tasowl's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
Although there is much sadness in this book, the mood is never depressing. If anything, you will come away with a sliver of optimism that there may yet be hope for humanity. I was half-way through this book when the violence between Israelis and Palestinians exploded once again, so the story became even more poignant.
The two protagonists, who develop the strongest of friendships, display a quiet determination that belies the weight of their unfathomable grief. To know that the story is inspired by true events and real people makes it all the more extraordinary.
The way McCann interleaves the journeys of these two remarkable men with snippets of the history and geography of this troubled land adds layer upon layer of texture to this inspiring novel. I don't think I'll stop thinking about this book for a very long time.
The two protagonists, who develop the strongest of friendships, display a quiet determination that belies the weight of their unfathomable grief. To know that the story is inspired by true events and real people makes it all the more extraordinary.
The way McCann interleaves the journeys of these two remarkable men with snippets of the history and geography of this troubled land adds layer upon layer of texture to this inspiring novel. I don't think I'll stop thinking about this book for a very long time.
jmarenw's review against another edition
5.0
I know I won’t forget this book. It was hard for me to pick up and read, but every time I did I was rewarded. It was a reading experience, and five star worthy.
joshsimp's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
andrew_russell's review against another edition
5.0
There are excellent books and then...then there are books that confound anything you could possibly have expected. Sometimes this is due to a limited reading range but I like to tell myself that it's entirely down to the quality of the book and in the case of Colum McCann's Apeirogon, I find it hard to believe this not to be the case.
McCann's book uses a landmark event in two men's lives - the death of their young daughters - to draw light to an area of the geopolitical sphere that, although often featured in news reports, is one that all too many of us remain ignorant of; the Israeli-Palestine conflict. The two men in question are Bassam (Palestinian) and Rami (Israeli), both of whose daughters were only children when they tragically lost their lives. Rami's daughter Smadar, was killed in a suicide bombing. Bassam's daughter was killed by a rubber bullet, fired by a border guard. And that's the plot in a nutshell. There isn't much there in terms of the scope of the plot but there is heaps and heaps in terms of it's depth.
McCann employs an unusual structure to this work. The story is real. Bassam and Rami, their daughters and indeed, everyone featured in the book are also real-life individuals. Some may even go so far as to class this as non-fiction but McCann himself classes it as a 'hybrid novel', spanning the gap between the world of fiction and non-fiction. It has 1001 chapters, some a single sentence, some several pages. They are fragments, describing life in the conflict. From detailing the devastation which a suicide bombing can inflict upon the human body, to describing the use of Skunk water and sound bombs (both used for riot control purposes), to writing of the wildlife which inhabits the region, as well as significant recent and long-past historical events, McCann really does flavour the whole novel with just the right level of sauce to let the reader know the time and place he is writing of.
Right in the middle of the book lie two of it's most memorable chapters. These are those rare examples of chapters in this novel which are more than a single page in length. And every word is worth the reading. They detail the rollercoaster journey of emotions that both Rami and Bassam have travelled on to get to the mental space which they now inhabit. Both met through a group of parents who have lost loved ones in the conflict and who regularly congregate to try and find solace whilst dealing with the grief that accompanies their loss. No step of either Bassam's or Rami's journey is easy and yet they travel the globe, using the adversity of their own experience as a means of teaching others that no obstacle should be so great as to prevent us all from seeking reconciliation in the most trying of circumstances. It's particularly timely, given the divisiveness with which certain political groups are currently carving up society along lines of race, religion and political belief.
One of the most enjoyable stylistic flourishes which McCann brings to the fore in this work, is the linkage between two or more of the tiny chapters which he writes. In one of these chapters, he refers to the significance of a three gun salute. In the next, we are told of the three second intervals between the bombs which killed Smadar. These tenuous and yet powerful 'linkages' are a key trademark of the book and although McCann makes it look easy to do, writing in this style, whilst holding the reader's interest and attention, is nothing if not challenging.
There is little that can be said about this book that will serve as a substitute for simply reading it. In summary, it's powerful, moving, multi-faceted, thought-provoking and not least of all, absolutely fascinating. I would be extremely surprised if it does not garner a prize or two in the coming year.
McCann's book uses a landmark event in two men's lives - the death of their young daughters - to draw light to an area of the geopolitical sphere that, although often featured in news reports, is one that all too many of us remain ignorant of; the Israeli-Palestine conflict. The two men in question are Bassam (Palestinian) and Rami (Israeli), both of whose daughters were only children when they tragically lost their lives. Rami's daughter Smadar, was killed in a suicide bombing. Bassam's daughter was killed by a rubber bullet, fired by a border guard. And that's the plot in a nutshell. There isn't much there in terms of the scope of the plot but there is heaps and heaps in terms of it's depth.
McCann employs an unusual structure to this work. The story is real. Bassam and Rami, their daughters and indeed, everyone featured in the book are also real-life individuals. Some may even go so far as to class this as non-fiction but McCann himself classes it as a 'hybrid novel', spanning the gap between the world of fiction and non-fiction. It has 1001 chapters, some a single sentence, some several pages. They are fragments, describing life in the conflict. From detailing the devastation which a suicide bombing can inflict upon the human body, to describing the use of Skunk water and sound bombs (both used for riot control purposes), to writing of the wildlife which inhabits the region, as well as significant recent and long-past historical events, McCann really does flavour the whole novel with just the right level of sauce to let the reader know the time and place he is writing of.
Right in the middle of the book lie two of it's most memorable chapters. These are those rare examples of chapters in this novel which are more than a single page in length. And every word is worth the reading. They detail the rollercoaster journey of emotions that both Rami and Bassam have travelled on to get to the mental space which they now inhabit. Both met through a group of parents who have lost loved ones in the conflict and who regularly congregate to try and find solace whilst dealing with the grief that accompanies their loss. No step of either Bassam's or Rami's journey is easy and yet they travel the globe, using the adversity of their own experience as a means of teaching others that no obstacle should be so great as to prevent us all from seeking reconciliation in the most trying of circumstances. It's particularly timely, given the divisiveness with which certain political groups are currently carving up society along lines of race, religion and political belief.
One of the most enjoyable stylistic flourishes which McCann brings to the fore in this work, is the linkage between two or more of the tiny chapters which he writes. In one of these chapters, he refers to the significance of a three gun salute. In the next, we are told of the three second intervals between the bombs which killed Smadar. These tenuous and yet powerful 'linkages' are a key trademark of the book and although McCann makes it look easy to do, writing in this style, whilst holding the reader's interest and attention, is nothing if not challenging.
There is little that can be said about this book that will serve as a substitute for simply reading it. In summary, it's powerful, moving, multi-faceted, thought-provoking and not least of all, absolutely fascinating. I would be extremely surprised if it does not garner a prize or two in the coming year.
embem_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- 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? N/A
4.75
Ein sehr beeindruckendes Buch, das sehr viele Schichten hat. Ich bin beeindruckt von McCann für das Einweben von so vielen Informationen und dass er es trotzdem geschafft hat, ein zusammenhängendes Werk mit so vielen Facetten zu schaffen. Das Einzige, was mich gestört hat, ist, dass ichs nicht in einem durchlesen konnte und mehrere Monate an dem Buch saß und deswegen stellenweise echt die Lust verloren hab. Aber das mag mehr über mich als über das Buch aussagen
elliejmatthews's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tevreads's review against another edition
5.0
Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2020. This is a monumental achievement in literature, simply outstanding. When the longlist was first announced for 2020, this book immediately appealed to me, yet has been idle on my bookshelf until now. I’m sure I’d be surprised as anyone who has read this book that it hasn’t won any awards besides the National Jewish Book Award. It’s form, function and importance in our current world is not to be understated.
_________
‘Apeirogon’ by Colin McCann is a meta-narrative that uses vignettes to describe the conflict between the people of Palestine and Israel. It centres around two real characters and their painfully real stories. Rami is an Israeli man who lost his young daughter to a suicide bomber, and Bassam is a Palestinian man that lost his young daughter to a border policeman. The vignettes follow a rich history lesson of the region and conflict, rich tapestries of ornithology and explorers, settlers and occupiers, interspersed with recounts and the lives of both men. Their unlikely union and push for peace around the world the lasting message.
_________
Each segment of this story varies in length from a chapter’s length to a sentence or word, or even just an image. Perhaps most haunting is the silence that follows images of the conflict, of each little girl and transcripts of the violence. When I finished this incredible book, I felt like I had received an invaluable history lesson, but more importantly, a lesson in empathy and humanity. It bends form and history in a way that is simply masterful. I implore everyone to read this book, it is a landmark achievement in storytelling and a clear example of the power of a novel. With more writers like Colum McCann and people reading ‘Apeirogon’, the world would be a better place.
_________
‘Apeirogon’ by Colin McCann is a meta-narrative that uses vignettes to describe the conflict between the people of Palestine and Israel. It centres around two real characters and their painfully real stories. Rami is an Israeli man who lost his young daughter to a suicide bomber, and Bassam is a Palestinian man that lost his young daughter to a border policeman. The vignettes follow a rich history lesson of the region and conflict, rich tapestries of ornithology and explorers, settlers and occupiers, interspersed with recounts and the lives of both men. Their unlikely union and push for peace around the world the lasting message.
