Welcome to Litsy!

This was a tough one. It is very literary, I had to really pay attention. It covers a complex period in Palestinian history which I knew little about and rightly the author doesn‘t hand this to you on a plate. It is also a touching love story and family saga and I was really absorbed by those elements. It had the odd effect of being both hard work and relaxing. I persevered and I‘m glad I did as I feel a sense of achievement and I‘ve learned a lot

I need to understand more of the history of the Palestinian people. And this book helped amazingly. From the 1913 Arab National Congress to the 1936 British army offensive it educated and engaged me. I learn though story and following Mehat as a young Arab student journeying to Paris, through to his witnessing violent martial law in his hometown 2 decades later. I learnt, I empathised and I was deeply saddened. Can‘t believe this is a debut.

Bailed on this after reading all of part one and a few pages into part two just because I‘m not in the mood for this. The writing is good, but this isn‘t the adventure I want to go on, now. #moodyreader

I guess I am not smart enough to get this book. A lot of awards and great reviews. It was hard for me to get into the characters and then they abruptly change in each part. I hated the ending as well.

I love BotM but I had to stop as I was accumulating too many books (is there such a thing). I moved across the country, but somehow they found me again. Oohh the temptation!

Seems like quite a pleasant read but too little time in life.

So far (almost half way through) this an enjoyable book, an interesting story that weaves together worlds, families and people, reminds me a little of Colleen McCullough in this manner. It‘s not literature and could have been cut down in parts, nonetheless it‘s suitably pleasant.

This was a dense story spanning only a few decades but covering A LOT of Middle Eastern/ European History.
The story of Midhat, an enlightened young scholar from Nablus, who travels to Paris to study medicine in 1917.
When he returns to Palestine he recognizes while he has changed, his country has too. I enjoyed reading a different perspective of this region, then one I‘m familiar with.
My only “complaint” was the excessive prose.

I LOVE this cover SO MUCH 💕Thank you my dear friend for this lovely birthday gift!!!! I‘m looking forward to this book/ I‘ve heard wonderful things. As always, your friendship is the true gift 😘

4.5 ⭐️- Really loved this sweeping historical novel about a Palestinian man who studied in France during his youth then returns to his home town of of Nablus. We follow Midhad for several decades as the world changes rapidly and Palestine fights for its independence. Not heavy handed in its point of view, this novel gives a perspective of the conflict not often seen in Western literature.

Intrigued by this debut novel from Isabella Hammad, which follows a Palestinian student who travels to France to study medicine in 1914. The author paints a fascinating picture of life in France between the World Wars, alongside a history of the Holy Lands. #isabellahammad #theparisian #book #books #fiction #historicalfiction #bookish #politics #booklove #history #dauntbooks #bookphotography #lockdown #lockdownreading #socialdistancing #stayhome

Set during the Palestinian and Syrian independence movements between the first and second world wars, Isabella Hammad explores how wars and social change effect families over time. This broad sweeping account written in beautiful literary fiction prose will make you think. As excellent as si thought it was The Parisian is not a perfect novel and not for everyone. I enjoyed the snatched of French and Arabic as well as the interesting characters.

Historical fiction set in British mandate-era Palestine. A man from Nablus goes to France to study medicine right before WWI breaks out, and sees his homeland transformed from Ottoman outpost to failed independence movements. At times it seems like peace was almost within reach, but of course it never happens.

#7covers7days #covercrush #day3
@Hazel0303 would you like to join ? Share 7 covers in 7 days - no explanations

@CarolynM @MamaGina @Severnmeadows

This book was everything I wanted out of a WWI middle eastern based story. So beautiful, so historical, and great if you love languages as most greetings and expressions are left in the original languages!

This is an example of why I read. A true labour of love - 710 pages and I savoured every word. Besides the history lesson, it‘s a story of how people cope with huge upheaval, and it‘s another example of how British colonialism and the way they portioned up countries, messed up countless lives. But it‘s the people: the men who fought and died for their beliefs, the strong women who supported them. And Midhat Kamals story... I loved it.

My current read, a Palestinian man ventures forth to France at the beginning of WWI. There starts his epic journey. So far so good! #books #currentread

New in...

Beautifully written,fascinating story.

I was totally immersed in this book, savouring it slowly. The sort of book that encourages the reader to take it slow. It's really gorgeously-written, very intricate, historical, smart, rich, philosophical ... And then my ARC expired 😭

The usual trick for when I'm catching up on an ARC that's about to expire—turning off WiFi on my device until I read it, and leaving it in airplane mode—didn't work this time. *sad violin*