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zachn97's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Islamophobia, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
issy_jacob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Alcohol
hammerhead69's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
teabeansss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
chi__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Blood, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Deportation
Moderate: Alcoholism and Pregnancy
fiifarts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Deportation
raisinreads's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
kimschouwenaar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Woah. And I mean that in every sense of the expression. This multi-generational story about a Palestinian family grabs you by the throat, nails digging in, and does not relent. I expect it to retain its hold on me for months to come. Abulhawa takes you by the hand and leads you through history and grief, leads you through the relentless suffering of Palestinians, and does not hold back.
Each chapter I was left questioning Can this really happen? Can a people be this ruthless and arrogant to believe they have the rights to invade a country and act like they are the only victims?
Yes. In fact, it is happening and has been happening for decades. We need to stop trying to justify genocide. The safety of one people should not come at the cost of another country and culture.
"The roots of out grief coil so deeply into loss that death has come to live with us like a family member who makes you happy by avoiding you, but who is still one of the family. Our anger is a rage that Westerners cannot understand. Our sadness can make the stones weep. And the way we love is no exception, Amal."
It's a tough read, but I strongly believe it's one that we should all know.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Dementia, and Deportation
nineinchnails's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
it feels weird to rate this book like i would other fiction novels, since many of these fictional events are recurring as we speak. what i will say is that anyone even slightly interested in learning about palestine stands to gain a lot from reading this book. while it is definitely heavy and dark, it shows so much beauty in the land and culture too. the story switches hands between characters a fair amount here but i think it works in its favour and is necessary to tell this particular story. i don't think anything i write here could do this book justice but i loved this book from front to cover and i don't think the contents will ever leave my mind.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Antisemitism, Dementia, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Rape
katharina90's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"How does one live in a world that turns away from such injustice for so long? Is this what it means to be Palestinian, Mother?"
"For if life had taught her anything, it was that healing and peace can begin only with acknowledgment of wrongs committed."
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Confinement and Torture
Minor: Alcoholism and Rape