Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

Eine Nebensache by Adania Shibli

81 reviews

ohhellograce's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

A short, sharp punch in the gut. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Rape, Racism, War, Murder, Islamophobia, and Gun violence

aprilyvonne's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

*possible spoilers, which were also mentioned in the book summary. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Minor Detail” by Adania Shibli was an incredible novella highlighting the past and present history of life under occupation in 
Palestine. Even though the story is short, it packs a lot within the context of violence, fear, and the mundane of daily life no matter the year or setting. 

The novella is first set a year after the Nakba in 1949, while the Israeli soldiers capture, rape, and eventually kill a young girl burying her in the sand. The minor details written about the main commander’s adjustment to the climate, the heat and dealing with a festering spider bite is both simplistic and repetitive. Yet, this style was also captivating in a strange sense. The vicious cycle of sexual violence almost the soldiers seemed to increase with the intensity of the infected soldier, and was disturbing. Maybe this was a political commentary upon the occupation itself by Shibli. 

The second part takes place many years later, and follows a young Palestinian woman from Ramallah. She becomes obsessed with finding out more information about this tragic story - a minor detail- from the past, which eerily fell on her birthday 25 years earlier. But, what unfolds next is the attempt to gain said information while living under a different set of rules. A small glimpse of life under the occupation is shared. Yet, the curiosity to discover new truths despite the ongoing erasure is still very dangerous.

Both parts of the novella overlap with unique minor details and motifs such as the barking dog, sand, and an individual’s focus with minute concerns. Overall, the narrative highlights the importance of telling stories no matter their seemingly trivial nature when the greater picture pulls it altogether. This book did just. Considering the painful reality today, remember that existence is resistance. Keep reading and lifting up Palestinian voices. 🍉

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Genocide, Rape, Colonisation, Death, Sexual violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Racism, and Sexual assault

christinesmith205's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, War, Violence, Genocide, Colonisation, Torture, Sexual violence, Death, Islamophobia, Confinement, and Murder

kittiesss's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Islamophobia, Genocide, and Rape

ashleybakerwrites's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Important read in the times, but literally soul crushing. Describes horrifying things in the past and their echos and recreation in the present. It feels like there will be another minor detail written about the future where it's contents will mirror this one. 

Didn't like that the first few scenes were in the pov of the attackers, but I know that the victims pov would have been unbearable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Animal cruelty, Genocide, Racism, Death, Gore, Islamophobia, and Murder

lexihan's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, War, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Hate crime, Torture, Colonisation, and Sexual violence

samanthaleereads's review against another edition

reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Confinement, Medical content, Genocide, Sexual assault, Violence, Kidnapping, Racism, War, Animal cruelty, and Gun violence

Moderate: Islamophobia

glennarochelle's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Racism, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Confinement, War, Sexual assault, Murder, Torture, Rape, Genocide, Death, and Violence

redrockcandyreads's review against another edition

dark informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book is not meant to be entertaining. It is meant to expose you to the reality of life in a place where certain people are not considered human. Life under occupation is explored through the distant emotionless lens of a sexual assault and the footsteps of someone who attempts to uncover information about the event many years later. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Sexual violence, and Violence

vklyle99's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, War, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Sexual violence, Rape, Child death, Death, Murder, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Racism, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Violence