A review by bethanharcourt
Hope Not Fear by Hassan Akkad

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

2.75

This man has gone through a lot, but I feel he didn't explain himself in a way I could truly understand his decisions. I also felt he was quite boastful of his skills in a way that I didn't think really were actually evidenced and I didn't like the way he spoke about some of his 'female friends'. I didn't understand why he left Dubai to experience the horrors of crossing from Turkey to Greece when he had a job and his family there. The visa issues didn't make sense if his family were then able to stay there. I didn't understand why he put himself through everything in frnac when he could have stayed in any of the other European countries he passed through. He seemed to have endless money to buy these crossings and fake passports. He didn't in anyway need to shove that SIM card up his bum for safe keeping. I understand maybe in hindsight some of these things appear more obvious, but still... It would have helped me to understand more. I agree that refugees need more support, that fleeing a country that is trying to kill you and losing your home and family and everything you own is an experience I can't begin to imagine. But I'm not sure he's the best spokesperson for this as he seemed to have so many other opportunities that ordinary individuals would not have. 
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