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A review by thebooknerdscorner
The Voiceless Dream by Fatma Al Arbawi
4.0
A dystopian take on the devastating events that are currently occurring in the Middle East.
Dalia Dawashe is a teenage girl with only two things on her mind: survival and protecting her family from the dangerous Blareli soldiers who are occupying the city of Jana. It is perilous to even walk on the streets alone; there is always a chance a soldier could shoot you for minor discretions (or for no reason at all). That doesn't quash Dalia's hope that she can provide her family with a pleasant life despite them living in poverty and in fear. Her friends are convinced that if they don't stand against the Blareli occupation as a part of the Resistance, then their futures are as good as dead. With danger at every turn, Dalia is forced to choose a side. Will she risk everything for the future her parents died for, or will she protect their legacy by keeping her family safe?
This book is a raw and visceral read that does not cut corners to make the tragedy easier to palate. This novel is a reminder that nothing is certain and that we can't take anything for granted, even in the best of times. This book may use made up terms, but it addresses topics that are very much real in this world. Things are less than stable in many parts of the Middle East and this book is a great reminder of that. It is obvious that the author of this book is very passionate about helping those in need in any way possible and educating others that are less aware of these heartbreaking circumstances that people are living through. Some parts of this book are quite difficult to read, but that doesn't make these things not be happening to real people around the world. The author's note does a number of enlightening readers who may still be a little in the dark after the completion of the novel.
I enjoyed the banter between Dalia and Inas quite immensely. Despite these two not knowing each other for very long, they have a great chemistry and it is fun to hear them bicker with one another. Rahaf and Malik are both great supporting characters that are left in the midst of all the horrors that are going on in Jana. Abdul being mute and autistic is another great touch to this story. As well as being another great chance to educate others about those with disabilities, it also raises the stakes in certain circumstances, too.
The tension is sky high throughout the majority of this book. Dalia is always in danger, and I was constantly scared for her and her family's safety the entire way through. During this book, I was quite literally waiting for something to go horrendously wrong. Dahlia certainly catches a ton of lucky breaks throughout this narrative that had me releasing sighs of relief, but never quite letting my guard down.
Despite all the amazing things this book has going for it, there are quite a few technical things that could be improved to make it a much better read. There are many minor errors, such as typos, punctuation mishaps, and other formatting oopsies that all take away from the ease of reading this wonderful story. There are also some ways that this book could have been organized differently that would have elevated it to another level, such as consistent alternating PoV's (I'd say Dalia, Inas, and Benjamin's for sure). This would have helped the flow of the book as well as made the connection to the important characters stronger.
Overall, "The Voiceless Dream" is a heartwrenching story that questions the very nature of humanity. It may be told in a bit of a dystopian narrative, but that didn't conceal the fact that these devastating circumstances are happening to so many people in the world we live in now. The dialogue is witty, the characters are likable, and the themes are super important. I am so proud of my friend Fatma for penning this book, and I hope to work closer in collaboration with her in the future if she ever continues to publish more books.
Dalia Dawashe is a teenage girl with only two things on her mind: survival and protecting her family from the dangerous Blareli soldiers who are occupying the city of Jana. It is perilous to even walk on the streets alone; there is always a chance a soldier could shoot you for minor discretions (or for no reason at all). That doesn't quash Dalia's hope that she can provide her family with a pleasant life despite them living in poverty and in fear. Her friends are convinced that if they don't stand against the Blareli occupation as a part of the Resistance, then their futures are as good as dead. With danger at every turn, Dalia is forced to choose a side. Will she risk everything for the future her parents died for, or will she protect their legacy by keeping her family safe?
This book is a raw and visceral read that does not cut corners to make the tragedy easier to palate. This novel is a reminder that nothing is certain and that we can't take anything for granted, even in the best of times. This book may use made up terms, but it addresses topics that are very much real in this world. Things are less than stable in many parts of the Middle East and this book is a great reminder of that. It is obvious that the author of this book is very passionate about helping those in need in any way possible and educating others that are less aware of these heartbreaking circumstances that people are living through. Some parts of this book are quite difficult to read, but that doesn't make these things not be happening to real people around the world. The author's note does a number of enlightening readers who may still be a little in the dark after the completion of the novel.
I enjoyed the banter between Dalia and Inas quite immensely. Despite these two not knowing each other for very long, they have a great chemistry and it is fun to hear them bicker with one another. Rahaf and Malik are both great supporting characters that are left in the midst of all the horrors that are going on in Jana. Abdul being mute and autistic is another great touch to this story. As well as being another great chance to educate others about those with disabilities, it also raises the stakes in certain circumstances, too.
The tension is sky high throughout the majority of this book. Dalia is always in danger, and I was constantly scared for her and her family's safety the entire way through. During this book, I was quite literally waiting for something to go horrendously wrong. Dahlia certainly catches a ton of lucky breaks throughout this narrative that had me releasing sighs of relief, but never quite letting my guard down.
Despite all the amazing things this book has going for it, there are quite a few technical things that could be improved to make it a much better read. There are many minor errors, such as typos, punctuation mishaps, and other formatting oopsies that all take away from the ease of reading this wonderful story. There are also some ways that this book could have been organized differently that would have elevated it to another level, such as consistent alternating PoV's (I'd say Dalia, Inas, and Benjamin's for sure). This would have helped the flow of the book as well as made the connection to the important characters stronger.
Overall, "The Voiceless Dream" is a heartwrenching story that questions the very nature of humanity. It may be told in a bit of a dystopian narrative, but that didn't conceal the fact that these devastating circumstances are happening to so many people in the world we live in now. The dialogue is witty, the characters are likable, and the themes are super important. I am so proud of my friend Fatma for penning this book, and I hope to work closer in collaboration with her in the future if she ever continues to publish more books.