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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
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!
4.5 Stars
This novel was fantastically moving with gorgeous writing. I really came to connect with the three central characters, and their relationship was so wonderful to read about. I would highly recommend this book for a fresh perspective on the repercussions of the Israel-Palestine Conflict today.
This novel was fantastically moving with gorgeous writing. I really came to connect with the three central characters, and their relationship was so wonderful to read about. I would highly recommend this book for a fresh perspective on the repercussions of the Israel-Palestine Conflict today.
This is a very strong debut novel from Moriel Rothman-Zecher. It addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a touching and humanizing way, with a young protagonist questioning his personal beliefs, family history, and role in the ongoing violence. My only critique of the book is that it takes a while to hit its stride, but has the reader firmly in its grip by the end. Overall, a powerful narrative and definitely worth a read.
Thanks to the published and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to the published and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I finished this book with a deep sense of unrest, the kind of feeling that comes before tears except you never end up crying. Jonathan was one of the most amazing protagonists I've read in a long time and, my god, I'd given up on finding the perfect harmony between brilliant writing and a moving plot but this book does it SO well -- and in second person, too! Talk about making something challenging look so damn easy. And the way Jonathan gave to love, lust, and intimacy so easily was so enjoyable to read. He didn't hold back but he also wasn't impulsive; there were moments I felt like a pounce or a grab snuck up on me but I'd look back a couple of pages and see the tension was potent from the very beginning. It was such a rush to read writing that was unpredictable yet not in the slightest bit staggered or disconnected, it was so fluid and graceful. Like Laith, who I adored. And though Nimreen contrasted his easygoing nature in everyway, she was loyal and kind, and scared, so I sympathized with her, too.
The poetry snuck up on me and I'm disappointed that I didn't savour it more and pay attention to those passages for longer, but it was splendid to read and I can't wait to revisit those parts when I read this again sometime in the future.
This is a sad and sorrowful book bursting with joy and I love how much it contradicts itself. Also, it doesn't offer comfort, so be warned that you're going into this reading experience only to come out feeling a little hopeless, but the stories that are told in this larger narrative are so important and so worth knowing about.
The poetry snuck up on me and I'm disappointed that I didn't savour it more and pay attention to those passages for longer, but it was splendid to read and I can't wait to revisit those parts when I read this again sometime in the future.
This is a sad and sorrowful book bursting with joy and I love how much it contradicts itself. Also, it doesn't offer comfort, so be warned that you're going into this reading experience only to come out feeling a little hopeless, but the stories that are told in this larger narrative are so important and so worth knowing about.