A review by silverliningsandpages
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Against the Loveless World

A beautiful cover and perfect title for this novel. I think there’s a powerful,defiant story trying to get out of this one, but I’m not sure that the execution is entirely successful here.

On a positive note, Susan Abulhawa has constructed an interesting, multilayered protagonist in Nahr.  She knows what it is to be exploited and abused, and to be a Palestinian refugee.  She’s confined to an Israeli prison cell and tells her sad story of displacement with longing ferocity and fury.  

Mornings in Jenin by the same author was one of my favourite reads of 2020, but unfortunately this didn’t have the same emotional intensity and intimacy that I adored in the former.  Also, I think the pacing wasn’t quite right so it was a little challenging to get through to the end. 

All in all, I’m glad I read this one to give me a greater understanding of the humanitarian issues, but sadly it’s not a favourite.