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proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Som 17-åring gifter sig Nahr med grannens son Mhammad, men äktenskapet blir kort när Mhammad en dag bara försvinner. Nahr sätts på hårda prov när hon måste försörja sin lillebror, mamma och farmor.
Jag har läst Susan Abulhawas tidigare två böcker som jag älskat och denna var inget undantag! Jag älskar Abulhawas språk och hon får mig verkligen att vara närvarande i det jag läser. Det ger mig en mer djupgående insikt i hur livet för palestinier kan vara (och är), oavsett var de bor. Hur det är att ständigt leva i exil, när man har ett ben på flera platser utan att känna sig riktigt hemma på något av dem. Jag uppskattar också att få lära känna så mycket av kulturen: kläder, mat, musik, högtider, familjesammansättningar, seder och bruk. Allt utan att det känns som en info-dump, utan helt integrerat i handlingen.
Jag gillar att Nahr inte är undfallande, att hon har skinn på näsan och är intelligent. Ibland blev jag ändå irriterad på en del av hennes beslut, men det bevisar bara att hon är en komplex människa, precis som många är.
Ett citat från boken som fick mig att tänka till:
"Jag märker att reportrar och författare som kommer hit egentligen inte vill lyssna på mig eller få reda på något om mig, förutom sådant som bekräftar den berättelse de redan tror på."
Detta stämmer in på de flesta människor (även mig), det är därför det är så svårt att få någon att ändra åsikt. Istället för att söka mig till den vanliga nyhetsrapporteringen om den nuvarande konflikten i Palestina/Israel, som oftast är pro-israelisk trots att den ska vara oberoende, så vänder jag mig till andra källor (t ex Amnesty) som jag tycker mer överensstämmer med min egen bild. Rätt eller fel? Finns väl inget enkelt svar där heller...
Jag har läst Susan Abulhawas tidigare två böcker som jag älskat och denna var inget undantag! Jag älskar Abulhawas språk och hon får mig verkligen att vara närvarande i det jag läser. Det ger mig en mer djupgående insikt i hur livet för palestinier kan vara (och är), oavsett var de bor. Hur det är att ständigt leva i exil, när man har ett ben på flera platser utan att känna sig riktigt hemma på något av dem. Jag uppskattar också att få lära känna så mycket av kulturen: kläder, mat, musik, högtider, familjesammansättningar, seder och bruk. Allt utan att det känns som en info-dump, utan helt integrerat i handlingen.
Jag gillar att Nahr inte är undfallande, att hon har skinn på näsan och är intelligent. Ibland blev jag ändå irriterad på en del av hennes beslut, men det bevisar bara att hon är en komplex människa, precis som många är.
Ett citat från boken som fick mig att tänka till:
"Jag märker att reportrar och författare som kommer hit egentligen inte vill lyssna på mig eller få reda på något om mig, förutom sådant som bekräftar den berättelse de redan tror på."
Detta stämmer in på de flesta människor (även mig), det är därför det är så svårt att få någon att ändra åsikt. Istället för att söka mig till den vanliga nyhetsrapporteringen om den nuvarande konflikten i Palestina/Israel, som oftast är pro-israelisk trots att den ska vara oberoende, så vänder jag mig till andra källor (t ex Amnesty) som jag tycker mer överensstämmer med min egen bild. Rätt eller fel? Finns väl inget enkelt svar där heller...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Deportation
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Excrement, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
bookwormdystopian2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Rape, Torture, and Abortion
Minor: Cancer
oberon_lapierre's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
An emotionally intense and absolutely beautiful story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Islamophobia, Medical trauma, Abortion, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Infertility, Terminal illness, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
florecita_lectora's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, Torture, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual violence, Grief, and Abortion
Minor: Pregnancy
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
"But I know now that going from place to place is just something exiles have to do. Whatever the reason, the earth is never steady beneath our feet."
Against the Loveless World is a very thematically charged novel. Following the life of a Palestinian woman named Nahr, she is continuously upheaved by political turmoil leading to her making home in various places including Kuwait, Jordan, and Palestine, eventually landing her in an Israeli prison where she writes her story. Along the way the book discusses a very large variety of topics related to the region, including but not limited to genocide, colonialism, and feminism. It's a fiction novel that reflects the reality for many Palestinians.
The prose was absolutely gorgeous, flowing smoothly and lyrically, immediately transporting the reader into the story. It's pretty episodic and I liked some sections more than others, in particular the one where she was a prostitute and the one where she was actively rebelling against Israel I found the most interesting and poignant. I do wish that the book had lingered more on some aspects as at times it felt as if it was mentioning themes and topics without fleshing them fully out. I also found Nahr to be somewhat distant from the reader, she was often pretty passive and I never felt I really knew what were her personal beliefs and motives. The sections I mentioned enjoying the most where the ones Nahr and the themes were the most fully realized.
There's a lot to unpack and think about with this book and it's a good reminder for me that I still have a lot to learn about Middle Eastern history. It's a thematically rich story about someone marginalized by both her ethnicity and gender, left wayward in a world torn apart by violence.
Against the Loveless World is a very thematically charged novel. Following the life of a Palestinian woman named Nahr, she is continuously upheaved by political turmoil leading to her making home in various places including Kuwait, Jordan, and Palestine, eventually landing her in an Israeli prison where she writes her story. Along the way the book discusses a very large variety of topics related to the region, including but not limited to genocide, colonialism, and feminism. It's a fiction novel that reflects the reality for many Palestinians.
