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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
This novel is absolutely moving and completely heartbreaking. It's the kind of story that sticks with you, long after you've put it down for the final time. It was the kind of book that, while I was reading it, I couldn't put it down - I'm pretty sure I read it during lecture because I physically could not let it go when there was still so many things unresolved. Moriel Rothman-Zecher tackles pretty heavy topics, and accomplishes so much.
Moriel Rothman-Zecher is an Israeli-American novelist and poet whose work has been published in The New York Times, The Paris Review and Haaretz. Rothman-Zecher says he came across this novel idea almost by accident - that he was trying to write something else, but it wasn't working but then all of a sudden, during a period of fasting, he realized he was writing the wrong book. No matter what brought on this realization, I'm glad it allowed this book to be born. It's definitely the kind of eye-opening novel the world needed.
The story opens with Jonathan, who is in military prison for something readers don't quite yet know. But he's reflecting and all of a sudden telling us about his summer. Of being excited to join the Israel Defense Forces. Of meeting two Palestinian citizens of Israel - the twins, Laith and Nimreen. Becoming friends with them, loving hanging out with them and then loving them. The summer is full of love and confusion as Jonathan grapples about what this friendship means for who he believes he is.
There seems to be no happy ending here, cruelly reminding us of the first word of the title: sadness. But the story is so clever, so well-written, that even readers are caught between this debate with Jonathan. Urging him to understand, falling in love with Laith and Nimreen the same way Jonathan is. There's this false hope that maybe everything will be okay, because it has to be. The story is intense, and sometimes I felt lost in the politics I didn't quite understand, but the heart was so large, and the desire to share this story was so profound. Even if you're not familiar with the politics, I heartily recommend this novel, because it is and it isn't about the politics - it's truly about the ways in which is affects the people caught within the politics.
The ending is not satisfying. But the characters are so rich in complexity, the prose so lyrical and searing, the plot so revealing in what war can do to people, that this book is well, well worth the read.
*This review is also published on my blog*
Moriel Rothman-Zecher is an Israeli-American novelist and poet whose work has been published in The New York Times, The Paris Review and Haaretz. Rothman-Zecher says he came across this novel idea almost by accident - that he was trying to write something else, but it wasn't working but then all of a sudden, during a period of fasting, he realized he was writing the wrong book. No matter what brought on this realization, I'm glad it allowed this book to be born. It's definitely the kind of eye-opening novel the world needed.
The story opens with Jonathan, who is in military prison for something readers don't quite yet know. But he's reflecting and all of a sudden telling us about his summer. Of being excited to join the Israel Defense Forces. Of meeting two Palestinian citizens of Israel - the twins, Laith and Nimreen. Becoming friends with them, loving hanging out with them and then loving them. The summer is full of love and confusion as Jonathan grapples about what this friendship means for who he believes he is.
There seems to be no happy ending here, cruelly reminding us of the first word of the title: sadness. But the story is so clever, so well-written, that even readers are caught between this debate with Jonathan. Urging him to understand, falling in love with Laith and Nimreen the same way Jonathan is. There's this false hope that maybe everything will be okay, because it has to be. The story is intense, and sometimes I felt lost in the politics I didn't quite understand, but the heart was so large, and the desire to share this story was so profound. Even if you're not familiar with the politics, I heartily recommend this novel, because it is and it isn't about the politics - it's truly about the ways in which is affects the people caught within the politics.
The ending is not satisfying. But the characters are so rich in complexity, the prose so lyrical and searing, the plot so revealing in what war can do to people, that this book is well, well worth the read.
*This review is also published on my blog*
A heart-breaking book putting human faces on the Israeli occupation of Palestine. It's thoughtful and moving - political without being polemical and gorgeously written.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5/5 stars. A (very) last-minute favorite of the year. The writing was stunning, the story was heartbreaking and i teared up because i never wanted it to end. The time skips made the book a bit challenging to read, so I think this would've been even stronger if it were stretched into a 300+ read. However, I am grateful for its small size, not only for its poignancy but also so I could finish it before the ball drops. Happy fucking new year.
Wow, this book really hit me in the feels. The book presents an interesting and different take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and really makes your think about things. I deducted a star due to how the narration and time jumps were sometimes confusing. Overall, a stellar book.
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Is it wrong for me to say that I thought the parts about Salonica was where the books was strongest? There's a lot of stuff here about the relationship between young Jewish Israelis and the army, young Jewish Israelis and their Jewish identity and young Jewish Israelis and young Muslim Israelis, but a lot of it is glossily written and lacquered over with some YA lust, sexual experimentation and a cannabis haze. The giant and absurd coincidence propping up the centre of the book feels unearned and antithetical to the nuance that the author is attempting. This was a little disappointing on a couple of levels.
I couldn't have been happier to come across "Sadness is a White Bird" by chance, the book having been selected for a book club that I attended. I have devoured it up in no time, staying up late until the middle of the night. The language flows beautifully and I loved the way the narrative was conceived, in a way that the story was directed to a friend of the main character. Another thing that made the story special, was the way the Hebrew & Arabic phrases were incorporated into the text, as in a transcription of their pronunciation, which added even more character.
I felt like the book gave me both insights of Palestinian & Israeli opinions, while interlacing both with personal stories.
It has been an absolutely enjoyable and touching read from beginning until end & it has made it among my favourite books of the year. An absolute suggestion!
I felt like the book gave me both insights of Palestinian & Israeli opinions, while interlacing both with personal stories.
It has been an absolutely enjoyable and touching read from beginning until end & it has made it among my favourite books of the year. An absolute suggestion!