_________
Each segment of this story varies in length from a chapter’s length to a sentence or word, or even just an image. Perhaps most haunting is the silence that follows images of the conflict, of each little girl and transcripts of the violence. When I finished this incredible book, I felt like I had received an invaluable history lesson, but more importantly, a lesson in empathy and humanity. It bends form and history in a way that is simply masterful. I implore everyone to read this book, it is a landmark achievement in storytelling and a clear example of the power of a novel. With more writers like Colum McCann and people reading ‘Apeirogon’, the world would be a better place.
raeleechoins's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot rave enough about this book. It marked me deeply. This is a part fiction, part biographical story of two grieving men, one Palestinian Arab, one Israeli Jew. This is the story you don't hear about on the news: how grief can lead to deep friendship despite cultural boundaries and war zones. McCann takes their stories and weaves them in with stories of other remarkable Jews and Arabs, of the importance of birds in Middle Eastern culture, of how the war between Israel and Palestine began, and of other seemingly random but not at all subjects. I highly encourage everyone who reads this book to read McCann's why behind the what for Apeirogon, as it adds so much more depth to the story.
*Warning: one must not read this book until one's heart is prepared for the emotional depth and truth it holds. To read unprepared would be an insult to the author and the men he writes about.
*Warning: one must not read this book until one's heart is prepared for the emotional depth and truth it holds. To read unprepared would be an insult to the author and the men he writes about.
burritapal_1's review against another edition
Important work for its tale about a Palestinian man and a Jewish man who bonded over the death of their daughters.
While this book had a lot of interesting side information, ie about bird migration, about the layout of the land around Jerusalem, about the terrorism of the occupiers, there was too much God-y stuff in here. It's ironic, because religion is the cause of War around the world, especially this problem in Jerusalem, where Palestinians homes are bulldozed and there's a lot of hatred of the Palestinians, because they have a different "God" than the jews. But it became too boring, too much God stuff. I just couldn't take it anymore.
While this book had a lot of interesting side information, ie about bird migration, about the layout of the land around Jerusalem, about the terrorism of the occupiers, there was too much God-y stuff in here. It's ironic, because religion is the cause of War around the world, especially this problem in Jerusalem, where Palestinians homes are bulldozed and there's a lot of hatred of the Palestinians, because they have a different "God" than the jews. But it became too boring, too much God stuff. I just couldn't take it anymore.
lauramilitaru's review against another edition
4.0
Apeirogon este un roman dureros și atât de real încât reușeam să parcurg doar câteva capitole pe zi. Modul de scriere e complet diferit de tot ce am citit până acum, dar m-a captivat imediat. La început poate părea un haos, ai impresia că nu au legatură unele capitole cu povestea, dar pe parcurs totul se leagă si prinde sens.
Recomand audiobook-ul narat de Șerban Pavlu, aduce un plus de realism înfiorător.
“Cel mai de seamă război sfânt este acela dus pentru cucerirea sufletului.”
“Într-o scrisoare către Rami, Bassam a scris că una dintre principalele calități ale durerii e că se cere mai întai înfrântă, apoi înțeleasă.”
“Când împarți moartea la viață rezultatul e un cerc.”
Mi-aș fi dorit să fi avut parte de mai multe capitole cu privire la prietenia dintre Rami și Bassam, un israelian si un palestinian pe care i-a apropiat durerea pierderii fiicelor sale, Smadar și Abir.
Pe lângă povestea reală a celor doi prieteni, am aflat foarte multe lucruri despre poporul israelian și cel palestinian și conflictele continue dintre acestea, despre tradițiile lor și felul în care trăiau.
Recomand audiobook-ul narat de Șerban Pavlu, aduce un plus de realism înfiorător.
“Cel mai de seamă război sfânt este acela dus pentru cucerirea sufletului.”
“Într-o scrisoare către Rami, Bassam a scris că una dintre principalele calități ale durerii e că se cere mai întai înfrântă, apoi înțeleasă.”
“Când împarți moartea la viață rezultatul e un cerc.”
Mi-aș fi dorit să fi avut parte de mai multe capitole cu privire la prietenia dintre Rami și Bassam, un israelian si un palestinian pe care i-a apropiat durerea pierderii fiicelor sale, Smadar și Abir.
Pe lângă povestea reală a celor doi prieteni, am aflat foarte multe lucruri despre poporul israelian și cel palestinian și conflictele continue dintre acestea, despre tradițiile lor și felul în care trăiau.