Scan barcode
A review by jukietoss
Too Soon: A Novel by Betty Shamieh
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I loved this debut by Betty Shamieh. TOO SOON is a captivating glimpse into the life of a Palestinian American theatre director who we meet as she is 35-years-old and at a crossroads in her career and personal life. Whereas we generally think of a coming-of-age story as taking place during formative teenage years and beyond, meeting Arabella in her thirties at a standstill had the feel of a coming-of-age nonetheless. Juxtaposed against the stories of her mother and grandmother, each of the three women grew and transformed over the course of the book--whether or not at what would traditionally be considered the intervals for "growing up". Witnessing how three generations of Palestinian women built their lives amidst the backdrop of violence against their people and stolen land provided dimension to present conversations around the Middle East and the wars therein. Whereas providing the amount of historical context that this book did could make you think it would be mired in geopolitics and tragedy, Shamieh succeeded in telling a specific story of one family that maintained a balance between the macro and micro challenges that the individuals encountered.
Part of what's so compelling about this book is that it truly is a plot- and character-driven story of one family and their complex relationships with one another. It's not a political screed nor is it a call to action or a tale without nuance. Instead, the proximity it gives us to the characters allows us to see the complexity of the circumstances and the interpersonal dynamics. In real life, we have to continue doing the mundane even amidst turmoil. In the book, it's the same. As invested as I was in Zoya's experience of the Nakba in 1948, I was equally rapt by her daily chats with her granddaughter in 2012.
Good storytellers can invest us in their characters while also increasing our understanding of the world. Shamieh did this so beautifully. Her voice is such a welcome contribution to the focus on Palestine, and her story feels essential not because it simplifies identity or implies a monolith but because she allows so many unique individuals to speak, struggle, and flourish in this world she created.
Part of what's so compelling about this book is that it truly is a plot- and character-driven story of one family and their complex relationships with one another. It's not a political screed nor is it a call to action or a tale without nuance. Instead, the proximity it gives us to the characters allows us to see the complexity of the circumstances and the interpersonal dynamics. In real life, we have to continue doing the mundane even amidst turmoil. In the book, it's the same. As invested as I was in Zoya's experience of the Nakba in 1948, I was equally rapt by her daily chats with her granddaughter in 2012.
Good storytellers can invest us in their characters while also increasing our understanding of the world. Shamieh did this so beautifully. Her voice is such a welcome contribution to the focus on Palestine, and her story feels essential not because it simplifies identity or implies a monolith but because she allows so many unique individuals to speak, struggle, and flourish in this world she created.