by Izzeldin Abuelaish
Actually I am surprised that I didn’t already review up to no more than a week in total.this book, given that I finished reading it a month ago (date of writing is 20 June 2021). But this has been a very hectic month, with only occasional nights spent at home, adding up to no more than a week in total. I read this book quickly, in a desire to have it finished and returned to the library before going away. Even so, I didn’t manage to join the book group discussion or even send in my review and score after finishing the book. I guess I just got distracted.
So, what can I say about this? It was a book group choice and I was unsure about it at first. The book grabbed me however. How could it not? Abuelaish’s and his family’s story is told with great passion. It is a harrowing story but he tries to allow the reader to hope for a better future for Gaza – something he is working to bring about.
This book sparked various conversations with my better half – who tends to have strong views on one side of the Arab/Israeli issue. It made me think. And the timing of my reading it coincided with the latest Gaza war, with shocking incidents and the – apparently – usual ratio of 10 dead Palestinians to every dead Israeli. Abuelaish’s three daughters and niece were killed in 2009. Another Gaza war took place in 2014, and another last month. Has anything really changed?
A rug and a book 