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丕賱氐亘丕乇
"賱兀賵賱 賲乇丞 賷丿禺賱 丕賱囟賮丞 亘毓丿 睾賷丕亘 禺賲爻貙 賵賰丕賳 丕賱賱賯丕亍 睾賷乇賲丕 氐賵賾乇賴 禺賷丕賱賴貙 賵兀亘丿毓 賮賷 鬲夭賵賷賯賴 賵鬲賳爻賷賯賴貙 賰丕賳 賷丨爻 亘兀賳 丕賱囟賮丞 賯丿 亘丕鬲鬲 亘丨噩賲 丕賱賯賲賯賲貙 賵廿賳 乇賵丨賴 丕賱鬲賷 賲丕 賮鬲卅鬲 鬲賴鬲賲 賮賷 爻賲賵丕鬲 丕賱卮賵賯 賵丕賱丨賳丕賳 賯丿 爻賯胤鬲 賲賳 爻丕亘毓 爻賲丕. 賵亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 禺賷丕賱丕鬲賴 丕賱毓丕卮賯丞 丕賱賲丨賲賵賲丞 丕賱鬲賷 毓丕賷卮賴丕 胤賵丕賱 爻賳賵丕鬲 胤賵賷賱丞 噩丿賷亘丞 賲丨乇賵賲丞貙 賵兀丨賱丕賲賴 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賳賯賱賴 賰賱 賱賷賱丞 廿賱賶 丕賱噩爻乇 賵賲丕 賵乇丕亍 丕賱噩爻乇貙 賵廿賱賶 丕賱賱賵丨丕鬲 丕賱爻賲丕賵賷丞 丕賱賲賮乇賵卮丞 毓賱賶 丕賲鬲丿丕丿 丕賱賵賴丕丿 賵丕賱賵丿賷丕賳貙 賵丕賱卮賱丕賱 亘丕賱賱賵夭 丕賱賲賰丿爻 毓賱賶 丕賱亘爻胤丞 兀賲丕賲 丕賱卮賱丕賱 鬲丨鬲 兀卮噩丕乇 丕賱噩賵夭 丕賱亘丕爻賯丞-賰賱 匕賱賰 賯丿 丕賳賲丨賶-賵賱賲 賷亘賯賶 賮賷 匕丕賰乇鬲賴 廿賱丕 賴賱賵爻丕鬲 賵賰賱賲丕鬲 鬲鬲乇丿丿 亘廿胤賳丕亘 賵乇鬲丕亘丞.. 丕賱亘鬲乇賵賱. 爻賵乇賷丕. 賲丕噩爻鬲賷乇. 丕賱賵賱丿 賲丕鬲. 賵賱賲 丕賱卮賲賱. 亘賯丕賱丞 丕賱賵賮丕亍. 賱卮亘賵賳丞. 丕賱賲爻丕賲丨. 賰乇賷賲. 賷丕 賰賱丕亘. 賷丕 賰賱丕亘. 賵鬲賱賮鬲 丨賵丕賱賷賴貙 賵賴賵 賷賲鬲胤賷 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱噩賳丞 鬲丨鬲 兀賯丿丕賲賴 賵兀賲丕賲 毓賷賳賷賴貙 賵賱賰賳賴 亘丕鬲 爻噩賷賳 丕賱賯賲賯賲".
