alannathelioness's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
btzab's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful account and method to learn and see Palestine through Raja's walks and nature descriptions (beautiful relationship with nature!)
The narrative also shows how colonisation works at all levels, not just oppressing lives directly through, e.g. physical violence, constant fear, taking land, but other ways of violence. For example, constructing motorways dividing and separating spaces, not respecting nature and making life, daily moves, and what is available to see and enjoy, restricted and unwelcomed for Palestinians.
I wish Raja and all Palestinians can continue their walks in a free Palestine sooner than later.
The narrative also shows how colonisation works at all levels, not just oppressing lives directly through, e.g. physical violence, constant fear, taking land, but other ways of violence. For example, constructing motorways dividing and separating spaces, not respecting nature and making life, daily moves, and what is available to see and enjoy, restricted and unwelcomed for Palestinians.
I wish Raja and all Palestinians can continue their walks in a free Palestine sooner than later.
beelzebubbie's review against another edition
4.0
This was a detailed walking tour of the destruction of a countryside, of hope for "two nations" side by side. For me, the author--as frustrated and condemning of the Israelis, and critical of the Oslo Accords as he was--was still more patient and forgiving of individual Israelis than I would have expected. His recurrent talk of it almost being too late for peace between the two peoples was almost too much for me. But the landscapes were beautiful, as were the stories, and even if Shehadeh's perspective wasn't exactly what I was looking for, I still appreciated his journey and writing very much. I would read more by him.
cais's review against another edition
5.0
"Religious practice in the Land of the Bible tends to encourage exclusivity and discrimination rather than love and magnanimity. There is no place like the Holy Land to make one cynical about religion."
"Thus began a process that continues to this day of travelers and colonizers who see the land through the prism of the biblical past, overlooking present realities. Eager to occupy the land of their imagination they impose their vision and manipulate it to tally with that mythical image they hold in their head, paying scant notice to its Palestinian inhabitants."
This book is so beautifully written, infused with both anger & deep love for land Shehadeh sees as much more than real estate to be divvied up & developed. His has me considering some things I hadn't before such as the environmental impact of Israeli settlements. The final walk in which he encounters a young Israeli man is especially poignant and quite eye-opening.
stephanieridiculous's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
An interesting look at Palestine over the last several decades. Instead of focusing on political arguments, or wading through complicated history, Shehadeh walks us through personal experience & the tangible changes that are reflected in a changing landscape. I really like this kind of personal history. Things meandered a bit, but so do walks, so I wasn't too bothered by it. Sticking with 3.5 instead of higher because it is a very limited scope, and while it was interesting it wasn't gripping. I don't think it needs to be, per se, but it wasn't a book that commandeered my attention.
burnt_amber89's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.5