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howtobebooks's review against another edition
5.0
A well deserved Pulitzer Prize for Hisham Matar, who speaks bravely about the terrible experiences his family faced under the Gaddafi regime and not knowing the fate of his diplomat father. It is gripping and terrifying to read how easy it was for the authorities to arrest and kill Libyans at will even on foreign soil and the complicity of western countries that allowed it to happen. Truly a harrowing and stirring autobiography.
fuzzyhebrew's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Beautifully written and intense subject matter. The book talks about how to go on living and enjoying life when you do not know whether your loved ones are dead or alive. I was hoping Hisham would get some finality about whether his father was dead, but it does not seem so. The most concrete evidence we have is at the near end of the book, but it is not for sure.
tessyoung's review against another edition
4.0
This was by no means an easy read but it was a beautiful one.
Matar tells the story of his return to Libya, the country which he had left as a child. He returns in search of his father who had been abducted from exile in Egypt and imprisoned for political opposition. In parts incredibly personal, in others LeCarre'esque.
There's so much to this narrative but I wanted to share just a bit of one particular section of the book that really jumped out at me.
The description of Benghazi is perhaps one of the the best pieces of writing about the placeness of a city, of how differing periods of historic settlement, colonisation and ways of understanding the world are written into the fabric city and its identity. It's a wonderful piece of storytelling, all Libyan history told through a single city, but made even more compelling by the emotional charge from the entanglement of this national narrative with personal biography. Just beautifully done.
sarahbeth89's review against another edition
The writing style was boring, the timeline was vm difficult to follow and the main character was whiny.
kerrysj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
sydneyjn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
A beautiful memoir.
yarafadel's review against another edition
4.0
Literature of prisons, particularly prisons of Arabia from the late last century will always carry a deep meaning in my heart; not only because many members of my family experienced them, but also because I feel I would have been one of those people had I been alive during that time. Reading this book which was set in a modern political time had awoken the rebellious me that lays within me everyday. This book in particular was set during a time I was actually alive. It speaks of events I lived myself. It felt very personal even though I have never been to Libya. I am very happy to have randomly found this book.
I will say that this book will not be read as quickly as anticipated. I also disliked how male-dominant the characters are - even though I get it, I also do not. I would have liked to hear more from the mother's and the wife's points of views. We heard from the brother, so why not from the women too?
All in all, before reading this book, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Go in knowing about the "Arab Spring", the opposition, and the past and current political states.
I will say that this book will not be read as quickly as anticipated. I also disliked how male-dominant the characters are - even though I get it, I also do not. I would have liked to hear more from the mother's and the wife's points of views. We heard from the brother, so why not from the women too?
All in all, before reading this book, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Go in knowing about the "Arab Spring", the opposition, and the past and current political states.