賲賳 賷賵賲賷丕鬲 毓丕卅賱丞 賮賱爻胤賷賳賷丞貙 鬲爻鬲賲丿 "爻丨乇 禺賱賷賮丞" 賲丕丿丞 賯氐鬲賴丕 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇賵賷 賮賷賴丕 賯氐丞 毓丕卅賱丞 賮賱爻胤賷賳賷丞 鬲毓賷卮 賮賷 賳丕亘賱爻 賵鬲禺囟毓 賱毓賳鬲 賵賵丨卮賷丞 噩賷賵卮 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱 丕賱廿爻乇丕卅賷賱賷 賵賱鬲丿禺賱丕鬲賴賲 丕賱賲鬲鬲丕賱賷丞 賮賶 丨賷丕丞 兀賮乇丕丿賴丕 亘丕毓鬲亘丕乇賴賲 賲賳 丕賱乇丕賮囟賷賳 賱爻賷胤乇丞 丕賱廿爻乇丕卅賷賱賷賷賳 毓賱賶 兀乇囟賴賲 賵賲丕 賷賲夭 賴匕賴 丕賱賵丕賯毓賷丞 兀賳賴丕 噩丕亍鬲 賲氐賵乇丞 賱賱丨賷丕丞 賮賷 賮賱爻胤賷賳 毓賲賵賲丕賸 兀賵 賳丕亘賱爻 禺氐賵氐丕賸 亘丕賱卮賮丕賮賷丞 賮賷 毓乇囟 丕賱賵賯丕卅毓 丕賱賲禺夭賵賳丞 毓賳 賵丕賯毓 丕賱卮毓亘 丕賱賮賱爻胤賷賳賶 賵賲丌爻賷賴 丕賱丿丕禺賱賷丞.
賲賳 賷賵賲賷丕鬲 毓丕卅賱丞 賮賱爻胤賷賳賷丞貙 鬲爻鬲賲丿 "爻丨乇 禺賱賷賮丞" 賲丕丿丞 賯氐鬲賴丕 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇賵賷 賮賷賴丕 賯氐丞 毓丕卅賱丞 賮賱爻胤賷賳賷丞 鬲毓賷卮 賮賷 賳丕亘賱爻 賵鬲禺囟毓 賱毓賳鬲 賵賵丨卮賷丞 噩賷賵卮 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱 丕賱廿爻乇丕卅賷賱賷 賵賱鬲丿禺賱丕鬲賴賲 丕賱賲鬲鬲丕賱賷丞 賮賶 丨賷丕丞 兀賮乇丕丿賴丕 亘丕毓鬲亘丕乇賴賲 賲賳 丕賱乇丕賮囟賷賳 賱爻賷胤乇丞 丕賱廿爻乇丕卅賷賱賷賷賳 毓賱賶 兀乇囟賴賲 賵賲丕 賷賲夭 賴匕賴 丕賱賵丕賯毓賷丞 兀賳賴丕 噩丕亍鬲 賲氐賵乇丞 賱賱丨賷丕丞 賮賷 賮賱爻胤賷賳 毓賲賵賲丕賸 兀賵 賳丕亘賱爻 禺氐賵氐丕賸 亘丕賱卮賮丕賮賷丞 賮賷 毓乇囟 丕賱賵賯丕卅毓 丕賱賲禺夭賵賳丞 毓賳 賵丕賯毓 丕賱卮毓亘 丕賱賮賱爻胤賷賳賶 賵賲丌爻賷賴 丕賱丿丕禺賱賷丞.
176 pages
First published January 1, 1976
83 people are currently reading
4730 people want to read
About the author
Sahar Khalifeh
12听books209听followersSahar Khalifeh (Arabic:
爻丨乇 禺賱賷賮丞
; also as
Sahar Khalifa
in French, German, Italian) is a Palestinian writer.
She has written eleven novels, which have been translated into English, French, Hebrew, German, Spanish, and many other languages. One of her best-known works is the novel Wild Thorns (1976). She has won international prizes, including the 2006 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, for The Image, the Icon, and the Covenant.
Sahar Khalifeh is the founder of the Women's Affairs Center in Nablus. She received her B.A. degree in English & American Literature from Birzeit University (Palestine, 1977), an M.A. from the The University of North Carolina (USA, 1982) and a PhD in Women Studies & American Women鈥檚 Literature from the University of Iowa (USA,1988).
