Reviews

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa

ikouroughli's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

kyradavies's review

emotional informative sad tense 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

misterfix's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A profoundly captivating and emotionally raw story which is unfortunately even more devastating given the current catastrophe taking place in Palestine. One of the best books I've read about the situation in that area and highly recommended.

patriciakeil's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• 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

medea22's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

feeyaaan's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

rana_safi1999's review

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

4.5 🌟
The ONLY downside to this was the multiple POV's that could sometimes confuse you. 
Otherwise, I cannot speak of a story that isn't fictional. This is the reality of Palestinians 75 years ago and today too unfortunately.

I was very sad and shocked when I found this quote as I read: “If anything happens, I promise to live at the hospital. Even Israel will not bomb a hospital." because I found it ironic days after Israel bombed Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza killing hundreds of civilians. So many have the same story as Aboelheja's family and it's heartbreaking how helpless and guilty I feel for being alive as an Arab and I cannot help my brothers and sisters get their lands back. 

Insha'allah I live to see Palestine free again one day from the river to the sea.

crescent_moon22's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Abulhawa writes the tragic lives of a Palestinian family through 6 decades of the Palestinian - Israeli conflict from being forced to leave in 1948 to 2003. The story is fictional but center around historical events and interwoven with real stories.
Your heart will break with every page turned. It is book marked by a a friendship of the grandfather a Palestinian and his friend a Jew. This story breathes life into this still on going horrific conflict.

natashasorrell's review

5.0

Heartbreaking and beautiful and essential

vickysimpson's review

5.0

Mornings in Jenin traces the lives of one Palestinian family through 6 decades of the Palestinian - Israeli conflict, from 1948 to 2003.. The characters are fictional but the situation is very real and still unresolved to this day.
This book is devastating, beautifully written and important.