A review by chrysoula_amv
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

emotional informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Started reading this to read from a Palestinian author. I did not expect to stumble upon such a masterpiece. This was so well researched and articulated that I thought for a long time it was a memoir and not fiction. The writing is stunning I will definitely read a poetry collection of Susan Abulhawa. This book transported me. It was indeed like I lived another life. I cried 3-4 times and fell in love with all the character who I cannot believe are only fictional. I also learned a lot, provoked me to do my own research as well on the Palestine-Israeli situation and gave me a profound insight on how for each person truth differs which you can only get from being in another's head and daily life. This is a book about morally grey people against other morally grey people struggling to survive in a morally grey world. (+some outright evil people as well from whom there are zero excuses or empathy) Lastly, it made me so grateful for having a place in the world, a place I call home with all my relatives and people I love close. And I am also grateful for being able to travel, to move in the world (especially in the EU) so freely. I don't know what will happen with this war and the others going on in the world. I am insignificant in the face of them. I cannot stop them. I cannot bring peace to those people. Reading books is a blessing and a curse for how do you go from this to your daily routine and how, when you inevitably do, do you not feel bad about it.