Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

7 reviews

ka_cam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Ooph, an intense read. Nahr’s rage and numbness at the violence she experiences and witnesses are at time visceral in this reflective navigation of a Palestinian woman in Istraeli solitary confinement reflecting on her life in Kuwait, Jordan, and Palestine. Doesn’t shy away from sexual, structural, and interpersonal violence so please mind the content warnings. I felt the Palestinian characters could have been a bit less rosy/more complex, but with the narrator’s shifting mental state what lacks in the story can be excused for the narrator. Compellingly and sometimes beautifully written esp for such heavy subjects. Highly, highly recommend

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Genocide, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: War and Abortion

Minor: Child death, Medical content, Racial slurs, Cancer, Ableism, Addiction, and Animal death

epellicci's review against another edition

dark emotional informative slow-paced

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

4.5

A compelling must read, that places the people of Palestine squarely in control of their narrative's. Despite its violence and tragedy, Against the Loveless World is a book about love. It is impossible not to be drawn in by Abulhawa's characters, and to be moved be their tenacity, spirit and commitment to one another and their right to home. 

Nahr is a woman searching for her identity - a journey that begins in Kuwait, and eventually through trauma, struggle and joy ends in Palestine. Told between flashbacks and present day Nahr as she suffers through 16 years of solitary confinement in "The Cube", it is a declaration of survival, and a harrowing portrait of life under colonisation and impossible decisions. She is unquestionably a figure of strength. Unbearably honest at times, she inspires empathy and admiration, whether you are able to agree with all her choices or not.  This book was haunting. Something I shall return to again and again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Racism, and Hate crime

Moderate: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Homophobia

Minor: Racial slurs

battlecat's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

Wow. 

Nahr is an incredible voice truly “against a loveless world.” The trauma she endures is difficult to read. The love and kinship and belonging she finds and makes in the midst of turmoil is a powerful statement. I read this book in a day and will definitely be rereading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Rape, War, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Torture, and Sexual violence

Minor: Abortion, Racial slurs, Alcohol, and Child death

hilarylouise's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexism, Murder, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Death, Colonisation, Sexual assault, War, Sexual harassment, Rape, Confinement, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual content, and Mental illness

Moderate: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use

Minor: Cancer

candournat's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, War, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Terminal illness, Cancer, Violence, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Outing, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Homophobia, Drug use, Colonisation, and Abortion

books_coffee_n_red_wine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

There is no better review than the one on the back of my edition “Reads like a riot act against oppression, misogyny, and shame” - Fatima Bhutto. A phenomenal book that will follow me forever. As an Irish person I am well aware of the Palestinian struggle but this book has allowed me to explore that struggle with a deep and profound focus on how life continues to struggle on despite all else especially in regards to women and how they live under such oppression. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, Sexual violence, and Colonisation

Moderate: Antisemitism, War, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Police brutality, and Misogyny

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, and Outing

shelfmadewoman's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A devastatingly beautiful and lyrical novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence