_Mornings in Jenin_ by Susan Abulhawa

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Jan 182017
 


_Mornings in Jenin_ by Susan Abulhawa 

This month’s Book Club reading was this one, which I had never heard of nor of the author. Seriously, there are so many stories to be heard and read! ๐Ÿ˜…

Having just finished this book a few moments ago, I am still processing the whole story and trying to recall the 80’s when some bits of this story would have been in my lifetime….

The book is fiction, but is based on stories and experiences of the past for Palestinian Arabs and the Israeli conflicts starting from post-World War 2 until recent days. The story follows four generations of Palestinians and their struggle for survival. It is a story of women, love, war, family, history, community and humanity. A full explanation would be too complicated so will let you do your own Google search of a book review. ๐Ÿ˜‰

With that said, I must say that it is one of the most moving and shocking stories I have read in a long time. I found myself near tears at different points and even a bit angry at the actions of the Israelis. ๐Ÿ˜กAlthough I do not know the history well, I do remember the news at the time of the constant Palestinian and Israeli conflicts. It continues today, though other wars and conflicts fill our TV screens. It amazes me how people go lifetimes suffering such great sorrow and living in constant fear. It really puts my life struggles into perspective. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

The book is well-written with some beautiful bits of prose especially towards the end. I highly recommend this as a read. I have not read anything so moving in such a long time and am so glad that the Book Club has exposed me to this book. ๐Ÿ˜

~T ๐Ÿ˜€

_The Bamboo Stalk_ by Saud Al Sanousi

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Oct 222016
 

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_The Bamboo Stalk_ by Saud Al Sanousi

The October Book Club for AWN is this book. We meet next week to talk about it, but I thought I would go ahead and write about it here now that it is fresh in my mind.

Unlike last month’s title, this one was so easy to read and quite enjoyable.

Although not exactly another uplifting story (what is with the selections???), it was closer to home for me and had loads of interesting social questions.

The story is told by the son of a Kuwaiti father and Filipina mother. His mother had gone to Kuwait to work as a maid in a well-t0-do Kuwaiti family. The only son of the family was a writer and different from most sons of an Arab family. He seemingly falls in love with the Filipina maid who has come to make money for her family back home. When she ends up pregnant, the family does not approve and sends her away back to the Philippines. The son, who is half Kuwaiti, half Filipino, struggles with his identity and place in the world. Unfortunately, poor Jose looks more Filipino than Kuwaiti and thus is not likely to be accepted into the Kuwaiti community. His biologically family takes him in for a short period of time, but does not fully incorporate him into the family for various reasons – mostly ‘to save face’.

It is a very interesting story that is written well enough to draw out emotional responses. It is a greatly written piece of work, but I found myself feeling his pain and considering my own identity throughout. I also wondered at the plight of the many Filipinos who live and work around the world because they make more money outside of their country than within it. I wonder how many true stories are like this one. I also wonder at the author and how much is true from his own experience and knowledge.

So, it should hopefully draw up some interesting conversation at the next meeting next week. Will try to update on that afterwards! ๐Ÿ˜€

~T ๐Ÿ˜€

_King Leopold’s Ghost_ by Adam Hochschild

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Oct 212016
 

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_King Leopold’s Ghost_ by Adam Hochschild

Last month I joined the Book Club of the AWN (American Women’s Network) where I have been spending a lot of my time being active in meeting people and other things. While I never in my life expected that I would become a “book club lady”, I did decide that I was going to try new activities in areas that I am both interested in and new to me.

So, our book for September when I joined was this one. Initially, I found it interesting and a horrifying story of what went on in the Congo. Of course I have heard speckled stories, but this is the first time that it was written out in black & white (literally!). However, this also meant that it took me some time to get through it as it is a fairly detailed ‘history’ book, which is not generally my area of interest. Still, I plowed through and took a bit more than a month to complete, but as it was myย first book of the club, they did not mind that I had no finished before our first meeting. ๐Ÿ˜‰

This is the story of King Leopold of Belgium’s obsession with conquering land initially in the interest of Belgium, but then for his own personal ego boost. He worked politically, economically and personally to get others to do whatever it took to make him rich and memorable in a new “empty” territory. However, no one seemed to think of the Congolese as people. It was truly sickening what went on there and the author does a decent job of blaming all people – not just the Belgians – for the atrocities that occurred. He also directed our attention to the fact that these kinds of things still happen in current days….

Therefore, not exactly, an uplifting story to contend with, but interesting all the same. This is the good part of being part of a book club, right? I am being introduced to new stories that I might never have heard of let alone pick up to read. ๐Ÿ™‚

~T ๐Ÿ˜€

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