sydapel's review
- 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
ka_cam's review
- 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
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
- 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
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.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Homophobia
Minor: Racial slurs
oyveyori's review
- 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: Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, Torture, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, War, Sexual harassment, Rape, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gun violence, Death, and Colonisation
mansinnikam'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Gun violence, Grief, War, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Murder, Police brutality, Hate crime, Genocide, and Colonisation
aaronjdilkes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Hate crime, Murder, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, War, Confinement, Genocide, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Violence, and Rape
hilarylouise's review against another edition
- 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
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
sirissacgluten'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
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, War, Colonisation, Genocide, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Islamophobia, Abortion, and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Excrement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Vomit, Alcohol, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Torture, Antisemitism, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, and Medical trauma
clarereadstheworld'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? Yes
4.5
From her isolation cell in an Israeli jail, Nahr tells us her story; from her brief first marriage, through the traumas of war, displacement and sexual exploitation, to the discovery of her homeland, and finally finding a place she felt she could belong. If only there could have been a happy ending.
Like many privileged people living in the west, I knew relatively little of the suffering of the Palestinian people until the violence which erupted around Gaza last summer. If I was shocked by what I learnt last May, it was nothing compared to what I felt reading this book. To say I was heartbroken for the loving innocent Nahr, and the life she wasn't allowed to live is such an understatement. Yet I was also in awe of her strength and resilience, as she was able to pick herself up and reconstruct her life again and again. Despite all the trauma she lived through, the simple fact that she was able to keep going, and find hope again was beautiful.
I loved all the main characters in this book, from Sitti Wasfiyeh the grouchy, seemingly ungrateful grandmother who actually has a heart of gold, to the Jumana who despite a false start turns out to be a true friend. Abulhawa creates such moving characters, with real complexity and depth.
Although the Israeli occupation of the West Bank is very much the core of this novel, so much else is explored in these pages. I found Nahr's attempts at finding love again after trauma, Bilal's gentle patience particularly moving. The ambiguous Um Buraq who both ruined and saved Nahr's life was a character I started off hating, but grew to love despite myself. She stood for women's freedom to do what they want with their bodies, even if that is have sex for money.
Graphic: Hate crime, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, War, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Gun violence
kirstenf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Police brutality, Abortion, Death, Torture, Miscarriage, War, Antisemitism, Child death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Murder, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Medical content, Infidelity, and Cancer
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexism, and Drug use