Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Amaneceres en Yenín by Susan Abulhawa

28 reviews

liannaengland's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Murder

katharina90's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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A heartbreaking, powerful, beautifully written book about the Palestinian experience and the world's indifference to and complicity in past and present atrocities committed against the Palestinian people.

"How does one live in a world that turns away from such injustice for so long? Is this what it means to be Palestinian, Mother?"

"For if life had taught her anything, it was that healing and peace can begin only with acknowledgment of wrongs committed."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Colonisation

Moderate: Confinement, Torture

Minor: Alcoholism, Rape

readwmichelle's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence

nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Dementia, Kidnapping

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War

Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Sexism, Torture, Blood

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape

alisha94's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Death of parent, Colonisation, Deportation

annainthebooks's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Colonisation, War

Moderate: Sexual content, Torture

Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Dementia

perenian's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Mornings in Jenin is many things. It is a personal history of Palestinian strife, a commentary on the effects of war, a book that chronicles Palestinian life from the 1940s to the 2000s, an eye-opener.

As I read the novel, I felt like I held decades of Palestine’s pain in my hands. I was given a Palestinian heart in words—an imperfect, messy heart that bled stories and reflection and frustration and fear. And it was this that led me to understanding (or sympathy, at the very least). It all begs the question: is Palestine really a Jewish homeland if it must be colonized?

For me, the most impactful part was the inclusion of multiple generations. Yehya represented the deepest root of Palestine: he was uprooted from his land but refused to wither away and die without a piece of it in his hands. Hasan was younger; he watched as all he knew was taken away from him and went to fight for it without hesitation. Then it came to Yousef and Amal, who watched everything and everyone they loved be destroyed. It was their blood that watered Palestinian soil. I was angry for them, and I mourned their losses with them. I cried for Amal when she became Amy—no more long vowel of hope, no hope left in her but to continue.

Mornings in Jenin served as a reminder to me of love at its most human. We see love blossom and break people down all in the same breath. We see the characters’ love for Palestine and each other. We see how they love fiercely to the very end. 

In terms of criticism, however:

Amal’s connections to her home, to her family, to her emotions, could’ve been a way to explore her character further. In fact, because family seemed to be such a significant theme, I expected a deep dive into the relationships between the characters. I felt that they were a bit shallow, though. I suppose that “connection” can be a sort of overarching theme that ties it all together (albeit loosely).

The multiple narratives made the entire novel a tad convoluted, and the ending felt too abrupt, too detached. Many loose ends were left untied, and it left me feeling like the novel was unfinished.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape

Not a light read by any means, but definitely worth your time.