She has written eleven novels, which have been translated into English, French, Hebrew, German, Spanish, and many other languages. One of her best-known works is the novel Wild Thorns (1976). She has won international prizes, including the 2006 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, for The Image, the Icon, and the Covenant.
Sahar Khalifeh is the founder of the Women's Affairs Center in Nablus. She received her B.A. degree in English & American Literature from Birzeit University (Palestine, 1977), an M.A. from the The University of North Carolina (USA, 1982) and a PhD in Women Studies & American Women鈥檚 Literature from the University of Iowa (USA,1988).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
June 5, 2007
"Wild Thorns" is about the lives of Palestinians living under the Israeli occupation in the West Bank. This book is definitely one of my personal favorites. Reading it, I was reminded of the way that ordinary people live under occupation in Kashmir, my homeland. So on a personal level, this book definitely resonated with me.
The author presents the clashing and sometimes overlapping views of a number of Palestinians as they respond to the Israeli occupation. The main character, Usama, returns to Palestine after spending years abroad in another Arab country. He is appalled to find that many of his fellow Palestinians have somehow adjusted to life under the occupation. He especially cannot understand why some of his fellow citizens would cross the border and work in Israel, and he sees that as playing a part to the subjugation. Thus, he is on a mission to blow up a bus full of Palestinians who are on their way to work in Israel.
The book is complex on so many different levels. It's hard at first to figure out the biases of the author, as she succeeds is presenting the views of those who hold very divergent views on how to best respond to the occupation.
I think this book is an excellent portrayal of life under occupation and shows that "resistance" can and does come in different forms. Definitely a must-read.
The author presents the clashing and sometimes overlapping views of a number of Palestinians as they respond to the Israeli occupation. The main character, Usama, returns to Palestine after spending years abroad in another Arab country. He is appalled to find that many of his fellow Palestinians have somehow adjusted to life under the occupation. He especially cannot understand why some of his fellow citizens would cross the border and work in Israel, and he sees that as playing a part to the subjugation. Thus, he is on a mission to blow up a bus full of Palestinians who are on their way to work in Israel.
The book is complex on so many different levels. It's hard at first to figure out the biases of the author, as she succeeds is presenting the views of those who hold very divergent views on how to best respond to the occupation.
I think this book is an excellent portrayal of life under occupation and shows that "resistance" can and does come in different forms. Definitely a must-read.
March 16, 2025
小邪褏邪褉 啸邪谢懈褎邪 褬械 褬械写薪邪 芯写 薪邪褬锌芯蟹薪邪褌懈褬懈褏 锌邪谢械褋褌懈薪褋泻懈褏 泻褮懈卸械胁薪懈褑邪, 邪 芯胁芯 褬芯褬 褬械 薪邪褬锌芯蟹薪邪褌懈褬懈 褉芯屑邪薪.
袣褮懈卸械胁薪懈 泻胁邪谢懈褌械褌 芯胁写械 褬械 懈锌邪泻 褍 褋械薪褑懈 芯薪芯谐邪 褕褌芯 啸邪谢懈褎邪 卸械谢懈 写邪 薪邪屑 锌褉械薪械褋械 - 卸懈胁芯褌 袩邪谢械褋褌懈薪邪褑邪 锌芯写 芯泻褍锌邪褑懈褬芯屑, 褮懈褏芯胁邪 懈薪械褉褌薪芯褋褌 懈 锌芯屑懈褉械薪芯褋褌 褋邪 褌邪泻胁懈屑 褋褌邪褮械屑, 褍锌褉泻芯褋 褋胁邪泻芯写薪械胁薪芯褬 芯锌褉械褋懈褬懈, 锌邪 懈 蟹谢芯褔懈薪懈屑邪 袠蟹褉邪械谢邪褑邪, 泻邪芯 懈 蟹邪胁懈褋薪芯褋褌 芯写 锌芯谢褍谢械谐邪谢薪懈褏 懈 褋谢邪斜芯 锌谢邪褯械薪懈褏 锌芯褋谢芯胁邪 薪邪 泻芯褬械 褋褍 袩邪谢械褋褌懈薪褑懈 锌褉懈屑芯褉邪薪懈 写邪 懈写褍 薪邪 "薪械锌褉懈褬邪褌械褭褋泻褍" 褌械褉懈褌芯褉懈褬褍 袠蟹褉邪械谢邪.
