A review by the_library_of_mary
Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha Alharthi

emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is just...wow. I had picked this up randomly at a bookstore because it seemed like an interesting quick read. I feel like this has put thoughts and feelings that I had said were indescribable into words perfectly. It focuses on this one families and the histories and connections between them all. Bint Aamir's story and her role in the rest of the families lives broke my heart. Her character is this respectable and loving staple in the family dynamic, but is inherently such a sad character. Her life has been nothing but being of use to others and filling what they need. 

This book adresses a lot of themes, and the one that got to me was the relationship to the elderly. I have grandparents and this book made me face a lot of ugly truths about the way I view my loved ones. How sad it is to want to leave and continue on with your life, when they are stuck in a single room. Alone. My Della is in a nursing home now and just the other week we went to visit and though it was good to talk to her, I wanted to leave and get home because I was tired after 30 minutes. How cruel of me, how selfish of me. What's worse is that I hadn't even thought of it as a selfish thing, it just was what I was thinking. 

This is a beautifully painful story and the last chapter broke me officially. Will be reading again. 
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