A review by amandahajj
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

My quest to absorb as much knowledge as I can of Palestinian history and current events has taken up the better part of my brain in recent months. I’ve spent many hours researching the work of Middle East scholars, watching documentaries, and tracking the news. Yet reading this novel took me a while to finish. Somehow it felt more laborious than the hours of research I’ve committed.

I’m so glad I finally read this book though. What an epic tale of displacement, grief, trauma, resilience, and love. Filled with cultural quirks that resonated deeply, gut-wrenching passages, and ample of heart-warming passages too, I found myself more and more compelled to read as it went on.

I love that this read embraces our messiness as humans and allows readers to grapple with the greater forces that move them and move around them.
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