fromtheshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
5.0
joshloftin's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Through the lenses of his unique personal experience, Yousef Bashir provides a window into the Palestinian world of the Gaza Strip. It is an important book with worthwhile lessons.
The foundation of the book is Yousef’s father, Khalil, an educator who preaches and eventually lives a philosophy of peace. He never wavers in his belief in the overall goodness of humanity, even when his Israeli “cousins” cause he and his family great harm. It is a philosophy the teenage Yousef learns to embrace as he gets older, especially as he sees more of the world (even if that other world is just across the Israeli/Gaza border).
Although Yousef tackles complex topics, he writes with an approachable style that makes it a great book for teenagers and adults alike. At times the book does slow down as Yousef recounts interesting but ultimately unnecessarily long stories about his friends or family, but that is really the only criticism. This is a book I’d recommend to anyone.
The foundation of the book is Yousef’s father, Khalil, an educator who preaches and eventually lives a philosophy of peace. He never wavers in his belief in the overall goodness of humanity, even when his Israeli “cousins” cause he and his family great harm. It is a philosophy the teenage Yousef learns to embrace as he gets older, especially as he sees more of the world (even if that other world is just across the Israeli/Gaza border).
Although Yousef tackles complex topics, he writes with an approachable style that makes it a great book for teenagers and adults alike. At times the book does slow down as Yousef recounts interesting but ultimately unnecessarily long stories about his friends or family, but that is really the only criticism. This is a book I’d recommend to anyone.
gr8reader's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to Bashir read his book via audible.....His way of speaking, his intonation was a bit dr0ning which made me bored at times.
saradluffy's review against another edition
مقدرتش أكمله .. تطبيع ناعم. سرد بنبرة هيا ياحمامة السلام طيري ورفرفي وهسامحك ياابن عمي ياللي ضربتني برصاصة بس ضمدت جراحي ف المستشفي ومش كل الاحتلال وحش .. الكاتب بيحكي ان والده كان بيعتبر قذف حجارة همجية وانه محب للسلام ورافع راية المحبة للجميع رغم الانتهاكات الدائمة عليه واسرته واقتحام بيته الدائم لاستخدامة للمراقبة واطلاق النار ع المقاومة!
طبعا الكتاب موجه للجمهور الغربي اللى بنطبط عليه ونقوله ارجوك تعاطف دة احنا حتى بنحبكم ولو اذتونا ..
طبعا الكتاب موجه للجمهور الغربي اللى بنطبط عليه ونقوله ارجوك تعاطف دة احنا حتى بنحبكم ولو اذتونا ..
yossikhe's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books ever. A beautifully written, heartbreaking story with a message of peace and coexistence. It is a story that speaks to me, a Jewish reader, on how occupation has corrupted my dear Israel. I have a strong bond with the Jewish State, and it's sad to look at it as the perpetrator of injustice and inhumanity. Nevertheless, the Israel I know and love is also represented in the book as the nurses who helped Yousef in Tel Aviv and the kids he lives with in the hospital. It's a story of humanity, of how people represented in the media as just victims have too, a daily life: the Palestinians go to school, like soccer, mess around with their friends and hide from their parents.
It is a story of peaceful resistance and sacrifices, as Khalil Bashir, the father of the author, did not give in to the IDF Soldiers who mistreated his family, shot his son and made them prisoners in their own house. In the contrary, he always treated them like guests and seemed to understand that they don't know what they're doing because "they are kids".
The thing that shocked me the most was the necessity to humiliate by the soldiers. Khalil Bashir relates that after the night they left in the Gaza Disengagement, they found that the soldiers had defecated on all the Kitchen Pots just to disturb them, or to asses their "superiority" over the family.
I love the ending of the book, with a peace offering to the soldier who shot him: “Without your bullet, I might never have understood forgiveness. You were created by the same God who created me. You have the same humanity as I have. You are part of the same family as I am. I forgive you, my cousin.” concludes Bashir.
Must-read.
It is a story of peaceful resistance and sacrifices, as Khalil Bashir, the father of the author, did not give in to the IDF Soldiers who mistreated his family, shot his son and made them prisoners in their own house. In the contrary, he always treated them like guests and seemed to understand that they don't know what they're doing because "they are kids".
