Agains The Loveless World - Susan Abulhawa
I decided to start reading Palestinian literature last year, and this was the book I started with. I loved everything about it although it took me a long time to finish because I re-reading my favorite chapters.
Susan Abulhawa was the first Palestinian writer, and Middle Eastern writer for that matter, whose work I ever read. Against The Loveless World was also my first introduction to Middle Eastern literature. What an introduction tho, because I wept my eyes thru the story.
After spending so much time reading East Asian literature, which often depicts things in a rather cold and distant way, I found Middle Eastern literature to be so expressive, emotional, unbasheshedly honest and dramatic.
I loved the story telling and the characters. Sitti Wasfiyeh made me miss my late grandmother so much. Bilal was probably the greenest cishet Moslem man ever written. I also loved Um Burraq and Nahr the main character.
I loved how the words flowed. It made me difficult to move on. Its beautiful yet painful, painful because so much that is written there still resonates and echoes to this day 💔
Abulhawa’s powerful writing and story tellung moved me deeply. Learning how deeply Palestinian love, care, resist, rebel, find joy and humor even in a darkest of times never failed to make my eyes teary ad my heart full of sighs.
What an amazing book, despite all the bleak things that have happened lately. I love this book very much.
One of my fave quote:
“I think in saying 'loved each other,' Baldwin doesn't just mean the living. To survive by loving each other means to love our ancestors too. To know their pain, struggles, and joys. It means to love our collective memory, who we are, where we come from..”
I realy think everyone should read this book! Pls read this book!
From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.
“For here you were: to be loved. To be loved, baby, hard, at once, and forever, to strengthen you against the loveless world.”