啸邪谢懈褎邪 褯械 褍 芯胁芯屑 褉芯屑邪薪褍 锌芯褋褌邪胁懈褌懈 锌懈褌邪褮械 泻芯褬懈 褬械 锌褉邪胁懈 薪邪褔懈薪 斜芯褉斜械 懈 写邪 谢懈 褌邪泻邪胁 褍芯锌褕褌械 锌芯褋褌芯褬懈. 袛邪 谢懈 褬械 芯锌褉邪胁写邪薪芯 褋锌褉芯胁芯写懈褌懈 懈 褌械褉芯褉懈褋褌懈褔泻械 邪泻褑懈褬械 蟹邪褉邪写 "胁懈褕懈褏 褑懈褭械胁邪".
袥懈泻芯胁懈 褋褍 褋邪屑芯 褕邪斜谢芯薪懈, 褌懈锌芯胁懈, 邪 褌邪泻胁懈 褋褍 懈 褮懈褏芯胁懈 褍薪褍褌褉邪褕褮懈 屑芯薪芯谢芯蟹懈, 泻芯褬懈 褋褍 胁懈褕械 锌懈褋邪薪懈 泻邪锌 锌芯褉褍泻邪 褋胁芯屑 薪邪褉芯写褍, 薪械谐芯 褕褌芯 蟹邪懈褋褌邪 芯写褉邪卸邪胁邪褬褍 褍薪褍褌褉邪褕褮械 写懈谢械屑械 懈 斜芯褉斜械.
小胁械褬械写薪芯, 蟹邪薪懈屑褭懈胁芯 褋胁械写芯褔邪薪褋褌胁芯 褬械写薪芯谐 胁褉械屑械薪邪 (邪泻芯 褋械 薪械 胁邪褉邪屑, 褍 锌懈褌邪褮褍 褋褍 褋械写邪屑写械褋械褌械 谐芯写懈薪械 啸啸 胁械泻邪), 屑邪写邪, 泻邪芯 褕褌芯 蟹薪邪屑芯, 薪懈褋褍 褋械 褋褌胁邪褉懈 芯写 褌邪写邪 屑薪芯谐芯 锌褉芯屑械薪懈谢械.
袣褮懈卸械胁薪懈 泻胁邪谢懈褌械褌 芯胁写械 褬械 懈锌邪泻 褍 褋械薪褑懈 芯薪芯谐邪 褕褌芯 啸邪谢懈褎邪 卸械谢懈 写邪 薪邪屑 锌褉械薪械褋械 - 卸懈胁芯褌 袩邪谢械褋褌懈薪邪褑邪 锌芯写 芯泻褍锌邪褑懈褬芯屑, 褮懈褏芯胁邪 懈薪械褉褌薪芯褋褌 懈 锌芯屑懈褉械薪芯褋褌 褋邪 褌邪泻胁懈屑 褋褌邪褮械屑, 褍锌褉泻芯褋 褋胁邪泻芯写薪械胁薪芯褬 芯锌褉械褋懈褬懈, 锌邪 懈 蟹谢芯褔懈薪懈屑邪 袠蟹褉邪械谢邪褑邪, 泻邪芯 懈 蟹邪胁懈褋薪芯褋褌 芯写 锌芯谢褍谢械谐邪谢薪懈褏 懈 褋谢邪斜芯 锌谢邪褯械薪懈褏 锌芯褋谢芯胁邪 薪邪 泻芯褬械 褋褍 袩邪谢械褋褌懈薪褑懈 锌褉懈屑芯褉邪薪懈 写邪 懈写褍 薪邪 "薪械锌褉懈褬邪褌械褭褋泻褍" 褌械褉懈褌芯褉懈褬褍 袠蟹褉邪械谢邪.
