jiujensu's reviews
439 reviews

From 1988. There's something about these older books. You get a bit more detail because these historical events of 1976 or 1982 so long ago are fresh in the author's mind. And in this particular one, you will learn about Palestinians' experience in Lebanon and being expelled from there too.

There are several passages that echo Israelis Oct 7 - April bombardment - execution of healthcare workers, so many children losing both parents, traumatized children walking and walking, libraries reduced to rubble. But there are also accounts of Turki's UN speeches and Palestinian congess involvement, so it isn't all gruesome detail. 

I think this could help someone understand Palestine today. 

Tiny book, but packs a big punch. I'll be thinking of this one long after. Both the clever subtle symbols and the obvious stated comparisons of now vs 1949 are brilliant. 

The image of the cemetery in Germany is particularly vivid - I just read several accounts of Palestinian cemeteries being bombed either in Mondoweiss or the book, Light in Gaza.

Additionally, the spider or snake bite at the beginning is a brilliant symbol, I have to say, and the novel's ending is rather perfect. I wanted a happy ending, but the world has work to do in Palestine to uncover truth and bring about justice if we want a better ending irl. 

This one is a fictionalized account, so it has the feel of a memoir and tracks with actual historical events. Centered is the Palestinian Christian story, which I think USians don't usually consider when they think Palestine. This seems like a good place to start. 

It covers all facets - from the Nakba, Israeli war crimes and genocide from its beginning, schooling and practicing any religion under occupation, the physical borders (and ruminations on all borders), admiration and disillusionments with his birth country and his adopted country, going home, change, being a child, having a child. It's all here. The universal human experience but with the added danger and pressure cooker of occupation by a settler colonial power still trying to this day to ethnically cleanse the land AND control the narrative. 

In the last few chapters there is a lot to think about. Hanhan talks about identity, not letting victimhood define you, and peace - both regional and personal. 

Not my typical fare! I read this because of the TV show (and book) Good Girls Revolt, which I give five stars, by the way. I like owning the book and getting into the show by reading a book the characters are reading. I absolutely love that. It was popular at the time I guess. Allegedly an epic love story. Kill off the woman to help the man learn grand life lessons because he can't possibly see through the misogyny ~without~ the universe taking away his most prized possession. The lesson? It's okay to cry. Once. If your possession/fiance dies. 

I think it was supposed to be witty and edgy at the time - the two that fall in love throw insults around to express affection. Maybe it was progressive that Jenny went to Radcliffe and was going to study music in Paris or that she grew up working class and married money. Generally, it was a wildly patriarchal story in every way, especially when Oliver was given the authority/ability whether or not to tell Jenny she had a terminal illness, like she was a child.

I'd give it five stars for helping set the scene for the events of Good Girls Revolt, but I can't footnote the rating. That book is the world those women who fought for equal pay lived in. But story-wise, not good, lol. Less than one star.

Finally an honest look at the Russia Ukraine conflict from an anti-war perspective. It's short and to the point and tackles the history and main causes as well as all propaganda, both US and Russian. Read and test your knowledge - did you believe all the propaganda or did you sort it out?

This is a collection of personal accounts and memories from the Syrain revolution. The only commentary comes in the introduction. I love this approach - collectively, you get a good picture of the politics and aspirations of the people where US media reports may have obscured and muddled the facts. There are stories as in Gaza of children as young as five losing all hope and wishing to die. There are truths about refugees - that they are here to work with you not against you and if you don't want refugees in your county, work for peace in Syria. More than one person details how they had hope other nations would support them in the beginning, but the US just bombed ISIS and made things worse. Sometimes they recount life in America and how they had to learn about debit cards and credit scores and every store asks for your email and then you "get a thousands of emails from Home Depot, my God."

I think this is one you'd enjoy even if you aren't into politics or foreign affairs - very human and engaging. But I hope it makes everyone consider the lives we destroy with our US "defense budget" every year and think about what else we could do with all that money. 

The rise of Biden mirrors the rightward shift or downfall of the Democratic Party. In this book you'll watch as a not terrible but still pretty centrist guy shift ever rightward, till he serves corporate interests, hates being called liberal, doesn't believe abortion is a right, values a McConnell photo op over stemming the tide of maga fascism, helped Kennedy and Alito to SCOTUS, supported Iraq invasion, 94 crime bill and a host of things he could've fought against then so we wouldn't be in the situation we're in now. But he chose his career over fighting for the people. He wanted to be known as your buddy (if you are a Republican or corporate donor) rather than someone fighting for our rights. He values bipartisanship, but usually only when it benefited Republicans.