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jacki_f's review
4.0
Amin Jaafie is an Israeli Arab and non-practising Muslim who works as a surgeon in Tel Aviv. He is devoted to his wife Sihem and life is good. Until one day a suicide bomber blows up a restaurant - killing 19 people including many children - and all the evidence suggests that his wife is the perpetrator. As Jaafie moves through denial to grief, confusion and anger, he is determined to understand what could have driven his wife to do such a thing. His quest will take him around Israel and the West Bank, allowing us the reader to see the different sides of the Israeli-Arab conflict.
This is a gripping book which is hard to put down. You feel Jaafie's emotions throughout. Like Justin in The Constant Gardener, his need to understand a side of his wife that he didn't previously know about will lead him into dangerous situations.
While there were occasional clunky notes which are probably down to the translation, this is overall a moving and engrossing read.
This is a gripping book which is hard to put down. You feel Jaafie's emotions throughout. Like Justin in The Constant Gardener, his need to understand a side of his wife that he didn't previously know about will lead him into dangerous situations.
While there were occasional clunky notes which are probably down to the translation, this is overall a moving and engrossing read.
garanciels's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
toskalou's review against another edition
Abandonné à la moitié. Les grandes tirades sentencieuses de Khadra sur l'esprit humain et autres envolées lyriques à la subtilité grotesque me gonflent.
zayouxx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
douaaa's review against another edition
4.0
Même si on lit la fin en premier on l’oublie grâce à l’écriture envoûtante de monsieur khadra
La Palestine est la patrie de cœur de tous les algériens lire à son sujet m’a fait verser plusieurs larmes même si l’horreur de la guerre qui s’y tient n’a pas été pleinement décrite
Suivre amine dans la quête de son deuil à la recherche de la vérité était douloureux voir un veuf aux blessures fraîches découvrir des vérités de plus en plus glaçantes qu’on lui a refusé brise le cœur du lecteur il s’acharne par son amour à ne rien laisser ternir l’image de sa dulcinée qui elle nous transcende avec son amour pour sa patrie que je respecte au plus profond de mon être
Yasmina khadra réussit à nous faire vivre le chagrin la perte d’un être chère le combat pour la terre mère et l’affrontement des idéologies et des ressentis
La Palestine est la patrie de cœur de tous les algériens lire à son sujet m’a fait verser plusieurs larmes même si l’horreur de la guerre qui s’y tient n’a pas été pleinement décrite
Suivre amine dans la quête de son deuil à la recherche de la vérité était douloureux voir un veuf aux blessures fraîches découvrir des vérités de plus en plus glaçantes qu’on lui a refusé brise le cœur du lecteur il s’acharne par son amour à ne rien laisser ternir l’image de sa dulcinée qui elle nous transcende avec son amour pour sa patrie que je respecte au plus profond de mon être
Yasmina khadra réussit à nous faire vivre le chagrin la perte d’un être chère le combat pour la terre mère et l’affrontement des idéologies et des ressentis
dozylocal's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
The first chapter and last few chapters are really good. The theme itself is thought provoking. What would drive someone who apparently had everything she could wish for to become a suicide bomber and kill innocent restaurant patrons, including children? This is the question that drives her husband, a doctor, almost crazy in his mission to uncover the truth behind what she did and how she hid her secret life from him.
Unfortunately, for me, the long monologues of the main character got boring after a while. It was almost too philosophical at times.
The first chapter and last few chapters are really good. The theme itself is thought provoking. What would drive someone who apparently had everything she could wish for to become a suicide bomber and kill innocent restaurant patrons, including children? This is the question that drives her husband, a doctor, almost crazy in his mission to uncover the truth behind what she did and how she hid her secret life from him.
Unfortunately, for me, the long monologues of the main character got boring after a while. It was almost too philosophical at times.
lisareymann's review against another edition
3.0
The writing... if I could give 5 stars simply for the imagery and gorgeous use of language, I would. There were many moments where I had to put this book down just so I could capture particular excerpts that made me want to melt from the profound perspectives of humankind. Read this book for that alone, for the story is bleak and unjust. The author clearly wanted to take her protagonist, and we the readers, through the heart wrenching realities of what it means to live amongst the conflict of Israel, but it’s a mammoth subject to comprehend and accept. There seems to be no understanding of what truly compels individuals to act in a manner of total sacrifice for their beliefs that can be reached without ramifications. Perhaps the ending is fitting, but for me, it’s tragic and undeserved.
beeshep's review against another edition
1.0
We had to read this for school and it was a very intense book. It showed me a different side of life and did a very good job exploring the harder parts of some more controversial subjects. A really enlightening read, but you have to be prepared for the wild emotional roller coaster and the understanding that you will not comprehend some of the character's motivations. Sad but good read.
adele_courge's review against another edition
2.0
I read this because it's the only Palestine adjacent book that my local library had. It was a little disappointing. I really didn't like the writing style (so many metaphors, we get it dude, you know words good for you) and the main character was so annoying and sexist. And most importantly, it felt like it only brushed the surface of the anger and despair of Palestinian people. I wish less time was spent on Amine's self pity and more on his wife or other family members, their history, their feelings, their choices.
cherircohen's review against another edition
3.0
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars. It is really beautifully written. But I thought it was a pretty superficial take on what is a very complex topic. The story is very compelling but he just didn't get into it enough. It easily could have been a couple hundred pages longer. I was left really unsatisfied, nothing was developed enough.