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floralfox's review against another edition
3.0
Perhaps I just had the wrong expectations coming to this book. I know nothing of the history of Beirut or Lebanon and I thought memoir--especially in graphic novel form--can be powerful and more interesting to read instead of a history book or article. And while initially I was drawn to Abirached's style (it reminded me of Persepolis) I found the book to fall a little flat. I expected to learn more about Lebanon, or at least Beirut, but beyond a few introductory pages, there wasn't much in terms of laying out the conflict or underlying causes of the war. This was more a memoir snapshot of memories, fragments, instead of a story. I sort of fumbled through the whole thing feeling like I should know more about Abirached's life and the characters that filled it, like I'd missed a chapter or perhaps a whole other book. Ultimately, I don't think anything about it is bad, I just think I wanted something else out of it.
ashleyholstrom's review against another edition
3.0
Zeina Abirached was grew up in Beirut in the 1980s amid fighting between Christians and Muslims that divided the city. I Remember Beirut is just that: a series of memories of growing up in such turmoil, with cars filled with bullet holes and games to collect shrapnel from the sidewalk. The art is reminiscent of [b:The Complete Persepolis|991197|The Complete Persepolis (Persepolis, #1-4)|Marjane Satrapi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327876995l/991197._SX50_.jpg|13344769], and the stories are similar—finding normalcy within a war zone.
From 10 of the Best Nonfiction Comics on Hoopla at Book Riot.
From 10 of the Best Nonfiction Comics on Hoopla at Book Riot.
sseadgnr's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
this story shattered my soul because it's the unfair truth.
jennifermreads's review against another edition
2.0
When I picked up this memoir-type graphic novel, I was expecting a bit more of a biographical tale. Instead readers get flashes of memory – which, I guess, technically, is how most of us recall our childhoods. I had hoped for more from this simplistic tale.
violet_primroses's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.75
shonaningyo's review against another edition
2.0
I will not lie when I say I was actually disappointed with this book. As this is being typed, I am taking a few courses regarding the history and culture of the Middle East and when I saw this book I thought "Hey, a graphic novel about one of the many skirmishes that took place there! This will enhance my world view!"
But it didn't.
Not at all.
This story may be biographical and supposedly about Beirut, but it tells the reader [b]nothing[/b] about the motives behind the war and attacks, the "players" (governments, factions, armies, resistances? What?), the death toll or casualties, or even a timeline of the whole thing. It was basically a short story of the author's life and the war in Beirut just happened to occur, but it was only hinted at. It was actually written very optimistically and light-heartedly to the point that I thought "Was this war actually that bad, because I'm seeing nothing of the horrors that a conflict labeled a 'war' would typically bring".
Apparently there was a conflict between Christians and Muslims that sparked this war. Nothing regarding religion was ever mentioned or hinted at. Honestly, it read like a slice of life story with a silly narrator. I closed the book learning nothing more than when I had first began reading it.
Maybe for those who are well-versed in this conflict or perhaps have experienced it, this is a nice light in what may have been a trying and horrific time in their lives. For someone like me, a person who was curious enough about the subject matter to read it in hopes of educating herself on the ordeal, it didn't do anything but slightly annoy me at its lack of information.
If you want to read a graphic/illustrated biography of someone who lived in a trying time in the Middle East, by all means read [b:Persepolis|9522|Persepolis, Volume 1 (Persepolis, #1)|Marjane Satrapi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375777630s/9522.jpg|25686510] by Marjane Satrapi. She does it right.
But it didn't.
Not at all.
This story may be biographical and supposedly about Beirut, but it tells the reader [b]nothing[/b] about the motives behind the war and attacks, the "players" (governments, factions, armies, resistances? What?), the death toll or casualties, or even a timeline of the whole thing. It was basically a short story of the author's life and the war in Beirut just happened to occur, but it was only hinted at. It was actually written very optimistically and light-heartedly to the point that I thought "Was this war actually that bad, because I'm seeing nothing of the horrors that a conflict labeled a 'war' would typically bring".
Apparently there was a conflict between Christians and Muslims that sparked this war. Nothing regarding religion was ever mentioned or hinted at. Honestly, it read like a slice of life story with a silly narrator. I closed the book learning nothing more than when I had first began reading it.
Maybe for those who are well-versed in this conflict or perhaps have experienced it, this is a nice light in what may have been a trying and horrific time in their lives. For someone like me, a person who was curious enough about the subject matter to read it in hopes of educating herself on the ordeal, it didn't do anything but slightly annoy me at its lack of information.
If you want to read a graphic/illustrated biography of someone who lived in a trying time in the Middle East, by all means read [b:Persepolis|9522|Persepolis, Volume 1 (Persepolis, #1)|Marjane Satrapi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375777630s/9522.jpg|25686510] by Marjane Satrapi. She does it right.