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A review by laynemandros
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I’m sure you’ve seen reviews for this book floating around bookstagram, and if you haven’t then I fear you may be on the wrong side of the internet.
“Minor Detail” is a harrowing novel about the Palestinian experience that took my breath away. The narration from Siiri Scott is exceptional— if you’re normally a 2x audiobook girly then you’re going to want to slow it down for this one to really take it all in.
The novel follows two Palestinian women, alive decades apart, to demonstrate how the brutal Israeli occupation has insidiously persisted. Palestinians are violently killed, without reason or question, in the occupied areas of the West Bank and Gaza.
There are so many layers to the brutalization of Palestinians inflicted by Israel and “Minor Detail” uses blunt writing that digs into the everyday acts of violence Palestinians face: losing access to history and family lineage, restriction of access via heavily militarized checkpoints, identification cards that relegate people to certain geographic locations, the anxieties Palestinian people feel when trying to complete normal, everyday tasks like commuting to work, and so much more.
There’s so much to say about this book that cannot fit neatly into an Instagram caption— but what I can say is that this book will stay with me forever. The stories of Palestinians will stay with me forever.
Continue to read, honor, remember, and document Palestinian history. We owe Palestine our continued support, endurance, and activism.
Resist! Protest! Boycott! Call your reps! Do not let our political decision makers know a single moment of peace while they aid in the slaughter of Palestinians.
“Minor Detail” is a harrowing novel about the Palestinian experience that took my breath away. The narration from Siiri Scott is exceptional— if you’re normally a 2x audiobook girly then you’re going to want to slow it down for this one to really take it all in.
The novel follows two Palestinian women, alive decades apart, to demonstrate how the brutal Israeli occupation has insidiously persisted. Palestinians are violently killed, without reason or question, in the occupied areas of the West Bank and Gaza.
There are so many layers to the brutalization of Palestinians inflicted by Israel and “Minor Detail” uses blunt writing that digs into the everyday acts of violence Palestinians face: losing access to history and family lineage, restriction of access via heavily militarized checkpoints, identification cards that relegate people to certain geographic locations, the anxieties Palestinian people feel when trying to complete normal, everyday tasks like commuting to work, and so much more.
There’s so much to say about this book that cannot fit neatly into an Instagram caption— but what I can say is that this book will stay with me forever. The stories of Palestinians will stay with me forever.
Continue to read, honor, remember, and document Palestinian history. We owe Palestine our continued support, endurance, and activism.
Resist! Protest! Boycott! Call your reps! Do not let our political decision makers know a single moment of peace while they aid in the slaughter of Palestinians.