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amberinpieces's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, Dementia, Child death, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Animal cruelty
savaging's review
4.0
This is my 3rd attempt this year reading a big novel about Palestine. I couldn't make it through the other two, but I found myself emotionally invested in this one.
Those other two felt like they're trying to be 'literary.' The writers were clever and nuanced. They didn't deal with violence, but with the delicate aftermath. (Is this inevitable? I ask myself. Is this an attempt to get white people to read these stories, knowing we're more likely to keep reading about a particular Palestinian cheese dish than the smell of dead bodies?) They took the perspective of rich and privileged people who mostly managed to avoid the worst of the violence, only hinting at trauma through personal tics and vague flashbacks.
In contrast, Mornings in Jenin dives straight into events, even though this is painful. Even though some things are impossible to write. It feels at times . . . maybe 'artless' is the word. But the treatment of Palestinian refugees is so saturated with brutality, it feels sometimes like it has to be told straight, raw, on-the-nose, and with great risk.
Those other two felt like they're trying to be 'literary.' The writers were clever and nuanced. They didn't deal with violence, but with the delicate aftermath. (Is this inevitable? I ask myself. Is this an attempt to get white people to read these stories, knowing we're more likely to keep reading about a particular Palestinian cheese dish than the smell of dead bodies?) They took the perspective of rich and privileged people who mostly managed to avoid the worst of the violence, only hinting at trauma through personal tics and vague flashbacks.
In contrast, Mornings in Jenin dives straight into events, even though this is painful. Even though some things are impossible to write. It feels at times . . . maybe 'artless' is the word. But the treatment of Palestinian refugees is so saturated with brutality, it feels sometimes like it has to be told straight, raw, on-the-nose, and with great risk.
wajihanasir's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- 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
hajrah_f's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
kays_reading_journal's review against another edition
4.5
This felt like so many stories wrapped up into one, and that’s one of my favorite writing styles. The story spans many years, lives, povs, and places but all comes together so well.
My favorite part of Abulhawa’s writing is how she intertwines this work of fiction with real stories and events that have occurred. Listening to this book is also like getting a history lesson, and gave me so many more places to learn more about the past
My favorite part of Abulhawa’s writing is how she intertwines this work of fiction with real stories and events that have occurred. Listening to this book is also like getting a history lesson, and gave me so many more places to learn more about the past
emeryboyd's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This is a heartbreaking story of the suffering, strength and hope of the Palestinian people. And although these characters are fictional they represent the lives of real people. I hope that one day Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Murder, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Gun violence, Death, War, Genocide, Hate crime, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Death of parent and Child death
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
rameesa_15's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
sonya77's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0