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jiujensu's reviews
454 reviews
Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz
slow-paced
4.0
I've heard this book praised by a wide swathe of readers and literary greats. I found it a bit slow to start and had less of the historical setting than I was hoping. As I read, both things improved and I think I'll read the next book to see what happens to thre family. There is, however a lot of misogyny - maybe historically accurate, maybe to comment on it - but be warned, there is sexual assault.
It touches on the interior lives we lead - like how much are you willing to risk in a revolution - I just read an article about beginning activism and some of the decisions were in there too. The family and gender roles weren't radically questioned but maybe there were hints of change? At the end of Palace Walk, I'd say it makes a lot of sense to find he was influenced by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Proust, etc. I thought of Anna Karenina while reading. I don't know if it lives up to the hype, but I'd put it in the same classics category as the Russian greats.
An article I read suggested reading his later, nationalistic work or these instead: Ahmed Naji, Iman Mersal, Mohamed Salmawy, Mansoura Ez-Eldin, Youssef Rakha.
It touches on the interior lives we lead - like how much are you willing to risk in a revolution - I just read an article about beginning activism and some of the decisions were in there too. The family and gender roles weren't radically questioned but maybe there were hints of change? At the end of Palace Walk, I'd say it makes a lot of sense to find he was influenced by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Proust, etc. I thought of Anna Karenina while reading. I don't know if it lives up to the hype, but I'd put it in the same classics category as the Russian greats.
An article I read suggested reading his later, nationalistic work or these instead: Ahmed Naji, Iman Mersal, Mohamed Salmawy, Mansoura Ez-Eldin, Youssef Rakha.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence
Montgomery Bus Boycott: Women Who Started It by Jo Ann Gibson Robinson
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
If you've ever heard any iteration of Rosa Parks' bus seat story, you're going to need this volume - it gives details from the inside of the bus boycott of planning, cooperation, faith, organization, consequences, beginning, and results. There's so much I didn't know.
It's an inspiring story, especially now in trying to mobilize against genocide. Segregation and genocide are depressingly popular things. But there's proof humanity and good can win. But you have to organize. And be a little unruly.
It's an inspiring story, especially now in trying to mobilize against genocide. Segregation and genocide are depressingly popular things. But there's proof humanity and good can win. But you have to organize. And be a little unruly.
Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America by Mayukh Sen
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
This was a suggestion from the Twitterverse!
If you've enjoyed Julia Child or Anthony Bourdain, you've got to add this collection of seven women who changed American tastes despite all odds (and sometimes disability) and the very white food establishment.
If you've enjoyed Julia Child or Anthony Bourdain, you've got to add this collection of seven women who changed American tastes despite all odds (and sometimes disability) and the very white food establishment.
No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump's Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need by Naomi Klein
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
So I'm waiting on Naomi Klein's Doppleganger (audio) from the library, so I got No Is Not Enough - it was written when Trump was elected. Some is old news - but in many ways, we're repeating it! So you should read it, lol. She's one of a few pubic figures I agree with on most things - a rare stress free listen/read. I love how she connects anti-capitalism, anti-war, healthcare, human rights, feminism, racial justice, environmentalism where many liberals will put several of these in competition. She reassures us that we CAN have nice things! (At the end)
Check this out, though. This quote describes exactly what we're seeing with how Democrats are treating Palestinians. Democrats, both voters and officials, believe they are entitled to the Palestinian and Arab vote, despite US funding genocide and doubling down on discrimination (free speech/assembly/employment). Democrats are preemptively blaming Palestinians for Trump. Go to Mars, i say!
I like the way Michelle Alexander (via Klein) puts it here.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, came out strongly against Clinton during the primaries, arguing that her track record on criminal justice and welfare meant she did not deserve the Black vote. But she also chose not to publicly endorse Sanders. The most urgent message of the 2016 election, she told me, is: "If progressives think they can win in the long run without engaging meaningfully with Black folks and taking racial history more seriously, they better get Elon Musk on speed dial and start planning their future home on Mars, because this planet will be going up in smoke."
It's a message we need to learn fast. Because if Left populist candidates keep missing the mark, and Democrats keep putting up establishment candidates in their place, there is every reason to expect an increasingly belligerent Right to keep on winning."
~~~~~~~~~~
That last bit is perfect. Trump and his ilk will keep winning if the Dems keep offering up crap centrist candidates with no substance. It won't be black people's fault. It won't be Palestinians' fault. It won't be the fault of idealistic, self-important, performative, uppity leftists like me (or so I've been called) who oppose genocide, apartheid and occupation. The blame rests with the Democratic Party.
In the quote: ~engage meaningfully~ with Palestinians - treat them as equals, oppose genocide, oppose occupation, oppose apartheid, boycott/sanction/embargo Israel until it complies, learn why the two state solution is dead, learn about the one secular democratic state option.
