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4.62 AVERAGE
4.62 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
A great place to start if you want to develop a better understanding of the conflict in Syria from some very moving voices.
the most human view of a conflict like this i’ve ever read
This book is quite impactful. I think the world has to do a lot of reflection on how we have decided 1) who deserves to suffer and 2) why we make it so difficult for them to escape (which, again, they shouldn’t have to but we’ve decided some people deserve to suffer). The voices of the people are the most important and that is what this book is. Helped me understand Syria and the refugee crisis in a different way. Recommend.
This book can be difficult to read, but it's so powerful. Pearlman interviewed over 300 Syrian refugees over four years and compiles their stories in this book. If you want to better understand the conflict in Syria, this book is excellent.
(Note: I interviewed Pearlman about this book and you can check it out here: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2017/06/15/we-crossed-a-bridge-and-it-trembled-wendy-perlman-interview/)
(Note: I interviewed Pearlman about this book and you can check it out here: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2017/06/15/we-crossed-a-bridge-and-it-trembled-wendy-perlman-interview/)
Gave a lot of insight into personal stories. I would have liked to follow a story all the way through. It is a little choppy.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
This has to be the most painful book I've read in the last ten years. It could be viewed by some as refugee porn or torture porn, but that's a cynical view. The author has given these voices from Syria, initially hopeful, later wracked in pain and grief, a very public arena, but like so many other pieces of writing, the voices will only reach those who are willing to listen. Books like these should be required reading in every junior high school in our country; that's a tired phrase, but it really does apply in this case. It should also be required reading (with a test afterwards) for anyone running for political office.
Anyone hoping to discuss the Syrian question intelligently would be well-served by reading this book.
Anyone hoping to discuss the Syrian question intelligently would be well-served by reading this book.
What I wouldn't give for more people to be more aware of the people fleeing Syria for safer places, even though doing so comes at such tremendous risk and humiliating living conditions. This powerful, small volume helps see the humanity of those fleeing their homeland. It also cultivates compassion for those who have no better options at hand. Moving, beautiful prose here.