illyricvm's review against another edition
5.0
i wish everyone read this book one time in their lives.
e333mily's review
5.0
Hauntingly beautiful. Part poetry, part memory, part something else that resists definition. The translation is so well done, but I can’t begin to imagine how breathtaking this book must be in the original Arabic.
“And I want nothing more from the passing days than the aroma of coffee. The aroma of coffee so I can hold myself together, stand on my feet, and be transformed from something that crawls, into a human being.”
“I want a language that I can lean on and that can lean on me, that asks me to bear witness and that I can ask to bear witness…”
“Something is missing from me. And I can't. I can't.”
“And I want nothing more from the passing days than the aroma of coffee. The aroma of coffee so I can hold myself together, stand on my feet, and be transformed from something that crawls, into a human being.”
“I want a language that I can lean on and that can lean on me, that asks me to bear witness and that I can ask to bear witness…”
“Something is missing from me. And I can't. I can't.”
soojinniee's review against another edition
2.0
I understand why so many people adore this, and it's an important book, but the writing style was just not my cup of tea.
I'm usually okay with the non-linear and episodic styles and I'm pretty good at keeping up with them, but for some reason this one felt especially disorienting and hazy to read.
I'm usually okay with the non-linear and episodic styles and I'm pretty good at keeping up with them, but for some reason this one felt especially disorienting and hazy to read.
jenlowe's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, wandering, difficult, uneven, a touch misogynistic. And yet, and still: the best book I've read in years.
If you make it to the aroma of coffee on page 6, you'll likely be hooked.
The book is best paired with a viewing of Waltz With Bashir.
I discovered this via a quote in an artwork at the SF MOMA. The quote and more info on the art: http://www.shadowidentitysystem.com/2012/11/06/memory-for-forgetfulnessmahmoud-darwish/
If you make it to the aroma of coffee on page 6, you'll likely be hooked.
The book is best paired with a viewing of Waltz With Bashir.
I discovered this via a quote in an artwork at the SF MOMA. The quote and more info on the art: http://www.shadowidentitysystem.com/2012/11/06/memory-for-forgetfulnessmahmoud-darwish/
chloeliana's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
Got better towards the end. Warrants a second read where I think I would appreciate it more.
90s_maudit's review against another edition
4.0
و حين جاء الخبير العسكري و عاين السيارة لم يعثر على مائة كيلوغرام من الديناميت،كما توقعنا،بل عثر على جرذ جائع يقضم أمعاء السيارة،ضحك الحي كله حين عرف أن في وسع جرذ واحد أن يهجر حياً،نعم.في وسع جرذ أن يهجر مدينة،و أن يحكم دولة!
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