Examine those biases - why don't you accept any Palestinian or Arab news sources as objective or legitimate as CNN, NPR, NYT or even JPost? Why does it take one Israeli death, but 10,000 - 40,000 Palestinian deaths to warrant national attention? Why do you say Israeli self-defense and Palestinian terrorism? Why does Israel 'have a right to exist' but Palestine and Palestinians do not? How can you call it a war when it's against the population you occupy? Why do you share Israeli sources who don't fact check their government propaganda (40 beheaded babies, babies in ovens, most moral army, they don't bomb hospitals, etc) and refuse to share Palestinian journalists on the ground? Why are Israelis hostages, but Palestinians are prisoners? Why do you only start the clock when a rocket lands in Israel (and not at 1918 or 1948 when it began)? Why do you believe Israel is the perpetual victim responding despite the fact that it can turn the electricity and water off at the drop of a hat? Why do you allow Israel self-defense from the people it OCCUPIES, but Palestinians aren't allowed to resist occupation? Why do you demand Palestinians (and the world) recognize Israel as a Jewish only apartheid ethnostate, but do not require everyone to recognize a basic level of humanity or self-determination for Palestinians? Why is Palestinians basic humanity perpetually on trial - we *may* think about talks that will lead to other talks about a possible state IF they do x, y, and z (usually - give up Palestinians right to resist, accept Palestinian administered/funded occupation, and celebrate Israeli generosity when you can have a few disconnected bits of land, no right of return, no control of borders, and of course no real authority).
***Anyway, I know some of you don't think this way (I appreciate you!) - I'm reacting to infuriating to annoying conversations I've had when I was less judicious with my time and social media connections as well as the US media environment generally. What 🗑.
Check this out, though. This quote describes exactly what we're seeing with how Democrats are treating Palestinians. Democrats, both voters and officials, believe they are entitled to the Palestinian and Arab vote, despite US funding genocide and doubling down on discrimination (free speech/assembly/employment). Democrats are preemptively blaming Palestinians for Trump. Go to Mars, i say!
I like the way Michelle Alexander (via Klein) puts it here.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, came out strongly against Clinton during the primaries, arguing that her track record on criminal justice and welfare meant she did not deserve the Black vote. But she also chose not to publicly endorse Sanders. The most urgent message of the 2016 election, she told me, is: "If progressives think they can win in the long run without engaging meaningfully with Black folks and taking racial history more seriously, they better get Elon Musk on speed dial and start planning their future home on Mars, because this planet will be going up in smoke."
It's a message we need to learn fast. Because if Left populist candidates keep missing the mark, and Democrats keep putting up establishment candidates in their place, there is every reason to expect an increasingly belligerent Right to keep on winning."
~~~~~~~~~~
That last bit is perfect. Trump and his ilk will keep winning if the Dems keep offering up crap centrist candidates with no substance. It won't be black people's fault. It won't be Palestinians' fault. It won't be the fault of idealistic, self-important, performative, uppity leftists like me (or so I've been called) who oppose genocide, apartheid and occupation. The blame rests with the Democratic Party.
In the quote: ~engage meaningfully~ with Palestinians - treat them as equals, oppose genocide, oppose occupation, oppose apartheid, boycott/sanction/embargo Israel until it complies, learn why the two state solution is dead, learn about the one secular democratic state option.
Examine those biases - why don't you accept any Palestinian or Arab news sources as objective or legitimate as CNN, NPR, NYT or even JPost? Why does it take one Israeli death, but 10,000 - 40,000 Palestinian deaths to warrant national attention? Why do you say Israeli self-defense and Palestinian terrorism? Why does Israel 'have a right to exist' but Palestine and Palestinians do not? How can you call it a war when it's against the population you occupy? Why do you share Israeli sources who don't fact check their government propaganda (40 beheaded babies, babies in ovens, most moral army, they don't bomb hospitals, etc) and refuse to share Palestinian journalists on the ground? Why are Israelis hostages, but Palestinians are prisoners? Why do you only start the clock when a rocket lands in Israel (and not at 1918 or 1948 when it began)? Why do you believe Israel is the perpetual victim responding despite the fact that it can turn the electricity and water off at the drop of a hat? Why do you allow Israel self-defense from the people it OCCUPIES, but Palestinians aren't allowed to resist occupation? Why do you demand Palestinians (and the world) recognize Israel as a Jewish only apartheid ethnostate, but do not require everyone to recognize a basic level of humanity or self-determination for Palestinians? Why is Palestinians basic humanity perpetually on trial - we *may* think about talks that will lead to other talks about a possible state IF they do x, y, and z (usually - give up Palestinians right to resist, accept Palestinian administered/funded occupation, and celebrate Israeli generosity when you can have a few disconnected bits of land, no right of return, no control of borders, and of course no real authority).
***Anyway, I know some of you don't think this way (I appreciate you!) - I'm reacting to infuriating to annoying conversations I've had when I was less judicious with my time and social media connections as well as the US media environment generally. What 🗑.
