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themoostconfused's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i pre-ordered when i first hear about it and it took about 6 months to eventually end up in my hands. it was worth the wait in every single aspect of it.
i read the entire book within a single day and didn't want it to end. i loved the interwoven paths of the characters and how their lives are connected with each other even in ways they might not even realize themselves.
it touches on the experiences of being an immigrant/a child of immigrants and all the everyday struggles, racism and generational trauma that entails.
the fight for freedom for palestine is on-going and the colonial powers are still not being stopped on a big enough scale. from the river to the sea, palestine will be free.
after reading the lines...
"'you're our rock,' everyone told her, but that reputation did,'t feel like a compliment anymore. it felt like neglect"
...i had to take a quick break because that sums up so many experiences into one and made me feel seen in such a painful but freeing way.
this book is a work of art and i will treasure it forever.
i read the entire book within a single day and didn't want it to end. i loved the interwoven paths of the characters and how their lives are connected with each other even in ways they might not even realize themselves.
it touches on the experiences of being an immigrant/a child of immigrants and all the everyday struggles, racism and generational trauma that entails.
the fight for freedom for palestine is on-going and the colonial powers are still not being stopped on a big enough scale. from the river to the sea, palestine will be free.
after reading the lines...
...i had to take a quick break because that sums up so many experiences into one and made me feel seen in such a painful but freeing way.
this book is a work of art and i will treasure it forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Violence, Abortion, and War
Minor: Torture
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
Behind You is the Sea is one of those books contributing to the "interconnected short stories or novel" debate. It explores the li Palestinian-American community in Baltimore via eight main charcters from three different families, and canvasses themes like class, work, family, belonging, microaggressions, links to the "home" country, intergenerational trauma, generational divides and more. I thought it was strongly written and very effective. I was quickly drawn in, and the book held my attention throughout. Naturally, different stories/ chapters worked better for me than others. I'm uncertain if it was coincidence, or an effect of their placement after other stories that had perhaps set the scene, introduced characters etc, but the stories I felt were the strongest were the last two in the book, particulalry Worry Beads about the relationship between a woman and her father who was suffering from dementia. The stories about a mother advocating for her young autistic son, and a teen girl struggling with the decision for her theatre club to perform Aladdin were also impactful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Dementia, and Classism
kerriski's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Dementia, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Mental illness, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism
kirstym25's review
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Dementia
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
silviahc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
I LOVED this book!!! Truly one of my favorite reads so far this year! I loved how entranced I was at every story. The stories being interconnected was really the cherry on top. She is such an incredible writer
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use and Sexual content
megansoetaert's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I could’ve read whole books about these characters. The stories flow together in a way that doesn’t even make them feel like short stories, showing the interconnectedness of Palestinian American communities. Each story highlights the diversity of Palestinian experiences in the US, while still showing the similarities characters face.
This was very well done, and i can’t wait to read Darraj’s other books.
This was very well done, and i can’t wait to read Darraj’s other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Violence
wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Behind You is the Sea is a collection of interconnected short stories that center Palestinian characters. I had high hopes and was excited to see it on the shelves during my last library visit. Alas, it was not my cup of tea. The stories are set in Baltimore, but there is no distinguishing sense of place in these vignettes, nothing that makes you understand what it means to live, work, or grow up there. (The irony of it all was the cover designers note at the end proclaiming how Baltimore itself shined as a character here. WHERE?!) BYITS aimed to do too much and didn't execute on those ideas all that well. These stories touched on weighty subjects such as racism, classism, eating disorders, abortion, family conflicts, femicide, and domestic abuse. The writing style was heavy on the telling as opposed to showing, while also skirting around the issue at center of the story before addressing it with unnatural directness. There was little nuance and very little subtlety, while also not leaving much room for reflection from these characters whose head you've been in throughout the short story. The biggest off-putting aspect though was the cop-aganda in the two stories focusing on Marcus. He's a "good cop" and "overprotective brother" but a "bad son" until he takes his father's body back to Palestine and rushes into marriage (savior complex, much?) with a woman there. It's 2024. Do we need to romanticize police in this day and age? In a city as fraught with racialized and class divisions as Baltimore? Of all the commentary that didn't land...that one fell the most flat.
It was a fast read, which is perhaps the only reason I finished reading rather than quitting midway through.
It was a fast read, which is perhaps the only reason I finished reading rather than quitting midway through.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
shay43geek's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Dementia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this was absolutely amazing, the interwoven narratives were so powerful and raw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
themadbloodstone's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the most moving stories I have ever read in my lifetime. All the characters were real people — the way they talked, the way they acted, the way they thought — it was as if Darraj had eavesdropped and typed passing conversations while writing. I normally am not a fan of multiple POVs and narratives. I did get occasionally confused when one chapter was written in first-person when the next was in third, but it wasn’t enough of a problem to deter me from enjoying this book. And Darraj intertwines the different narratives flawlessly and smoothly, like a late spring stream flowing by. The chapters were pretty much their own characters as well, with different moods, themes, and messages. I could enjoy each story as a standalone and as an important part of a grander plot. They were all written with the most care. “The Hastag” left me on the edge of my seat; the majority of the time I read “Behind You is the Sea”, I rooted for Maysoon; and “Worry Beads” and “Escorting the Body” had me in tears, especially the latter. Seeing the country of Palestine and its people depicted as the kind, life-loving people they are and their perseverance despite the fascist occupation and the discrimination they face gave me hope for the future. Even if this book is a work of fiction, it was still reality.
Behind You is the Sea is definitely going to be one of those future classics the next generation will read in school and learn from, like The House on Mango Street or Wiesel’s Night. It is such a beautiful book and deserves all the recognition it gets.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free 🍉
Behind You is the Sea is definitely going to be one of those future classics the next generation will read in school and learn from, like The House on Mango Street or Wiesel’s Night. It is such a beautiful book and deserves all the recognition it gets.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free 🍉
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Xenophobia, and Dementia
Moderate: Misogyny and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Sexual violence