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A review by 2treads
Fencing with the King by Diana Abu-Jaber
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Abu-Jaber's take on familial inheritance and how greed can fester and morph into resentment and an ugly entitlement, will be familiar to any reader who comes from a cultural tradition where handing down pieces that have represented a family's history for generations is an expression of love and value.
Characters are deftly handled as their complicated family history unfolds. Abu-Jaber uses a heritage that straddles rich culture and a history of violence and displacement. Amani embarks on a journey to Jordan that will open a door to many questions.
To seek the story of a presence that has always been with her but that in life seems to have led disparate existences. There are secrets here that those closest to her have kept and are unwilling to share, but help can come from unexpected places and in subtle ways.
I absolutely loved how the author handled the pacing of her plot and the navigation through a complicated and painful history, the fracturing of a family because of jealousy, while also managing to include domestic drama and social hierarchies which enhanced my enjoyment all the more.
However I was disappointed because the uncle did not get the comeuppance he deserved for his greed-driven machinations against his family.
Characters are deftly handled as their complicated family history unfolds. Abu-Jaber uses a heritage that straddles rich culture and a history of violence and displacement. Amani embarks on a journey to Jordan that will open a door to many questions.
To seek the story of a presence that has always been with her but that in life seems to have led disparate existences. There are secrets here that those closest to her have kept and are unwilling to share, but help can come from unexpected places and in subtle ways.
I absolutely loved how the author handled the pacing of her plot and the navigation through a complicated and painful history, the fracturing of a family because of jealousy, while also managing to include domestic drama and social hierarchies which enhanced my enjoyment all the more.
However I was disappointed because the uncle did not get the comeuppance he deserved for his greed-driven machinations against his family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment