Reviews

Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry

Only show reviews with written explanations

killeenm's review

dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Heart shattering and beautiful book that honestly and unflinchingly tells the story of the Nakba. It’s a hard read at times but captures the complexity of humanity perfectly. Can’t recommend it enough, especially for those wanting to learn about Palestine through fiction.

Content Warnings

valandthegianttbr's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

this underhyped gem follows our two young main characters, subhi & shams, as they come of age in Palestine during the nakba

i’ve been wanting to educate myself further on Palestinian history, but have really struggled to focus on nonfiction lately, so this was the perfect historical fic read for me. it was incredibly informative but still so so readable!!

in the first half of the novel, the author does an excellent job of bringing subhi to life. i felt like i knew him through his inner monologues & i absolutely loved the humor & wit infused into his narration. that made it all the more heartbreaking as the story then moved to subhi’s displacement & the wreckage inflicted upon his once-bustling home city of jaffa

the second half of the novel focuses more on this displacement & historical violence, following shams as her family is torn apart & she is forced to grow up far too soon under Israeli occupation. the humorous tone fades as quickly as the city of jaffa & lives of Palestinians is destroyed, leaving behind a somber & heartbreaking story of loss

however, there is still a thread of resilience throughout the book. despite all of the loss & tragedy, hope & memories of jaffa’s vibrance were never lost. the ending has exactly the right level of bittersweet warmth to wrap up such a complex saga, & i felt the author’s note about this being a true account made me hold this book even closer to my heart

overall i really really appreciated & enjoyed this story. the characters, plot, & prose were super authentic, educational, & emotional. i need this to get more hype!!!