A review by milomoon
The Wrong End of the Telescope by Rabih Alameddine

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

this is one of most poignant books i've ever read. the prose is beautiful, and the author weaves in her own history as well as the stories of refugees into a beautifully tragic tapestry of human experience. i loved how intersectional this approach is, giving the space for intersecting identities to share the unique experiences of being a queer refugee, being a trans refugee, being a rich, poor, young, old, refugee or volunteer. it also is a book that invites the reader to really think about the role of humanitarian aid and think critically about what systems are being upheld by foreign aid, as well as questioning the motivations of volunteers to provide help in such crises. i would recommend this to literally everyone, but bear in mind that it's (especially now) very topical and emotional