leavingsealevel's review against another edition
3.0
This starts out terribly slowly. The first 150 pages really read like a history book, and a very dry one at that. I guess the average American/European reader (the book's target audience, I think) doesn't really know all that much about Palestine, so this is necessary. There has just got to be a better way to weave the necessary educational information into the narrative of a novel than sticking it all at the beginning.
Once all the educational bits got out of the way, Miral was a pretty engaging story. As far as the politics, it was published in 2004 and it feels kind of dated.
Once all the educational bits got out of the way, Miral was a pretty engaging story. As far as the politics, it was published in 2004 and it feels kind of dated.
rakg7's review against another edition
2.0
If I could give this 2.5 I would. I liked the story for the most part and liked the idea of the book but it didn't grab me. I was not impressed by the writing and actually found the style of writing very distracting at some points. The author writes too much like the journalist that she is and not the novelist she's trying to be.
kendra_bc's review against another edition
3.0
This review contains spoilers.
Overall, I liked this book, however, I felt like there were a few things I would have liked to read more about. For example, the author completely left out what happened to Miral and Rania's older sibling. How did they never find out about this child, especially when visitng their aunt in Haifa? What happened to thiat child? Also, I would have liked to hear if Miral ever meets up with her biological father, bbut that's not as important.
Another problem I had was with Miral's relationships with Kaldhun and with Hani. It seemed to me like she should have fallen in love with Kaldhun, so it bothered me when she fell in love with someone so much older than her; it seemed awkward.
Anyway, I did enjoy reading this book, and I look forward to seeing the movie.
Overall, I liked this book, however, I felt like there were a few things I would have liked to read more about. For example, the author completely left out what happened to Miral and Rania's older sibling. How did they never find out about this child, especially when visitng their aunt in Haifa? What happened to thiat child? Also, I would have liked to hear if Miral ever meets up with her biological father, bbut that's not as important.
Another problem I had was with Miral's relationships with Kaldhun and with Hani. It seemed to me like she should have fallen in love with Kaldhun, so it bothered me when she fell in love with someone so much older than her; it seemed awkward.
Anyway, I did enjoy reading this book, and I look forward to seeing the movie.
therealmette's review against another edition
4.0
Easy to read and interesting topic. Plus female power.
kelliepalmer's review against another edition
3.0
I am not that political, so sometimes it is hard for me to read political stories, especially ones that are from different countries. It would also have been nice to know the research the author did for the book. It might have helped to understand the war issues.
stories_by_sharanja's review against another edition
5.0
This book was very enjoyable. I especially liked the use of intertwining view points from multiple characters with diverse backgrounds. It offered more than one insight into the Palestinian - Israeli conflict, which is what the book is about.
I thought the main character,Miral (the book's namesake) was interesting enough, but at times I wished there was more of an explanation as to why she threw herself head first into politics. It seemed a little rush to me.
I think my high rating comes from the fact that this is the first time I read something with this particular topic. And Rula does a good job of describing the emotional side of the conflict.
I thought the main character,Miral (the book's namesake) was interesting enough, but at times I wished there was more of an explanation as to why she threw herself head first into politics. It seemed a little rush to me.
I think my high rating comes from the fact that this is the first time I read something with this particular topic. And Rula does a good job of describing the emotional side of the conflict.
mparisinou's review against another edition
1.0
The plight of the Palestinians surely encompasses thousands of personal stories. This book attempts to tell one of them. Unfortunately it fails both as captivating story telling and in terms of good writing. In fact, there is no story - no intrigue, no suspense - just a series of events that too often are told just to illustrate the dire circumstances of the Palestinians but the book is trying too hard to do so and ends up being contrived. A disappointment.
jojojgb's review against another edition
2.0
The story was good and enlightening, but i think suffered from translation issues. Characters were introduced only to never be heard from again, and plot points advanced too little or too much. In the end, I felt like the book did the job of humanizing and helping me understand the underrepresented story of Palestinians, but did little to make me recommend to a friend.
bookswooned's review against another edition
3.0
I could see how this book could be a compelling movie, but unfortunately it doesn't resonate as much in print. It's a feel good story (or about as feel good as any story about a stateless and ravaged nation can get) about a Palestinian girl who grows up and away from extremism. Jebreal's writing is stark and plain, but that style of writing fits the story. The author isn't worried about storytelling so much as telling a story, and she succeeds in a very average fashion. It's neither good or bad but it delivers in digestable bits the story of a nation and a people that many may not be familiar with. Personally, I found the main character Miral so much less interesting than her mother, a more damaged and vulnerable and multilayered character, and so when the book began to focus on Miral, the boredom set in. However, there are very strong female characters in this book, all very different from each other in passions, in their attitudes and their life choices, and that interplay is beautiful.
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