Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

Against The Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

91 reviews

katieocakes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Abortion, Colonisation, War, and Deportation

art_anthology's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring 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

I give this book five stars because it ultimately has me thinking about it even when the book was closed.
I knew how short the book was and really rationed each page so that i could absorb every word, every character and every emotion that was buried within this story.

Not only was I engrossed in the ficticious life events of Nahr, which culminated in a pilgrimage of self understanding. Her pondering yet piercing stillness that plagued "the cube chapters", cruely took a hold of my heart and I could not look away from the horrors detailed. It is heartbreaking but nessesary to be constantly faced with the cruelty of man.

Each character was surrounded in a veil of humanity that impacted their thoughts feelings and actions. Bot one character was the same at the beginning and end, something thst truly stood out to me.

Take for instance the strong, dominating matriarch Sitti Wasfiyeh complex relationship with all her closest family is devastatingly human. Even as we read her jibes and remarks seem to become background noise and we are acustomed to her quirks.
Just like we are part of the family we begin to remember that
"We're all she has in the world "

Abulhawa creates perfectly imperfect characters, who otherwise would be labeled as morally grey (a descriptor that i personall  feel should stay in  fantasy)yet who when allowed to interact with others bring out their inermost self and prove to be some of the most compelling chatacters. Yes I am talking about

Um Buraq

This is a good book to understand the Palestinian experience, Abulhaw never looses sight of the real-life backdrop thatvthe characters are placed within. As a fictional memoir that is so tragically rooted in oppression, key emphasis is put into educating the readers by immersing them in the cultural landscape that spans not only the hillofand vinyards of Palestine but the Ocean of Kuwait and the bustle of Jordan.  I feel that this book has layed a foundation that i know that i will continue to build on when I consume media about the Middle East, specifically these 3 countries.

I'm not going anywhere. I’m tired of being chased out of wherever I am in the world. Out of Haifa, then out of Ein el-Sultan, then Jordan, and now Kuwait? No. I’ll just die here instead of facing another exodus. I’m too old for this shit that these shit people keep doing to us. Shit. All of it—shit!”
-Sitti Wasfiyeh 

Each time Palestinian Embroidery was discussed honestly it filled my heart with so much joy and warmth ( yes i did cry each time).  I encourage all to explore the rich beauty in Tatreez ( embroidery) patterns. So that we can all marvel at the intricacy and skill of all artisans.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Torture, and Abortion

Content warnings I wouldnt consider these spoilers but want to be considerate

The main character works as a prostitute, and there is moderate detail. This is primarily at the beginning of the novel. About half way through the novel she is raped again with moderate detail. Then near the end she reflects briefly on her experiences. All the way through there are sexist comments that relate to her prostitution.

bdingz's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is so beautifully written. Nahr goes through so many horrific things, but this is as much a story of joy as it is a story of pain and resistance. The characters find solace in each other, as well as simple comforts like food and tea or skincare and nail polish. This could have only been bleak and sad, and it would’ve had every right to be…but it was so much more. 

If you think you can stomach the CWs, read this ASAP.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, and War

Moderate: Torture and Abortion

Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, and Miscarriage

raebennison's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Maybe the best book I've ever read, and so pertinent considering what is going on in Palestine right now.

You go through Nahr's life. You are with her when it spirals out of control, and when she regains that control. You're with her when she finally finds love and when it is cruely taken by the occupation. The heartbreak I felt when I found out how long she had been imprisoned was truly awful.

This book is rich in beautiful Palestinian culture and really highlights not just how awful it is to live under occupation, but how humanity has a way of finding and expressing love even in the darkest times. 

This book will stay with me for a very long time. I know Nahr is just a character but her story is one that will resonate with people. To me she is real.

10/10 fantastically written, I couldn't put it down

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, and War

Moderate: Torture

aw_nf15's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Classism

virginbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

This story makes me see life anew. Nahr shines her own light on the meaning of freedom and demonstrates the profound value of the internal revolution. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, and Colonisation

ialim01's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

vanessacorwin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Infertility, Sexual assault, Excrement, Trafficking, and Abortion

carliej's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Genocide, Sexual violence, Violence, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy

twitchywitchy314's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

This book was a beautifully gut wrenching read. Stories of what it's like to live as a refugee, to live under siege and occupation and of resistance and of love that endures despite brutal oppression. A must read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Death and Homophobia