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A review by sarahholliday
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This stunning piece of storytelling left me speechless, awe-struck.
Abulhawa paints an unflinching picture of life as a refugee, of settler colonialism, and of the complexity of womanhood in the modern Arab world.
Nahr is a beautifully complex protagonist, moving through life with the same spirit that captures her while dancing, but grounded by a devotion to family and, eventually, her people's land and history.
This might end up being my favorite book of 2021, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Abulhawa paints an unflinching picture of life as a refugee, of settler colonialism, and of the complexity of womanhood in the modern Arab world.
Nahr is a beautifully complex protagonist, moving through life with the same spirit that captures her while dancing, but grounded by a devotion to family and, eventually, her people's land and history.
This might end up being my favorite book of 2021, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Excrement
Moderate: Homophobia