so-soI was into this audio at the beginning but I found it to drag on the middle—so much so that I found myself skipping and I NEVER do that. I could have missed something vital, so take this with a grain of salt. I know theater doesn‘t work for me in literature so it‘s my fault. I loved the MC‘s backstory and the set up: Sonia returns to her home to discover so much has changed: grandparents have passed, houses sold. Timely: Palestinian experiences.
pickA complicated novel about a complex topic - lots of characters and identities in the Middle East. A great reflection on identity and resistance.
I wished to drink tea with you at night, it means to be happy together... ☕🍂
pickFavorites in order
1. The Land of Sad Oranges
2. Letter from Gaza
3. The Falcon
4. A Hand in the Grave
5. Umm Saad
6. If you were a Horse
7. Men in the Sun
so-soI‘m going to be a party pooper. I read it all but either it all went over my head or it just didn‘t resonate at all with me or both. I got a glimpse of the restrictions and omnipresent danger imposed by Israel on the Palestinians, for sure. But the rest of it did not capture any emotion from me other than “when will I finish this damn thing?” Shortlisted on the Women‘s Prize list, I‘m delighted that Brotherless Night won.
pick#SummerSouls Day 15: Kanafani wrote in a matter-of-fact yet also highly intimate manner – like stories that are being whispered around a #Camp #campfire. Most are horror stories that one would not imagine could happen to another human being – yet these stories are snapshots of actual lived experiences of people, who are still pretty much going through what Kanafani had surfaced here. My review 4 yrs ago: https://wp.me/pDlzr-mKo
pickAn actress who lives in London goes to back to Palestine to visit her sister and ends up taking part in a production of Hamlet. Slow moving but often intense, I liked this but wish I had gone with a print version over audio.
May reading roundup!
Finished up the #WomensPrizeForFiction short list with Soldier Sailor (3 ⭐) and Enter Ghost (4.5 ⭐)
And read from many different countries - England, Philippines, Ireland, Holland, US, France, Palestine.
Explored many different topics from Aliens running a donut shop, Shakespear in Palestine, Cain and god, and Teen slashers.
Change and Enter Ghost were my best fiction, Some People Need Killing and Houndred Years War best NF
pickAmazing. I am so glad I read the Hundred Years War before EG. It gave much needed context to the story. Hammad's writing is impeccable, she weaves the novel with stage/ play writing in an easily digestible way, she tells a story about real characters that were likable. The backbone of the story is about acting, and home. What is home, and what do you want to do with your life and can the coexist.
