A review by serendipitysbooks
Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj

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. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings