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lunabbly's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
I love it when a collection of short stories has characters whose storylines intertwine with one another.
I read this while we are in month 6 of the ongoing genocide of Palestinians -- since the media has started to frame this genocide as a "war" between a resistance organization and the Israeli government. I think that Susan Muaddi Darraj does a phenomenal job of bringing out the most human emotions to the forefront while rejecting stereotypes about Palestinians and actually, drawing humor out in facing stereotypes. Aka it should make people feel like fools if they're still bought into those heinous stereotypes..
We follow stories of single mothers, complicated relationships, relationships that don't fit the traditional monogamous stereotypes. Darraj does a beautiful job of complicating storylines, characters, plots without illustrating unnecessary violence and using violence as a plot device. Even though we get shorter vignettes of people because it's a collection of short stories, we do see growth in characters. In particular Marcus, the cop (not my favorite character tbh), we see him through the lens of various characters and he himself gets 2 short stories dedicated through his perspective where we see the ending of his relationship with his girlfriend as well as with his father; and then we see him traveling back to Palestine to bury his father and he ends up marrying a Palestinian woman who is self-sufficient but also has experienced the sexual abuse traumas of war. Although I don't love the fact that he's a cop, we do see growth. There's a softness to him in the second story. As well as an appreciation for the land his ancestors came from but where he is unfamiliar. But there's no sensationalizing it, there's no exoticisizing it -- there's just a deep appreciation and a profound quietness about Palestine, Marcus's roots, and the Palestinian culture he was born into but had to reshape and remake into his own.
I highly recommend. It was full of desire, sadness, joy, and the contentment of being in community and being with oneself.
I read this while we are in month 6 of the ongoing genocide of Palestinians -- since the media has started to frame this genocide as a "war" between a resistance organization and the Israeli government. I think that Susan Muaddi Darraj does a phenomenal job of bringing out the most human emotions to the forefront while rejecting stereotypes about Palestinians and actually, drawing humor out in facing stereotypes. Aka it should make people feel like fools if they're still bought into those heinous stereotypes..
We follow stories of single mothers, complicated relationships, relationships that don't fit the traditional monogamous stereotypes. Darraj does a beautiful job of complicating storylines, characters, plots without illustrating unnecessary violence and using violence as a plot device. Even though we get shorter vignettes of people because it's a collection of short stories, we do see growth in characters. In particular Marcus, the cop (not my favorite character tbh), we see him through the lens of various characters and he himself gets 2 short stories dedicated through his perspective where we see the ending of his relationship with his girlfriend as well as with his father; and then we see him traveling back to Palestine to bury his father and he ends up marrying a Palestinian woman who is self-sufficient but also has experienced the sexual abuse traumas of war. Although I don't love the fact that he's a cop, we do see growth. There's a softness to him in the second story. As well as an appreciation for the land his ancestors came from but where he is unfamiliar. But there's no sensationalizing it, there's no exoticisizing it -- there's just a deep appreciation and a profound quietness about Palestine, Marcus's roots, and the Palestinian culture he was born into but had to reshape and remake into his own.
I highly recommend. It was full of desire, sadness, joy, and the contentment of being in community and being with oneself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Sexual violence
themadbloodstone's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the most moving stories I have ever read in my lifetime. All the characters were real people — the way they talked, the way they acted, the way they thought — it was as if Darraj had eavesdropped and typed passing conversations while writing. I normally am not a fan of multiple POVs and narratives. I did get occasionally confused when one chapter was written in first-person when the next was in third, but it wasn’t enough of a problem to deter me from enjoying this book. And Darraj intertwines the different narratives flawlessly and smoothly, like a late spring stream flowing by. The chapters were pretty much their own characters as well, with different moods, themes, and messages. I could enjoy each story as a standalone and as an important part of a grander plot. They were all written with the most care. “The Hastag” left me on the edge of my seat; the majority of the time I read “Behind You is the Sea”, I rooted for Maysoon; and “Worry Beads” and “Escorting the Body” had me in tears, especially the latter. Seeing the country of Palestine and its people depicted as the kind, life-loving people they are and their perseverance despite the fascist occupation and the discrimination they face gave me hope for the future. Even if this book is a work of fiction, it was still reality.
