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vumalilli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Deportation
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Minor: Domestic abuse
readandchill23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault and Colonisation
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Terminal illness, Torture, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship, War, and Deportation
Minor: Sexism
teastained's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Deportation
stellenelcielo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was beautifully written, although jarring in the particular themes it included, such as: Trafficking/Prostitution, Sexual Assault, Solitary Confinement
The story follows a character, Nahr, as she recalls her life while spending 16 years in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison. From her childhood, born of Palestinian refugees in Kuwait after the 1967 war, to then Jordan after the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait was overcome, to Palestine before the 2nd Intifada.
I really liked that it maintained a feminist theme to it. Characters like Nahr are a joy, she constantly advocates for herself, and is entertainingly snippy when she’s insulted. Her sense of humour is pretty sly, and she’s written realistically, in that she still has moments of introspection that doesn’t paint her in the best light, which she acknowledges and moves on to try and do better.
The events of her life, from a failure of her marriage, to being tricked and blackmailed into prostitution, to returning to Palestine and finding love there, drawn into acting against the occupation. It’s genuinely a powerful novel that broke my heart a few times. Definitely recommend.
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Murder, Colonisation, and Deportation
Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Abortion
noneisntoff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Deportation
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Car accident, Murder, and Deportation
Minor: Antisemitism
noble_editorial's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, War, and Deportation
piecesofamber's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, Torture, Blood, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Excrement, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
janelle_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation
ogechi_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Abortion, and Deportation
nacocoa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Deportation