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A review by plumjam
The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher
4.0
The Skin and its Girl is ultimately a novel about the Palestinian diaspora and the trickle-down effects it has through the generations, in this case, the Rummani family. This book reflects the struggles that many refugees (and their children and grandchildren) experience, but emphasizes the specific situation Palestinians are in. Betty’s blue skin is symbolic of Palestinians' existence. She’s treated as a blight; something to be hidden; something alien. Her mere existence forces others to look it in the eye. The story is told by Betty as she sits next to her aunts grave. She recounts their lives and broken fragments of their family's history- Betty notes that most of what she knows was oral history told by the person she is with right now. The aunt who loved her blue skin and who loved to tell stories.
The Skin and its Girl has a compelling narrative. The inner-workings of the Rummani family was complex and distant and intimate. This book felt a little dense at times and I think it'd benefit from a second read. I also didn't connect to it emotionally as much as I expected to. That being said this was beautifully written.
The Skin and its Girl has a compelling narrative. The inner-workings of the Rummani family was complex and distant and intimate. This book felt a little dense at times and I think it'd benefit from a second read. I also didn't connect to it emotionally as much as I expected to. That being said this was beautifully written.