Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

23 reviews

brynalexa's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The first part was extremely emotional to read. It’s very hard to put yourself into a camp of bigoted colonizers for 50 pages. The second part was two parts lovely and one part dread. It came together in the end. Very moving. 

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goodthingsread's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

3.5

Excellent writing, harsh and brutal. I found the first half to be a bit too "literary." The soldier has an infection; he is sick physically and morally, yes. I also found the ending, while impactful, a little off. I can't think of any other result, but the small detail that gets us there feels silly in context.

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neverlandpages4's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0


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getlitwithamy_'s review

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

While this was short, MINOR DETAIL was still able to captivate my attention in both physical and audible formats. It reads like nonfiction even though it's historical fiction. Adania Shibli's prose is rich as she does all but hold back about the Palestinian struggle.

Poignancy was the main feeling I had reading this book. It's easy to sympathize and empathize with the women in both parts of the story, as they face oppression and outright brutality at the hands of Israel's occupying forces.

I'm glad I finally got to read this after having been on a waitlist through my library since November.

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miafromorchardstreet's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

A tremendous piece of work. A visceral representation of occupation, violence and erasure. 

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victoriathuyvi's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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yoalli's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

4.0


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molly_kate's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional fast-paced

4.5


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krisheiney's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I picked up this book because of its political snub, because I don’t want that event to limit the book’s readership.

In line with the title, the focus of both parts of the narration focus in on minor details—the order in which parts of one’s body are washed, the wrinkles on a woman’s face, chewing gum—and this serves to highlight the enormity of the major events relegated to the backdrop. 

Shibli’s writing is understated and contemplative, and her narrative eye on the past and present of the war captures the enormity of it in surprisingly few pages. I look forward to reading more of her books.

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megshrews's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad 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

4.0


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