Reviews

Once in a Promised Land by Laila Halaby

lukewarm_ravens's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.25

Read for class. 

Really wonderful. 

heeniee's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective tense medium-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? Yes

3.25

elizalavenza's review against another edition

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sofiam012345's review against another edition

emotional slow-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? Yes

5.0

crazytealady's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Reading this book while I was in AZ really brought the desert story to life. I love the exploration of belonging and culture. I was deep in this story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Miscarriage and Car accident

eleong's review against another edition

3.0

At first I felt some resistance even though I love reading post 9/11 literature, but once I got into it, I became enraptured by the story. I was completely in the characters' world -- Jordanian and American -- I was in Tucson, AZ; I was in their cool, clean house; I was in their confused heads. Halaby's writing allowed me to move from two very different cultures effortless which is truly a talent.

disasterchick's review against another edition

3.0

I liked the idea of the book, but didn't connect with it. Each of the characters were so flawed that I would not have associated with them. They were lying to themselves and to each other. The book had a tendency to repeat itself by telling another person's view of the story. I didn't like the foreshadowing that often occurred.

gibblove22's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Sexual content

dinoparker's review against another edition

3.0

3.75 stars.

For white people and non-Arabs, it’s a must read because it shows the discrimination Arabs and Muslims face in America (though not the full extent because the main characters are secular upper-middle class). For Muslims and Arabs, it’s triggering as hell. Yes it captures some of the struggles regarding home and anxiety really well, and a lot of the struggles faced by the characters are very realistic, but to have to relive these experiences (one could even call it trauma) and have them articulated and put on display like too much, especially considering our current political climate.

eleong's review against another edition

3.0

At first I felt some resistance even though I love reading post 9/11 literature, but once I got into it, I became enraptured by the story. I was completely in the characters' world -- Jordanian and American -- I was in Tucson, AZ; I was in their cool, clean house; I was in their confused heads. Halaby's writing allowed me to move from two very different cultures effortless which is truly a talent.