The thing that shocked me the most was the necessity to humiliate by the soldiers. Khalil Bashir relates that after the night they left in the Gaza Disengagement, they found that the soldiers had defecated on all the Kitchen Pots just to disturb them, or to asses their "superiority" over the family.
I love the ending of the book, with a peace offering to the soldier who shot him: “Without your bullet, I might never have understood forgiveness. You were created by the same God who created me. You have the same humanity as I have. You are part of the same family as I am. I forgive you, my cousin.” concludes Bashir.
Must-read.
sarahmck94's review
3.0
I haven't had a chance to read this yet, but my mom did (lol). Here's her review: "This book created an unforgettable portrait of the father's integrity and strength in the face of so much injustice. A moving recollection of a childhood defined by conflict, trauma, and conviction that peace is the only true answer. Opened my eyes and gave me hope."
danielaksi's review against another edition
"A nech vás nepodnieti nepriateľstvo k určitým ľuďom k tomu, aby ste boli nespravodliví."
S hanbou priznávam, že ma tento rok naučil, ako málo toho viem o situácii v pásme Gazy, a koľko by som toho naozaj vedieť mala. Aj kúpa tejto knihy bol môj pokus o dovzdelanie sa.
Nič som o nej poriadne nevedela, ale všeličo som si predstavovala. Kniha je svedectvom nezlomnej viery v mier a mierové spolužitie dvoch národov na jednom území. Občas som bola až podozrievavá a vravela som si, že nik nemôže byť až taký idealista (a to ja sama som pritom naivne idealistická).
Kniha bola napísaná jednoduchým spôsobom, autor v nej opisoval svoje detstvo, až som občas mala pocit, že ju naozaj napísal chlapec na prahu puberty. To je vlastne ale aj dobré, lebo myšlienky v nej, hoci nesmierne hlboké, sú vo svojej podstate veľmi jednoduché - myšlienky mieru, túžba zaspať vo vlastnej posteli a zobudiť sa v nej ráno, bez toho, že by vás budili guľky či vojaci so samopalmi.
Som nesmierne vďačná, že som tieto hrôzy nikdy neokúsila na vlastnej koži a držím všetky prsty, ktoré mám myšlienke Júsufa a jeho otca.
S hanbou priznávam, že ma tento rok naučil, ako málo toho viem o situácii v pásme Gazy, a koľko by som toho naozaj vedieť mala. Aj kúpa tejto knihy bol môj pokus o dovzdelanie sa.
Nič som o nej poriadne nevedela, ale všeličo som si predstavovala. Kniha je svedectvom nezlomnej viery v mier a mierové spolužitie dvoch národov na jednom území. Občas som bola až podozrievavá a vravela som si, že nik nemôže byť až taký idealista (a to ja sama som pritom naivne idealistická).
Kniha bola napísaná jednoduchým spôsobom, autor v nej opisoval svoje detstvo, až som občas mala pocit, že ju naozaj napísal chlapec na prahu puberty. To je vlastne ale aj dobré, lebo myšlienky v nej, hoci nesmierne hlboké, sú vo svojej podstate veľmi jednoduché - myšlienky mieru, túžba zaspať vo vlastnej posteli a zobudiť sa v nej ráno, bez toho, že by vás budili guľky či vojaci so samopalmi.
Som nesmierne vďačná, že som tieto hrôzy nikdy neokúsila na vlastnej koži a držím všetky prsty, ktoré mám myšlienke Júsufa a jeho otca.
alyssayoho's review against another edition
4.0
A great ode to a boy's relationship with his father and his homeland. Bashir wanted to allow his father to continue to speak through him and it was done beautifully. I found myself attached to both him and his family and was able to learn more about Israel-Palestine conflict in the process. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because some portions felt a little dragged out, while others were rushed through. For example, Bashir continuously referred to how much he wanted to get to the U.S. and thoroughly detailed his attempts to convince his dad, but when he finally arrives, it felt like he just spent a couple pages describing his time there.
All in all, it is a beautiful story about compassion, kindness, and optimism in the face of ongoing suffering. I am hoping Bashir continues his story, as I will be sure to read the next one.
All in all, it is a beautiful story about compassion, kindness, and optimism in the face of ongoing suffering. I am hoping Bashir continues his story, as I will be sure to read the next one.
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