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ashh0805 's review for:
Behind You Is the Sea
by Susan Muaddi Darraj
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Firstly, I'd like to say that I see what this book was trying to do and I overall did like this title. It was an easy, quick read with some good beats. I thought it was a nice touch the way the author painted them as, who could've guessed, real people with a wide variety of different struggles and interests. I liked how unapologetically Arab it was, it didn't feel the need to translate the Arabic at every move, it didn't water down the culture or slang, just raw representation. Overall, I do think this is a good book that's worth the read, especially at this point in the genocide in Palestine. It can be pretty hard looking into Palestinian media and only getting recommended history books on the genocide. In my opinion we need to focus not just on that, but on the other art coming from the people. We need more humanizing for those on the other side of the world who refuse to see it. I really like that about this book, it not only talks about the Nakba and how it affects the many generations to come. It also talks about other everyday struggles, not just those of just Palestinians, but those of people.
Now I'd like to get into my criticisms of this book. I could not get into the writing style, at certain points it really lulls, and in others it really shines. Either way it was very hard for me to get into. On top of that I had a really really hard time truly connecting emotionally with the characters. This is a multi-perspective book, switching perspectives each chapter. A few of these chapters were published as short stories first, and you can really tell which those are, they shine more than the others, with stronger story beats and a more succinct ending feeling. It does not feel like we have enough time with each character, to get know them or to feel satisfied with the endings of each of their stories. I do see the valid idea that perhaps it's supposed to feel a bit like real life, how nothing is ever resolved and it's always moving. However, it just moves too quick to get into any of the characters lives, I feel they each needed more time to breathe. This quick moving pace wasn't entirely to its detriment. It did give the book the opportunity to cover a wide range of topics and struggles, mental health, family matters, gender, class, job choice, etc. But again, this pace really took a toll on the emotional connections to the characters. While everyone was different with their own struggles it seemed to be very monolithic when talking about the fathers. I understand a generation and culture tend to make similar types of people, but they were all almost ideas of people instead of fully fledged characters. (Which I acknowledge, could be intentional.)
It was a good book, but I just walked away from each chapter wanting more. From both the characters and the stories, there's just something missing.
Now I'd like to get into my criticisms of this book. I could not get into the writing style, at certain points it really lulls, and in others it really shines. Either way it was very hard for me to get into. On top of that I had a really really hard time truly connecting emotionally with the characters. This is a multi-perspective book, switching perspectives each chapter. A few of these chapters were published as short stories first, and you can really tell which those are, they shine more than the others, with stronger story beats and a more succinct ending feeling. It does not feel like we have enough time with each character, to get know them or to feel satisfied with the endings of each of their stories. I do see the valid idea that perhaps it's supposed to feel a bit like real life, how nothing is ever resolved and it's always moving. However, it just moves too quick to get into any of the characters lives, I feel they each needed more time to breathe. This quick moving pace wasn't entirely to its detriment. It did give the book the opportunity to cover a wide range of topics and struggles, mental health, family matters, gender, class, job choice, etc. But again, this pace really took a toll on the emotional connections to the characters. While everyone was different with their own struggles it seemed to be very monolithic when talking about the fathers. I understand a generation and culture tend to make similar types of people, but they were all almost ideas of people instead of fully fledged characters. (Which I acknowledge, could be intentional.)
It was a good book, but I just walked away from each chapter wanting more. From both the characters and the stories, there's just something missing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, Classism