flysick'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? No
4.75
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
alishamegan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, War, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Violence, and Xenophobia
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
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
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
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Colonisation and Confinement
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Trafficking, Sexual violence, War, Blood, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Murder, Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Sexism
Minor: Pregnancy, Child death, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Cancer
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
lena_loves_reading'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
I love this book! It's probably the most beautiful written book I've ever read.
I took more time with listening to the novel this time and I enjoyed it even more. I was extremely immersed into the story.
Against the loveless word tells Nahr's story; a story full of replacement, grief and constant suffering. But it's also a story of community, love and resistance. Nahr was used and abused a lot throughout her life, but she found strength within herself. She was such a complex and incredible main character.
Even though this isn't a romance book, it manages to have the most beautifully written love story ever. This made me believe in love ;-; Nahr describing her relationship was >>>
“We made love many times before we made love. Our bodies often melted together when he read to me, when we kissed, talked, hugged, undressed, bathed, slept.”
First Read:
A very important book showing a different perspective but I don't have the mental capacity to write a review right not.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Racism, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Rape, Confinement, and Islamophobia
Moderate: War, Genocide, Police brutality, Abortion, Grief, and Xenophobia
candournat'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: 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