Behind You is the Sea is definitely going to be one of those future classics the next generation will read in school and learn from, like The House on Mango Street or Wiesel’s Night. It is such a beautiful book and deserves all the recognition it gets.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free 🍉
Behind You is the Sea is definitely going to be one of those future classics the next generation will read in school and learn from, like The House on Mango Street or Wiesel’s Night. It is such a beautiful book and deserves all the recognition it gets.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free 🍉
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Dementia, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual violence and Cancer
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
While I really appreciated the concept for this narrative - a loosely connected, multi-POV weaving of slice-of-life vignettes for Palestinians living in diaspora in Baltimore, Maryland - it ultimately felt like it never exceeded the sum of its parts. I'm actually confused after reading an interview with the author that suggests the Marcus POV was her starting point. Marcus's POV didn't feel nearly as compelling as several of the others, and it romanticized policing in a way that didn't make sense for the rest of the narrative and feels tonally confusing. The prose is compelling, and I love the focus on stand-alone scenes (there are several short stories in here that were truly beautiful). The author absolutely shows more than she tells here, and it made this feel fast-paced and immersive. Marcus's police POVs were jarring, though, and I'm not sure I fully understand the author's intention with this character and perspective.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, War, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Dementia, Fatphobia, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Confinement, Sexual violence, and Child death
robinks's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was such a beautiful collection of interwoven, nuanced stories. I loved getting to see the characters from different perspectives. Escorting the Body was a powerful way to end the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Fatphobia, Racism, Body shaming, Infidelity, Alcohol, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, Ableism, Murder, Bullying, Medical content, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Drug use, Abandonment, Gun violence, Confinement, Sexual content, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Torture, Addiction, Cancer, Infertility, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
paulasuze's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75/5
Susan Muaddi Darraj's debut novel is a beautiful exploration of life in the diaspora for Palestinian immigrants in America. The book exists in the universe of three families in Baltimore, Maryland, each chapter telling the story of a different family member. This multi-generational tale tackles difficult topics, from eating disorders, to the intersection of class and race, to the cycle of poverty, to sexual assault, to anti-Arab sentiment and Islamophobia, to inter- and intra-community violence. Few characters endear themselves to the reader, but their stories are no less engrossing because of it.
The blurb states that the book faces stereotypes about Palestinians head-on, and in some cases that's true. In a few stories though, I wasn't sure if the narrative was actually reinforcing stereotypes rather than dispelling them. Additionally, there is a lot of hero worship/glorification of policing and the US military which I found interesting. Because of the policing/military violence under the occupation in Palestine, I would have expected the opposite, but maybe Darraj is noting that the first generation children of these immigrants are so removed from Palestine that they do not know that violence and therefore don't abhor the institution of it. Unclear!
Overall though, it was a compelling story and a debut that definitely has me keeping an eye out for what the author puts out next.
Susan Muaddi Darraj's debut novel is a beautiful exploration of life in the diaspora for Palestinian immigrants in America. The book exists in the universe of three families in Baltimore, Maryland, each chapter telling the story of a different family member. This multi-generational tale tackles difficult topics, from eating disorders, to the intersection of class and race, to the cycle of poverty, to sexual assault, to anti-Arab sentiment and Islamophobia, to inter- and intra-community violence. Few characters endear themselves to the reader, but their stories are no less engrossing because of it.
The blurb states that the book faces stereotypes about Palestinians head-on, and in some cases that's true. In a few stories though, I wasn't sure if the narrative was actually reinforcing stereotypes rather than dispelling them. Additionally, there is a lot of hero worship/glorification of policing and the US military which I found interesting. Because of the policing/military violence under the occupation in Palestine, I would have expected the opposite, but maybe Darraj is noting that the first generation children of these immigrants are so removed from Palestine that they do not know that violence and therefore don't abhor the institution of it. Unclear!
Overall though, it was a compelling story and a debut that definitely has me keeping an eye out for what the author puts out next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Violence, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Police brutality
Minor: Torture and Cultural appropriation
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