Reviews

Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire by Jennifer Bing, Mike Merryman-Lotze, Jehad Abusalim

mariab27's review against another edition

5.0

Commenting on or critiquing this book would be like telling each of the essayists - one of whom, Mosab Abu Toha, a critically acclaimed poet, was detained for days while trying to leave Gaza - that their vulnerability was not enough. In each essay, a writer welcomes us into their lives, their desires, and what they’re doing to ensure their liberation. This is a beautiful book and has changed me deeply. I’d recommend it to anyone (and already have)!

applesaucecreachur's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

laserdiscreader's review against another edition

Library book. Will revisit soon

gooddaysahead's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad

5.0

jenage's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

notoriousesr's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful slow-paced

3.75

Light in Gaza is a collection of essays by Palestinian writers aiming to, well, bring light to the Gazan experience and imagine a free future beyond apartheid and mass death.

This is an important collection. It took me many months to read, in bits and pieces when I felt I could manage it, but I’m infinitely glad I read it. Published about a year before the most recent (but certainly not first) Israeli campaign of violence against Gazan civilians, it paints a picture of a population in constant, vivid crisis, lives punctuated by extreme acts of violence and destruction. However, it also paints a hopeful future of what Gaza could be if allowed to breathe. Though there were some awkward tonal shifts between personal memoir-like essays and papers that belonged more in scholarly journals, there were enough stand-out pieces (“Gaza Asks: When Shall This Pass?” by the late Refaat Alareer and “People’s Light in Gaza’s Darkness” by Suhail Taha for two) that it’s still 4 out of 5 dreams.

millienobobbybrown's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

sarahwarah's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

The narrators did not speak at the same speed. 
The content was so informative. I do believe that there is an Israel biased narrative that the world hears. It was refreshing to hear a Palestinian biased narrative. I want to hear the voices of Palestinians. 
I think I have more to understand about Gaza. I wish the book had more explicit discussion about how Gaza and the West Bank are similar but not. I am still confused about that point. 

boooklovers's review against another edition

5.0

such an important read if you want to learn more about the history of palestine

shelbylcallaway's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative tense medium-paced

5.0