girlreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Rape, War, Racism, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
eeriekeri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Abortion, Colonisation, and Rape
Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Child death, Homophobia, Infertility, Car accident, Torture, Blood, Medical trauma, Death, Medical content, and Murder
alexandryareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Excrement, Police brutality, Cancer, Torture, and Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity, Abortion, Homophobia, and Miscarriage
katharina90's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The story highlights not just the plight of the Palestinian people but also their resilience and ability to cultivate hope and joy amidst heartbreak and injustice.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Misogyny, Police brutality, Gun violence, Violence, Torture, Homophobia, Rape, and Colonisation
crybabybea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cursing, Grief, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Torture, Death of parent, Islamophobia, Racism, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, and War
clarabelitz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Homophobia, Abortion, Sexual content, and War
waybeyondblue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, War, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Infidelity, Homophobia, Death, War, Torture, Antisemitism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Excrement
cgbr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual content, Rape, Confinement, Colonisation, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia and Abortion
sydapel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Torture, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Islamophobia, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Confinement, and Miscarriage
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
i like how the novel chronicles the personal, individual story - that of the main character nahr, specifically - in a way that nevertheless relays the bigger tale of palestine and its culture. nahr goes thru a lot of ups and downs, her incredibly difficult decisions shaped by larger political forces out of desperation for survival. her growth from a naive teenage girl, to a woman free of shame or care for social conventions, to a hardened political prisoner is a tumultuous one that im sure is similar to those of many palestinian refugees'. i also rly like her relationship w/ bilal, who's almost unrealistically understanding and loving, and the ending gives me much hope.
what touches me most abt this book, however, is the love so clearly seen and felt it has for palestine and its ppl. my fav scenes are those in palestine, particularly ones that take place in and around hajjeh um mhammad and bilal's home: the serene, expansive nature; the sense of community from everyone coming tgt for harvests, celebrations, homecomings; the culture lovingly relayed thru food, cooking, customs. despite the ever encroaching israeli settlements and violent political + military forces, palestinians survive and persist both above- and underground, finding joy in the small things, their love for their community and country ever present even in the face of outrageous injustice and hatred from both israel and the world that simply looks on.
i'd say that the novel's major weakness is the political activities by bilal and co, esp pertaining to the underground city. the covert activities occur thruout the second half in stops and starts, w/ too lil action imo for the amount of prep taken. the underground resistance always lurks on the fringes, and is perhaps a very fitting symbolism, but nahr's connection to it is too obscure for me personally. the last showdown also seems an uncharacteristic misstep on bilal's part esp considering not only the high stakes but his personal stakes in it all, and im still a lil confused at the timing and why it went down like that.
nevertheless, this is an important story - not only bc it's a voice from an oft silenced group of ppl whos been facing continuous oppression and colonization, but also as a story on its own. told from a fierce narrator who's inspiring in her no-fvcks-given ways, the novel brims w/ love for its community, culture and country, and would hopefully spur many of its readers into action, like it did me. last but not least, fvck israel.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, War, Violence, Colonisation, Confinement, Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Torture, Death, Infidelity, Abortion, Sexual content, and Murder
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Child death