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Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between by Hisham Matar
2 reviews
rieviolet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between is a very honest and emotional memoir. I appreciated how the author expertly blended the personal (the history of his family) and the general (the history of Lybia).
I really like Matar's prose and I think there were many passages of reflection that shone out in this memoir (as was the case with his latest novel My Friends). I underlined a lot of sections that were written in a very beautiful and poignant way.
I struggled a bit with the first half of the book; I think it had a slow start and the narration felt somehow disjointed. It was difficult to orient oneself within the timeline, and I'm not sure I was very successful in keeping track of all the different events and family members. I also found the ending a bit abrupt and plain; I think I expected the author to tidy up the story in a more impactful way.
As some other reviewers pointed out, I was a bit disappointed that women were very much relegated in the background. I don't know if it is fair to ask this from a book that only mentions "fathers" and "sons" in its title, but I would have liked a more substantial reference to the role of women in those times of social and political upheaval.
I really like Matar's prose and I think there were many passages of reflection that shone out in this memoir (as was the case with his latest novel My Friends). I underlined a lot of sections that were written in a very beautiful and poignant way.
I struggled a bit with the first half of the book; I think it had a slow start and the narration felt somehow disjointed. It was difficult to orient oneself within the timeline, and I'm not sure I was very successful in keeping track of all the different events and family members. I also found the ending a bit abrupt and plain; I think I expected the author to tidy up the story in a more impactful way.
As some other reviewers pointed out, I was a bit disappointed that women were very much relegated in the background. I don't know if it is fair to ask this from a book that only mentions "fathers" and "sons" in its title, but I would have liked a more substantial reference to the role of women in those times of social and political upheaval.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Racism, Vomit, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Deportation
erebus53's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This is a love story about Libya, and a set of memoirs from a life that was tragically twisted by government corruption and secrets. Pulitzer Prize winning author Hisham Matar tells of a beautiful country tangled in layers of Colonization, and cultural differences.
Personal passions for art, poetry and architecture help to tell a story of a history of a country, and a history of a family. Matar, describes how his own thoughts connect deeply and that having conversations with people evoke a myriad sense memories for him. Woven with the British tradition of historical travel documentary - exploring the past through observations of their current aspects - this book explains a journey and a quest to fill in blanks in a life rife with secrets.
This book contains survivor accounts of imprisonment and abuse. It is harsh and dark and real. Matar's father was "Disappeared" by the regime in Libya, leading to years of uncertainty for his family who did not know whether he was alive or dead. There are historic accounts including those of killing entire herds of livestock, leading to massive starvation and deprivation, and the hangings of student protestors. All this paints a picture of a country spoiled by corruption, injustices, and Human Rights infringements. This spurs work to get the British government to pressure Libyan administration into changing its oppressive methods and atoning for Human Rights crimes. It's understandable that in many places Hisham Matar's writings are banned or restricted.
Personal passions for art, poetry and architecture help to tell a story of a history of a country, and a history of a family. Matar, describes how his own thoughts connect deeply and that having conversations with people evoke a myriad sense memories for him. Woven with the British tradition of historical travel documentary - exploring the past through observations of their current aspects - this book explains a journey and a quest to fill in blanks in a life rife with secrets.
This book contains survivor accounts of imprisonment and abuse. It is harsh and dark and real. Matar's father was "Disappeared" by the regime in Libya, leading to years of uncertainty for his family who did not know whether he was alive or dead. There are historic accounts including those of killing entire herds of livestock, leading to massive starvation and deprivation, and the hangings of student protestors. All this paints a picture of a country spoiled by corruption, injustices, and Human Rights infringements. This spurs work to get the British government to pressure Libyan administration into changing its oppressive methods and atoning for Human Rights crimes. It's understandable that in many places Hisham Matar's writings are banned or restricted.
Parts of this book are really hard going, and it could be a very difficult read for some people. It tells the story of a family that had enough means to escape a dangerous situation that many more did not. There is nuanced description of influences on the lifestyles of Libyans during various leadership changes; though situations were fraught, some prospered and some suffered. The importance of family and of the ties to the ones we love are the heart of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation