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A review by lattelibrarian
A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi
5.0
What an astounding book. Though not too violent at its core, this book certainly displays an affinity for discussing the aftereffects and reactions to the violence which humanity commits on a day to day basis--namely, in this book, terrorism caused by Daesh in Syria. As we begin to follow Tareq, we are also allowed insight not only into what used to be his everyday life, but into the horrors he now bears witness to and the fears others harbor towards him. Nuanced would be the word I'd use to describe this book.
I'll be honest. I live a pretty comfortable life. Even cases of domestic terrorism are pretty far away from me, which allows me to be unsettled but still feeling rather safe in where I am. Everything I know about refugees and fleeing one's home is theoretical, and likely through the lens of a white journalist. This is why this book felt so important to me--because it questioned what I knew, what I didn't know, and taught me more than I thought it could.
Because I don't know the author, I can't definitively say what her goal was in writing this book. But if it was to enlighten white readers about the horrors refugees must face, she succeeded. If it was to delve into a character's fears and anxieties about being forced to flee from the place he's always know, she succeeded. If it was to critique governments and charities and relief systems' reactions to terrorism, she succeeded. This book did a lot of things, and it succeeded.
Another thing I think it succeeded in was the position of the narrator, which is destiny. I think it's a wonderful call to The Book Thief, and it works so well. The narration wonderfully navigates the fine line between "you can't outrun destiny" and "nothing's set in stone."
Overall, this book is a wonderful, beautiful book that does not shy away from the violence and horrors one must endure due to terrorism. If you enjoy or are interested in learning about other cultures, human trafficking, homelessness, and hard or unpresent goodbyes, this book is definitely for you.
Review cross-listed here!
I'll be honest. I live a pretty comfortable life. Even cases of domestic terrorism are pretty far away from me, which allows me to be unsettled but still feeling rather safe in where I am. Everything I know about refugees and fleeing one's home is theoretical, and likely through the lens of a white journalist. This is why this book felt so important to me--because it questioned what I knew, what I didn't know, and taught me more than I thought it could.
Because I don't know the author, I can't definitively say what her goal was in writing this book. But if it was to enlighten white readers about the horrors refugees must face, she succeeded. If it was to delve into a character's fears and anxieties about being forced to flee from the place he's always know, she succeeded. If it was to critique governments and charities and relief systems' reactions to terrorism, she succeeded. This book did a lot of things, and it succeeded.
Another thing I think it succeeded in was the position of the narrator, which is destiny. I think it's a wonderful call to The Book Thief, and it works so well. The narration wonderfully navigates the fine line between "you can't outrun destiny" and "nothing's set in stone."
Overall, this book is a wonderful, beautiful book that does not shy away from the violence and horrors one must endure due to terrorism. If you enjoy or are interested in learning about other cultures, human trafficking, homelessness, and hard or unpresent goodbyes, this book is definitely for you.
Review cross-listed here!