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A review by rorikae
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
'Enter Ghost' by Isabella Hammad is a contemplative novel about a woman returning home to Palestine and acting in a production of Hamlet.
While visiting her sister in Haifa, Sonia is introduced to Mariam, who is staging a production of Hamlet in the West Bank. In need of more actors, she casts Sonia as Gertrude. As rehearsals ramp up, so too do the obstacles that the production has to being put on. As Sonia reconnects with her past and works to heal from her time in England, the production of Hamlet becomes an act of resistance.
Hammad has created a deeply human story rooted in the importance of art as resistance. Sonia is a flawed, complex character, which makes her all the easier to sympathize with. Her past slowly unfolds as she reconnects with her sister and the land. This story also showcases the stark realities of occupation in Palestine, including the violence and persecution that Palestinian people are subjected to. Parts of the story were told through scripts, which was a great use of form though it didn't translate as well to audio as I think it does in print. My favorite aspect of this story is the actual production of Hamlet and how the company uses the play to speak to their current situation.
While visiting her sister in Haifa, Sonia is introduced to Mariam, who is staging a production of Hamlet in the West Bank. In need of more actors, she casts Sonia as Gertrude. As rehearsals ramp up, so too do the obstacles that the production has to being put on. As Sonia reconnects with her past and works to heal from her time in England, the production of Hamlet becomes an act of resistance.
Hammad has created a deeply human story rooted in the importance of art as resistance. Sonia is a flawed, complex character, which makes her all the easier to sympathize with. Her past slowly unfolds as she reconnects with her sister and the land. This story also showcases the stark realities of occupation in Palestine, including the violence and persecution that Palestinian people are subjected to. Parts of the story were told through scripts, which was a great use of form though it didn't translate as well to audio as I think it does in print. My favorite aspect of this story is the actual production of Hamlet and how the company uses the play to speak to their current situation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Islamophobia
Minor: Death and Violence