Reviews with content warning for Police brutality - Against the Loveless World

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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chaos_fairy's review

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challenging dark reflective 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

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oyveyori's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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mansinnikam's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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battlecat's review

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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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kathryngardyne's review

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emotional informative 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? Yes

5.0

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marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Titled with the words of James Baldwin, Against the Loveless World is a novel of love and rebellion amidst the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its heroine, Nahr, is a daring, sarcastic displaced Palestinian who writes the story of her life from solitary confinement, the timeline leaping between her present imprisonment and the years that led up to it. In Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine, she survives as a sex worker, beautician, daughter, sister, wife, divorcee. But every step she takes leads her to the man with whom she shares a powerful love, and that makes it all worth it. This book offers readers a glimpse of human experience beneath an ongoing political crisis. I especially appreciated the discussion of sexual trauma within the context of such a conservative culture.

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