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maggierish's review
Felt slow and repetitive. The parts about the history of the Middle East and Lebanon were interesting, but it was primarily conversations with men in town and discussions of home repairs that dragged on
rissaleighs's review against another edition
Sad to say, I just couldn't get into this one.
sducharme's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this but my interest waned part-way through. Even though it's well-written and combines family history, the complexities of Lebanese social mores, lots of the local color I remember from my three years in Lebanon, and the rebuilding of a house - I finished half-heartedly. Sometimes I think I'll never be able to reach a satisfactory level of understanding of this enigmatic place. I love it, but its issues are so multilayered and nuanced, I get lost.
joyaanthony's review against another edition
3.0
Slow at times but I loved the history interwoven with the author's journey of rebuilding his family's home in Lebanon and what it meant to him. It helped me to understand my own culture a little bit better as well.
trishadenise's review against another edition
didn't finish it...plan to come back to it
expatally's review against another edition
3.0
I would not have chosen to read this book had it not been chosen by my book club and there were many times I wondered if I would finish it. Sometimes, the minutae of the process of fixing the Samara home felt like it would not end, but having lived in the Middle East for a short time, that is exactly how it feels.
I believe the most important knowledge to gain from this book is that those unfamiliar with the Middle East often view this part of the world through a very narrow lens, often one based on fear and misunderstanding. I love that we get to know a variety of different characters through the book and hopefully, begin to understand a little more of the nuances of various cultures from the Middle East and began to try to empathise and understand rather than make quick judgments about something we don't know.
I believe the most important knowledge to gain from this book is that those unfamiliar with the Middle East often view this part of the world through a very narrow lens, often one based on fear and misunderstanding. I love that we get to know a variety of different characters through the book and hopefully, begin to understand a little more of the nuances of various cultures from the Middle East and began to try to empathise and understand rather than make quick judgments about something we don't know.
koreilly's review against another edition
3.0
Anthony Shadid paints a convincing and heartfelt portrait of small town life in Lebanon. All of the gossip, political anxiety and sense of tradition are present, along with a cast of colorful characters (exclusively male sadly, but more on that later) with quirks and outsized personalities bring his ancestor's home of Marjayoun to life.
The only thing is that he does this for a long time and greatly overstays his welcome. The book mainly consists of a few things, anecdotes of meetings he had with townspeople, reflections on the history and current state of conflict in Lebanon and the story of his great grandparents eventual emigration to America. Paired down with the help of a skillful editor, these could've made a compelling and interesting story but left as they are in the book right now, it turns into a predictable and momentum-less mess.
Shadid is more than happy to gloss over the more shady part of his Great Grandfather's forture (he got rich from selling wheat to the British but never farmed a day in his life. Make from that what you will), to try and create an interesting story where one isn't there. And the portraits of townspeople are well-rendered and endearing as you really begin to feel like you know these people but in the arduous task of trying to build the house, there is very little development. They postpone tasks, argue and drink coffee. That sums up a good couple hundred pages. Oh and they all talk shit about each other behind their backs. That too.
Shadid also doesn't dwell on the troubles of women in rural Lebanon, never once meeting a female character who wasn't someone's wife. While this is understandable due to some cultural differences, the refusal to comment on it is not.
Honestly, I was most fascinated by the portions that dealth with the embattled history of Lebanon from it's arbitrary border establishments in the 1920s to the constant over-eager retaliatory strikes from the war-mongers in Israel. I found myself wondering why I wasn't just reading about that exclusively if it was what interested me most.
The only thing is that he does this for a long time and greatly overstays his welcome. The book mainly consists of a few things, anecdotes of meetings he had with townspeople, reflections on the history and current state of conflict in Lebanon and the story of his great grandparents eventual emigration to America. Paired down with the help of a skillful editor, these could've made a compelling and interesting story but left as they are in the book right now, it turns into a predictable and momentum-less mess.
Shadid is more than happy to gloss over the more shady part of his Great Grandfather's forture (he got rich from selling wheat to the British but never farmed a day in his life. Make from that what you will), to try and create an interesting story where one isn't there. And the portraits of townspeople are well-rendered and endearing as you really begin to feel like you know these people but in the arduous task of trying to build the house, there is very little development. They postpone tasks, argue and drink coffee. That sums up a good couple hundred pages. Oh and they all talk shit about each other behind their backs. That too.
Shadid also doesn't dwell on the troubles of women in rural Lebanon, never once meeting a female character who wasn't someone's wife. While this is understandable due to some cultural differences, the refusal to comment on it is not.
Honestly, I was most fascinated by the portions that dealth with the embattled history of Lebanon from it's arbitrary border establishments in the 1920s to the constant over-eager retaliatory strikes from the war-mongers in Israel. I found myself wondering why I wasn't just reading about that exclusively if it was what interested me most.
jackieprr's review against another edition
3.0
It could have been a wonderful book, if the Italian translation wasn't that bad.
A story of a family, of a country and of a house. The importance of having a place to call home (beit), which can be miles away, even in another country, but that is the place where everything makes sense.
A story of a family, of a country and of a house. The importance of having a place to call home (beit), which can be miles away, even in another country, but that is the place where everything makes sense.