Scan barcode
nothanxxh's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
this book is about two palestinian women who are tied together with a minor detail. it is divided into 2 parts that portray two different timelines under occupation in palestine. the first half begins in the summer of 1949, one year after the Nakba where we follow the story of an isra3li soldier who inflicts suffering on the bedouin people including a young palestinian woman. the second half starts the present timeline where a young woman from ramallah reads this story and becomes determined to uncover the truth about what unfolded. the obsession drives her to confront her fear of the occupation which was depicted perfectly. there were several minor details mirrored in both parts of the story. the different timelines show us that no matter which year it is, palestinians have been suffering in the same way to this day.
minor detail is not a minor book at all, it is a major one. it says so little but does wonders with what it has given us. i reckon everyone should read this book as, if we are not witnesses then what are we doing with our humanity?
spoilers ahead:
and the fact that the journalist experienced the same fate as the previous girl she was trying to find information about was so tragic but it also shows how genius of a writer adania shibli is because that is what happens to anyone who wants to find out the truth and possibly voice it out— they're subjected to silence and possibly worse, death.
minor detail is not a minor book at all, it is a major one. it says so little but does wonders with what it has given us. i reckon everyone should read this book as, if we are not witnesses then what are we doing with our humanity?
spoilers ahead:
and the fact that the journalist experienced the same fate as the previous girl she was trying to find information about was so tragic but it also shows how genius of a writer adania shibli is because that is what happens to anyone who wants to find out the truth and possibly voice it out— they're subjected to silence and possibly worse, death.
larry_miko's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Nothing to add. The book speaks for itself. Free Palestine.
musaho's review against another edition
5.0
This book was gut-wrenching, for multiple reasons. Still formulating my thoughts, and I will come back to it.
Alright, a week later. Thought's formulated enough, I think. This novella is divided into two parts, the first is a fictionalized retelling of a true event that took place in the Nagev desert in 1949, where settlers killed an entire Bedouin-Palestinian family save for one teenage girl who they tortured and r-worded before also killing her. The second part follows a woman in modern day Ramallah (well, based on context clues, I'm assuming it's set sometime in the early 2000s) who becomes obsessed with the story of the Bedouin girl. She travels throughout the land of Historic Palestine, looking for more clues and information.
It's still difficult to say what this story's purpose was, other than to just tell a story of occupation through little moments and descriptions, minor details if you will. The second half of it made me feel less like I was reading a story and more like I WAS the woman searching for answers. We both read the first story together, we both became curious about it, and we both went on a journey to look for what? I'm not sure, and neither was the MC. I felt so deeply connected to this book while I was reading it.
Incredibly enthralling, so heartbreaking. Such a necessary story as well.
Alright, a week later. Thought's formulated enough, I think. This novella is divided into two parts, the first is a fictionalized retelling of a true event that took place in the Nagev desert in 1949, where settlers killed an entire Bedouin-Palestinian family save for one teenage girl who they tortured and r-worded before also killing her. The second part follows a woman in modern day Ramallah (well, based on context clues, I'm assuming it's set sometime in the early 2000s) who becomes obsessed with the story of the Bedouin girl. She travels throughout the land of Historic Palestine, looking for more clues and information.
It's still difficult to say what this story's purpose was, other than to just tell a story of occupation through little moments and descriptions, minor details if you will. The second half of it made me feel less like I was reading a story and more like I WAS the woman searching for answers. We both read the first story together, we both became curious about it, and we both went on a journey to look for what? I'm not sure, and neither was the MC. I felt so deeply connected to this book while I was reading it.
Incredibly enthralling, so heartbreaking. Such a necessary story as well.
rayinbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Death, Violence, War, and Emotional abuse
aspenapple's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
akrreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Colonisation, War, Animal death, Death, Hate crime, Genocide, Torture, and Gun violence
peakoldladylife's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.75
boldduck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
sabrinalefebvre's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2.5 ⭐️
I’m glad so many people enjoyed this one, unfortunately it wasn’t for me.
I thought the two point of views to be too disconnected to link them coherently. The second point of view was told in a “this happened, and then this happened” format, which I hate. All in all, I thought this book would have more of an impact than it actually did.
I’m glad so many people enjoyed this one, unfortunately it wasn’t for me.
I thought the two point of views to be too disconnected to link them coherently. The second point of view was told in a “this happened, and then this happened” format, which I hate. All in all, I thought this book would have more of an impact than it actually did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Gun violence
Minor: Confinement