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alyssabookrecs's review against another edition
3.0
A beautiful, unexpected read about the experience of an Israeli Arab growing up in Israel and his constant split identity in terms of Israel, Palestine, and being an Arab resident of Israel. The prose, even in translation, is so stunning and delves you completely into these vignettes, held together by the same cast of characters. There is growth and also not, and I love the ambiguity present in the writing: it conveys something very real and complex.
susanbrooks's review against another edition
2.0
The narrator's story was very piecemeal and detached.
I could not have cared less about him or his life.
I'd been looking forward to getting immersed in a different
culture.
I could not have cared less about him or his life.
I'd been looking forward to getting immersed in a different
culture.
iris_krauze's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book!
Sayed Kashua has an incredible way with words, and his story-telling was really vivid and engaging. It has been a long time since I've actually read this one (going back on some of the old books I've read and updated them here for the first time) so I may come back and edit my review more a bit later to go into more detail but if you want to read a book that deals with real issues many Palestinian people face with personal identity and opportunity written in an honest and truly engage style, I suggest looking into this one!
Sayed Kashua has an incredible way with words, and his story-telling was really vivid and engaging. It has been a long time since I've actually read this one (going back on some of the old books I've read and updated them here for the first time) so I may come back and edit my review more a bit later to go into more detail but if you want to read a book that deals with real issues many Palestinian people face with personal identity and opportunity written in an honest and truly engage style, I suggest looking into this one!
benedetta's review against another edition
Because of wasn't getting my attention, I was bored and wasn't interested in it.
rabiaakhtar's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pagesintranslation's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
jess_segraves's review against another edition
2.0
The blurb on the back of this book seems to tell a greater and more complete story than the novel itself, which was disappointing.
lizmart88's review against another edition
3.0
The theme of this novel is dysfunction - the unnatural state of ongoing war and tension between Arabs and Jews in Israel and Palestine ; the conflicts between family members; and ultimately, the tension between the vision of what you want yourself to be and who you really are.
If you're looking to understand Israel and Palestinian life a little more, this book is a good start.
If you're looking to understand Israel and Palestinian life a little more, this book is a good start.
daviden__'s review against another edition
5.0
Un'interessante (anche se profondamente amara) indagine del concetto di identità, che l'autore porta avanti in modo ottimo con una scrittura che fa sentire ogni tormentoso sentimento del protagonista. Interessante come, pur descrivendo una serie di piccole scene (anche distanti tra loro nel tempo), Kashua riesca comunque a darci un ritratto non frammentato dei personaggi.
towardinfinitybooks's review against another edition
2.0
Read Harder 2016 task: Read a book set in the Middle East.