jiujensu's reviews
439 reviews

This is the second half. What to say. 
Here's a few sort of negative things and then a few positive. 

Some parts are repeated sort of - but that's due to it being smuggled out of prison in parts. He should get a pass. 

I also have to say that as a "novel" I can't really say that there's necessarily a fictional plot. I've read some articles about the work and it seems he may have wanted to chronicle a part of Palestinian history of the resistance using composite characters and not necessarily centering himself. It does read more like a history in parts because the events actually did happen. You can decide what you think about that. 

Whatever you think about the story or classification, I think he did well in this second half covering differing viewpoints of the Palestinian people, the different attitudes toward Oslo, toward resistance operations, toward what was called suicide bombings and other elements. 

Definitely worth a read - especially given the author's role in the resistance and his demise. I think it'll provide some insight you don't expect, especially if you're used to reading US commentary on the Palestinian struggle for rights and self determination. 

https://annas-archive.org/md5/e9d7f17d739babed8f20e93ce62b581d

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https://t.co/iBiJk1Ewjp

If you didn't want to read a history like Khalidi's Hundred Years War, this book will answer you quickly if you want to know about Oct 7, is it about Hamas, are both sides to blame, what's the deal with Israel and Palestinians anyway. Refaat Alareer's personal account and recollections of past Israeli aggression should cover most of the basics, the unvarnished truth, in a way you likely haven't heard before if you are a CNN, NPR, NYT, Washington Post consumer.  The human element is missing from those reports, but supplied in full in If I Must Die.

This gutted me:
 The last two chapters are transcribed from voice notes posthumously. It's devastating. He talks about kindness despite the devastation, helping his students even as his home is bombed, & kindness begetting kindness. They killed him. US indifference & money and Israel's barbarity. We killed him. His only weapon was an Expo marker. 

Please buy it and read it.

I didn't always love the characters and choices, but I can't deny the main character is a strong lady. She begins and ends life in two different Iranian revolutions. The characters around her seemed to change with the times more than she - but I guess that's true with all generational differences. The Sufi mysticism throughout was fun, especially contrasted with Touba's rather traditional views. I wish I knew more about Iranian folk tales because I know they are incorporated, but I think I learned a little too.

Audiobook. I had no idea about the cult stuff even though I did catch more than a few seasons of this show. I appreciate the insights and conclusions and lessons she learned. Her analysis is applicable to a lot of culty things, scams or getting taken advantage of. Very relatable. I've read a lot about 419, MLM, and wellness scams - and I love what she says about it not being an intelligence thing - it hits you at a low point or where something's missing. It could happen to anyone since we all have weaknesses. It's also satisfying that she described growth and optimism from what she endured. 

This is one I've seen referenced in a lot of things I've read so I thought I should read from the source. It's not exactly a how to manual for revolution, but it does explain everything about colonialism, even down to the mental illnesses induced and the alleged scientific explanations colonizers use for their racism. The context is Algeria, but of course you can see it is relevant to the US, Palestine and any other colonized place. 

Then He Sent Prophets is a historical fiction set in the 1300 or 1400s around Fes and Granada. I learned a bit more about the history of the region from the book and things I looked up as a result of reading. That will continue.

Sometimes, things happening so long ago can seem written such that you feel every year of the distance - not so with this book! These characters are vivid and very much alive - maybe you know people like them. The themes are universal - war and peace, faith vs religion, family and loyalty. Even if you aren't familiar with the history, you can very much enjoy the quest and characters and the plot as it winds its way around the cities. 

The ending snuck up on me in a fabulous way, but of course I won't be saying any more about that! 

*I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first half. It was smuggled out from prison. There's a dramatic message at the end about staying tuned for the translation of the second half. So wild to think about. I wish i had more info on how. Give it a read for that reason if for no other. But another reason is that if the US calls them a terrorist, there's a good chance there's a compelling story of a revolutionary growing up under occupation, apartheid, or something like that and/or learning to fight that power. 

https://annas-archive.org/md5/e9d7f17d739babed8f20e93ce62b581d

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https://t.co/iBiJk1Ewjp

As in the author's note, the Western media did not report the Syrian revolution with human stories or a way Western people even knew what was going on - as with most things that happen in the Middle East (SWANA). This book will help us with the human aspect as the author draws on real people to bring the story to life. 

The story starts out pretty good but halfway through, I loved it. Reality sinks in all at once for you as it does for Salama and it's crushing and beautiful.

The images of destruction, planes, death on a daily basis are so close to what's been in the news with the livestreamed US backed genocide of Palestinians by Israel, that that aspect was hard to read personally. I'm glad someone's telling the stories. Read it, though. And take care.