Reviews
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night: A Uyghur Poet's Memoir of China's Genocide by Tahir Hamut Izgil
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
morganmalloy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
hey_itsbee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
"These matters were governed not by law but by policy, and the policies changed constantly."
4.25 stars. Izgil's account is one of the first in English translation to talk openly about one man's personal experience as Uyghur in Xinjiang, China, during the height of persecution and internment.
The increase in surveillance with the advance of technology is astounding. Izgil describes instances of being forced to hand over his cell phone to local police for scanning, policing of community events, orders to remove Arabic greetings from daily life depictions, and more with a fraughtness that somehow, the community tries to adapt to.
From a literary perspective, the novel moves slowly, cautiously, similarly to how Izgil himself navigates life in Xinjiang. Mostly chronological, we learn how Izgil and his family were ultimately able to claim asylum in the United States - by severing all ties with their loved ones and their homeland.
This stark exposure of the Uyghur oppression in China is painful and horrifying, yet hopeful beneath it all. I hope that more folks read this book and understand the plight of marginalized peoples across the world, making empathy and freedom more accessible for all in the process.
4.25 stars. Izgil's account is one of the first in English translation to talk openly about one man's personal experience as Uyghur in Xinjiang, China, during the height of persecution and internment.
The increase in surveillance with the advance of technology is astounding. Izgil describes instances of being forced to hand over his cell phone to local police for scanning, policing of community events, orders to remove Arabic greetings from daily life depictions, and more with a fraughtness that somehow, the community tries to adapt to.
From a literary perspective, the novel moves slowly, cautiously, similarly to how Izgil himself navigates life in Xinjiang. Mostly chronological, we learn how Izgil and his family were ultimately able to claim asylum in the United States - by severing all ties with their loved ones and their homeland.
This stark exposure of the Uyghur oppression in China is painful and horrifying, yet hopeful beneath it all. I hope that more folks read this book and understand the plight of marginalized peoples across the world, making empathy and freedom more accessible for all in the process.
danielleanje's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
So so so important