Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
Loved this, proper intellectual high brow fun fun fun.
Finally glad that I had studied Hamlet at college
Finally glad that I had studied Hamlet at college
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Colonisation
Moderate: Pregnancy, War
I was just really bored and did not care about any of the characters.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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:
No
Excellent. 5⭐️.
hopeful
informative
tense
slow-paced
Women's Prize for Fiction 2024 - long-listed
Women's Prize for Fiction 2024 - short-listed
Women's Prize for Fiction 2024 - my pick to receive the Prize.
[returned 3 months after reading to add a star]
i read "Enter Ghost" immediately after finishing "Minor Detail" by Adania Shibli, which is another book by a Palestinian (or diaspora) author, and which blew my mind. there were echoes in Ms Hammad's novel around the difficulties of travel between Israel and Palestine and between the West Bank and Gaza. situations change from one day to the next, roads are closed, checkpoints are erected, and the characters of both novels can't get where they want to go, where they need to be.
this book is an important read right now; it documents the lives of Palestinian and Israeli citizens in the recent past, and it gives a brief history of the Nakba, Arab-Israeli War, Green Line, First and Second Intifadas... it talks about Arab citizens of Israel, diaspora, deracination, how one's passport speaks for one despite anything one might say.
i re-listened to Isabella Hammad's interview with David Naimon on the "Between the Covers" podcast, the best lit pod there is. their conversation reminded me just how much research had gone into both Ms Hammad's début, "The Parisian", and "Enter Ghost". highly recommended to readers of the book, but a blanket spoiler alert applies.
"Enter Ghost" has been deservedly long-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and is my pick to receive the Prize. Isabella Hammad is an extraordinarily talented writer, and she deserves a wider readership, which i hope she is seeing, and will see increase further. while "Enter Ghost" would be a contentious choice by the jury - expect a very loud outcry from a small group of people who have not read the book - it would signal solidarity with the people of Palestine and hopefully galvinise people to read this very human story.
Women's Prize for Fiction 2024 - short-listed
Women's Prize for Fiction 2024 - my pick to receive the Prize.
[returned 3 months after reading to add a star]
i read "Enter Ghost" immediately after finishing "Minor Detail" by Adania Shibli, which is another book by a Palestinian (or diaspora) author, and which blew my mind. there were echoes in Ms Hammad's novel around the difficulties of travel between Israel and Palestine and between the West Bank and Gaza. situations change from one day to the next, roads are closed, checkpoints are erected, and the characters of both novels can't get where they want to go, where they need to be.
this book is an important read right now; it documents the lives of Palestinian and Israeli citizens in the recent past, and it gives a brief history of the Nakba, Arab-Israeli War, Green Line, First and Second Intifadas... it talks about Arab citizens of Israel, diaspora, deracination, how one's passport speaks for one despite anything one might say.
i re-listened to Isabella Hammad's interview with David Naimon on the "Between the Covers" podcast, the best lit pod there is. their conversation reminded me just how much research had gone into both Ms Hammad's début, "The Parisian", and "Enter Ghost". highly recommended to readers of the book, but a blanket spoiler alert applies.
"Enter Ghost" has been deservedly long-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and is my pick to receive the Prize. Isabella Hammad is an extraordinarily talented writer, and she deserves a wider readership, which i hope she is seeing, and will see increase further. while "Enter Ghost" would be a contentious choice by the jury - expect a very loud outcry from a small group of people who have not read the book - it would signal solidarity with the people of Palestine and hopefully galvinise people to read this very human story.
challenging
dark
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
This is an incredibly tender book that is also intrinsically steeped in the politics of Palestine. You are consistently reminded of the realities of what living under occupation is like even when doing something that seems as simple as putting on a play. The style of this book is also incredibly interesting and like nothing I have ever seen before. Switching between prose and play format makes the story dynamic in a new and exciting way. I feel as though it also gives you a deeper understanding of the characters as in the play parts you are essentially forced to out yourself in the character’s shoes as they say their ‘lines’, even if just for a moment. I think that this book also acts as a reminder of the power of the arts. Sonia through doing this play reconnects with her Palestinian heritage and so begins to ask more questions about her family history whilst also becoming closer with the ensemble of people in the cast.