The prose was absolutely gorgeous, flowing smoothly and lyrically, immediately transporting the reader into the story. It's pretty episodic and I liked some sections more than others, in particular the one where she was a prostitute and the one where she was actively rebelling against Israel I found the most interesting and poignant. I do wish that the book had lingered more on some aspects as at times it felt as if it was mentioning themes and topics without fleshing them fully out. I also found Nahr to be somewhat distant from the reader, she was often pretty passive and I never felt I really knew what were her personal beliefs and motives. The sections I mentioned enjoying the most where the ones Nahr and the themes were the most fully realized.
There's a lot to unpack and think about with this book and it's a good reminder for me that I still have a lot to learn about Middle Eastern history. It's a thematically rich story about someone marginalized by both her ethnicity and gender, left wayward in a world torn apart by violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Antisemitism
corriejn's review against another edition
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Medical trauma, and Abortion
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
katieocakes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Abortion, Colonisation, War, and Deportation
art_anthology's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I give this book five stars because it ultimately has me thinking about it even when the book was closed.
I knew how short the book was and really rationed each page so that i could absorb every word, every character and every emotion that was buried within this story.
Not only was I engrossed in the ficticious life events of Nahr, which culminated in a pilgrimage of self understanding. Her pondering yet piercing stillness that plagued "the cube chapters", cruely took a hold of my heart and I could not look away from the horrors detailed. It is heartbreaking but nessesary to be constantly faced with the cruelty of man.
Each character was surrounded in a veil of humanity that impacted their thoughts feelings and actions. Bot one character was the same at the beginning and end, something thst truly stood out to me.
Take for instance the strong, dominating matriarch Sitti Wasfiyeh complex relationship with all her closest family is devastatingly human. Even as we read her jibes and remarks seem to become background noise and we are acustomed to her quirks.
Just like we are part of the family we begin to remember that
"We're all she has in the world "
Abulhawa creates perfectly imperfect characters, who otherwise would be labeled as morally grey (a descriptor that i personall feel should stay in fantasy)yet who when allowed to interact with others bring out their inermost self and prove to be some of the most compelling chatacters. Yes I am talking aboutUm Buraq
This is a good book to understand the Palestinian experience, Abulhaw never looses sight of the real-life backdrop thatvthe characters are placed within. As a fictional memoir that is so tragically rooted in oppression, key emphasis is put into educating the readers by immersing them in the cultural landscape that spans not only the hillofand vinyards of Palestine but the Ocean of Kuwait and the bustle of Jordan. I feel that this book has layed a foundation that i know that i will continue to build on when I consume media about the Middle East, specifically these 3 countries.
I knew how short the book was and really rationed each page so that i could absorb every word, every character and every emotion that was buried within this story.
Not only was I engrossed in the ficticious life events of Nahr, which culminated in a pilgrimage of self understanding. Her pondering yet piercing stillness that plagued "the cube chapters", cruely took a hold of my heart and I could not look away from the horrors detailed. It is heartbreaking but nessesary to be constantly faced with the cruelty of man.
Each character was surrounded in a veil of humanity that impacted their thoughts feelings and actions. Bot one character was the same at the beginning and end, something thst truly stood out to me.
Take for instance the strong, dominating matriarch Sitti Wasfiyeh complex relationship with all her closest family is devastatingly human. Even as we read her jibes and remarks seem to become background noise and we are acustomed to her quirks.
Just like we are part of the family we begin to remember that
"We're all she has in the world "
Abulhawa creates perfectly imperfect characters, who otherwise would be labeled as morally grey (a descriptor that i personall feel should stay in fantasy)yet who when allowed to interact with others bring out their inermost self and prove to be some of the most compelling chatacters. Yes I am talking about
This is a good book to understand the Palestinian experience, Abulhaw never looses sight of the real-life backdrop thatvthe characters are placed within. As a fictional memoir that is so tragically rooted in oppression, key emphasis is put into educating the readers by immersing them in the cultural landscape that spans not only the hillofand vinyards of Palestine but the Ocean of Kuwait and the bustle of Jordan. I feel that this book has layed a foundation that i know that i will continue to build on when I consume media about the Middle East, specifically these 3 countries.
I'm not going anywhere. I’m tired of being chased out of wherever I am in the world. Out of Haifa, then out of Ein el-Sultan, then Jordan, and now Kuwait? No. I’ll just die here instead of facing another exodus. I’m too old for this shit that these shit people keep doing to us. Shit. All of it—shit!”
-Sitti Wasfiyeh
Each time Palestinian Embroidery was discussed honestly it filled my heart with so much joy and warmth ( yes i did cry each time). I encourage all to explore the rich beauty in Tatreez ( embroidery) patterns. So that we can all marvel at the intricacy and skill of all artisans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Torture, and Abortion
Content warnings I wouldnt consider these spoilers but want to be consideratebdingz's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
This book is so beautifully written. Nahr goes through so many horrific things, but this is as much a story of joy as it is a story of pain and resistance. The characters find solace in each other, as well as simple comforts like food and tea or skincare and nail polish. This could have only been bleak and sad, and it would’ve had every right to be…but it was so much more.
If you think you can stomach the CWs, read this ASAP.
If you think you can stomach the CWs, read this ASAP.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, and War
Moderate: Torture and Abortion
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, and Miscarriage
megannicolemay_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Islamophobia, Abortion, Colonisation, and War