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Given the themes and content warnings, this is not easy reading at all, but it's incredible how Shibli's almost unassuming writing made even the most supposedly mundane details fascinating.
This is a short book but there's lots packed in here to think about.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty
faheemah'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and War
Minor: Animal cruelty
rachelmansmckenny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
4.5
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Physical abuse and Animal cruelty