Scan barcode
erinlynn1989's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Zeina Abirached uses graphic images to tell the tale of her childhood. It was a dark time then. Christians and Muslims were at war. It was a civil war that divided the city. She, her parents, and her brother are just trying to live a normal life during the war, but there are a lot of complications that they face. The school bus won’t come down her street, so she, her brother, and the neighbors have to be driven to school. They don’t have running water. Their lives are anything but ordinary.
If you are a fan of Persepolis, please read this book. Like Persepolis, I Remember Beirut tells the story of a young woman growing up in a tumultuous time. Although it seems like it is aimed more towards children and teens, anyone will be able to pick up the simple book and learn from it.
I know that I have some homework to do to learn more about the history, but this book is a great and easy way to learn about what people have to sacrifice during times of war. I know that I have never experienced anything similar to what Abirached has in her life. I know I probably never will experience anything similar to the war that she grew up experiencing. I do know that I am a fan of this book now, and will probably pick up Abirached’s other graphic novel.
Zeina Abirached uses graphic images to tell the tale of her childhood. It was a dark time then. Christians and Muslims were at war. It was a civil war that divided the city. She, her parents, and her brother are just trying to live a normal life during the war, but there are a lot of complications that they face. The school bus won’t come down her street, so she, her brother, and the neighbors have to be driven to school. They don’t have running water. Their lives are anything but ordinary.
If you are a fan of Persepolis, please read this book. Like Persepolis, I Remember Beirut tells the story of a young woman growing up in a tumultuous time. Although it seems like it is aimed more towards children and teens, anyone will be able to pick up the simple book and learn from it.
I know that I have some homework to do to learn more about the history, but this book is a great and easy way to learn about what people have to sacrifice during times of war. I know that I have never experienced anything similar to what Abirached has in her life. I know I probably never will experience anything similar to the war that she grew up experiencing. I do know that I am a fan of this book now, and will probably pick up Abirached’s other graphic novel.
ainiali's review
4.0
This graphic novel is a memoir of the author's experience and of what she can remember from the time she lived in Beirut.
I couldn't really rate a person experience but I can rate the storytelling and deliverance. The art is simple and minimalist that I found it's almost soothing while talking of the heavy topic. Now, I want to try her award winning graphic novel [b:A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return|16288717|A Game for Swallows To Die, to Leave, to Return|Zeina Abirached|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1514878944i/16288717._SX50_.jpg|2769651]!
ellenjoannecampbell's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing artwork and a fascinating story of life under siege in Beirut.
scottieshereereads's review against another edition
2.0
Loved the art style but that’s about the only memorable thing...
makboo's review against another edition
3.0
I think I didn’t get it … maybe it’s because I haven’t read the author’s first graphic novel about her experience of the war, which is supposedly much better.
I actually couldn’t tell what was going on and when events happens because it wasn’t very chronological, which I guess makes sense given the perspective is of a child who may only remember certain snapshots of events and completely oblivious to what precipitated them. The details given about eating a KitKat and cirgarettes being passed out like candy resonated with a child-like observation. But for example, the family went to Cyprus as refugees and I guess they then made their way back to Beirut?
I actually couldn’t tell what was going on and when events happens because it wasn’t very chronological, which I guess makes sense given the perspective is of a child who may only remember certain snapshots of events and completely oblivious to what precipitated them. The details given about eating a KitKat and cirgarettes being passed out like candy resonated with a child-like observation. But for example, the family went to Cyprus as refugees and I guess they then made their way back to Beirut?
mselizabeth87's review against another edition
3.0
While I appreciate the concept (things remembered during war), I wish the novel had gone more in depth about the experiences.
Political Memoir
Political Memoir
allysw's review against another edition
4.0
Just as haunting and beautiful as A Game for Swallows. As someone with Lebanese heritage who will most likely never visit "the old country" (as my grandmother says), this was all the more personal and poignant for me. Lovely.
2kimi2furious's review against another edition
3.0
It wasn't as profoundly moving as Persepolis, but it was still informative. I'm glad I read it.
ginkansas's review against another edition
2.0
This memoir covers the childhood and young adulthood of Zeina Abirached during the Lebanese civil war. I loved the illustrations, however, the story was a little monotonous and didn't touch on the war as much as I had hoped.