pigeonindustrialcomplex's reviews
241 reviews

Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning by Peter Beinart

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy.

I'm delighted the book exists. For years I've been wondering if I'm going to have to be the one to step up and be the South African Jew who draws the direct parallel.

The major pitfall of the book and its argument is the anti-communism and the unwillingness to address other settler-colonies. At one point, there is the sentence "If Jewish Israelis are settlers because their state displaced a native population, then so are American, Canadian, Australians, Argentines, and many others." This is obvious. It seems to me to be a blatant oversight to make one-to-one comparisons between Israelis, Afrikaners, white US southerners, etc etc. and then fall short of realising that the common thread is that these populations are settler populations, and the text suffers for it.

Nonetheless, demand for the book is very much there in my library system, and I'm proud of my city for it. While I personally find the text to be far too liberal for my taste, I am really happy to see a book that I can recommend and cite for aspects of my own views. 

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj

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

3.5

Who's Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler

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challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5