Scared Silent by Mildred Muhammad
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Most will remember the DC Sniper case as a terrorism case - because that's how courts, tabloids and other publications wanted to sell it. But we were so wrong.
It was a domestic violence case where the authorities neglected/failed at their jobs. She is likely still living today because of a whole lot of luck and a strong support system between her family and mosque. The authorities didn't bother entering Mildred Muhammad's children's kidnapping, restraining order against her husband, etc until after he murdered people and they finally decided they wanted to arrest John. It's mind blowing that in neglecting her safety/not bothering to protect her, they ended up putting the ENTIRE city in danger. Two thirds of the mass shootings in the US are related to domestic violence. If authorities cared enough to protect victims, we'd ALL be safer.
We don't seem to have learned too much since this was published in 2009. Though Mildred has done all she can to help - she set up an organization and has resources at the end of the book. She's a force of nature.
I wouldn't have taken another look at this or known about the book if it weren't for the You're Wrong About podcast. I highly recommend both.
It was a domestic violence case where the authorities neglected/failed at their jobs. She is likely still living today because of a whole lot of luck and a strong support system between her family and mosque. The authorities didn't bother entering Mildred Muhammad's children's kidnapping, restraining order against her husband, etc until after he murdered people and they finally decided they wanted to arrest John. It's mind blowing that in neglecting her safety/not bothering to protect her, they ended up putting the ENTIRE city in danger. Two thirds of the mass shootings in the US are related to domestic violence. If authorities cared enough to protect victims, we'd ALL be safer.
We don't seem to have learned too much since this was published in 2009. Though Mildred has done all she can to help - she set up an organization and has resources at the end of the book. She's a force of nature.
I wouldn't have taken another look at this or known about the book if it weren't for the You're Wrong About podcast. I highly recommend both.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Soul in Exile by Fawaz Turki
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
From 1988. There's something about these older books. You get a bit more detail because these historical events of 1976 or 1982 so long ago are fresh in the author's mind. And in this particular one, you will learn about Palestinians' experience in Lebanon and being expelled from there too.
There are several passages that echo Israelis Oct 7 - April bombardment - execution of healthcare workers, so many children losing both parents, traumatized children walking and walking, libraries reduced to rubble. But there are also accounts of Turki's UN speeches and Palestinian congess involvement, so it isn't all gruesome detail.
I think this could help someone understand Palestine today.
There are several passages that echo Israelis Oct 7 - April bombardment - execution of healthcare workers, so many children losing both parents, traumatized children walking and walking, libraries reduced to rubble. But there are also accounts of Turki's UN speeches and Palestinian congess involvement, so it isn't all gruesome detail.
I think this could help someone understand Palestine today.
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Tiny book, but packs a big punch. I'll be thinking of this one long after. Both the clever subtle symbols and the obvious stated comparisons of now vs 1949 are brilliant.
The image of the cemetery in Germany is particularly vivid - I just read several accounts of Palestinian cemeteries being bombed either in Mondoweiss or the book, Light in Gaza.
Additionally, the spider or snake bite at the beginning is a brilliant symbol, I have to say, and the novel's ending is rather perfect. I wanted a happy ending, but the world has work to do in Palestine to uncover truth and bring about justice if we want a better ending irl.
The image of the cemetery in Germany is particularly vivid - I just read several accounts of Palestinian cemeteries being bombed either in Mondoweiss or the book, Light in Gaza.
Additionally, the spider or snake bite at the beginning is a brilliant symbol, I have to say, and the novel's ending is rather perfect. I wanted a happy ending, but the world has work to do in Palestine to uncover truth and bring about justice if we want a better ending irl.
Fugitive Dreams: Chronicles of Occupation and Resistance by Ramsey Hanhan
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This one is a fictionalized account, so it has the feel of a memoir and tracks with actual historical events. Centered is the Palestinian Christian story, which I think USians don't usually consider when they think Palestine. This seems like a good place to start.
It covers all facets - from the Nakba, Israeli war crimes and genocide from its beginning, schooling and practicing any religion under occupation, the physical borders (and ruminations on all borders), admiration and disillusionments with his birth country and his adopted country, going home, change, being a child, having a child. It's all here. The universal human experience but with the added danger and pressure cooker of occupation by a settler colonial power still trying to this day to ethnically cleanse the land AND control the narrative.
In the last few chapters there is a lot to think about. Hanhan talks about identity, not letting victimhood define you, and peace - both regional and personal.
It covers all facets - from the Nakba, Israeli war crimes and genocide from its beginning, schooling and practicing any religion under occupation, the physical borders (and ruminations on all borders), admiration and disillusionments with his birth country and his adopted country, going home, change, being a child, having a child. It's all here. The universal human experience but with the added danger and pressure cooker of occupation by a settler colonial power still trying to this day to ethnically cleanse the land AND control the narrative.
In the last few chapters there is a lot to think about. Hanhan talks about identity, not letting victimhood define you, and peace - both regional and personal.