啸邪谢懈褎邪 褯械 褍 芯胁芯屑 褉芯屑邪薪褍 锌芯褋褌邪胁懈褌懈 锌懈褌邪褮械 泻芯褬懈 褬械 锌褉邪胁懈 薪邪褔懈薪 斜芯褉斜械 懈 写邪 谢懈 褌邪泻邪胁 褍芯锌褕褌械 锌芯褋褌芯褬懈. 袛邪 谢懈 褬械 芯锌褉邪胁写邪薪芯 褋锌褉芯胁芯写懈褌懈 懈 褌械褉芯褉懈褋褌懈褔泻械 邪泻褑懈褬械 蟹邪褉邪写 "胁懈褕懈褏 褑懈褭械胁邪".
袥懈泻芯胁懈 褋褍 褋邪屑芯 褕邪斜谢芯薪懈, 褌懈锌芯胁懈, 邪 褌邪泻胁懈 褋褍 懈 褮懈褏芯胁懈 褍薪褍褌褉邪褕褮懈 屑芯薪芯谢芯蟹懈, 泻芯褬懈 褋褍 胁懈褕械 锌懈褋邪薪懈 泻邪锌 锌芯褉褍泻邪 褋胁芯屑 薪邪褉芯写褍, 薪械谐芯 褕褌芯 蟹邪懈褋褌邪 芯写褉邪卸邪胁邪褬褍 褍薪褍褌褉邪褕褮械 写懈谢械屑械 懈 斜芯褉斜械.
小胁械褬械写薪芯, 蟹邪薪懈屑褭懈胁芯 褋胁械写芯褔邪薪褋褌胁芯 褬械写薪芯谐 胁褉械屑械薪邪 (邪泻芯 褋械 薪械 胁邪褉邪屑, 褍 锌懈褌邪褮褍 褋褍 褋械写邪屑写械褋械褌械 谐芯写懈薪械 啸啸 胁械泻邪), 屑邪写邪, 泻邪芯 褕褌芯 蟹薪邪屑芯, 薪懈褋褍 褋械 褋褌胁邪褉懈 芯写 褌邪写邪 屑薪芯谐芯 锌褉芯屑械薪懈谢械.
May 1, 2024
Rep: Palestinian cast & setting
October 17, 2013
乇賵丕賷丞 賲賲鬲丕夭丞 鬲噩賵賱 賮賷 孬賳丕賷丕 丕賱毓賯賱 丕賱賮賱爻胤賷賳賷 賵丕賱賳丕爻 鬲丨鬲 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱 賵噩丿賱賷丞 丕賱氐賲賵丿 賵丕賱賴乇賵亘貙 丕賱賲賯丕賵賲丞 賵丕賱鬲爻賱賷賲貙 丕賱鬲氐賳賷毓 丕賱賵胤賳賷 賵賲賯丕胤毓丞 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱
卮禺氐賷丕鬲 鬲賵丨賷 亘丨丕賱 丕賱賯賷丕丿丞 丕賱賲賴鬲乇卅丞 賵丕賱爻丕亘丨丞 賮賷 禺賷丕賱丕鬲 丕賱賲丕囟賷 賵丕賳鬲氐丕乇丕鬲 丕賱噩丿賵丿 賲毓賲賷丞 毓賳 賯匕丕乇丞 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賵丕賱賵丨賱 丕賱匕賷 賷睾賷氐 賮賷賴 丕賱卮毓亘. 賵丕賱卮亘丕亘 丕賱孬賵乇賷 丕賱賲賳卮睾賱 賮賷 丕賱丕賷丿賱賵噩賷丕鬲 丕賱孬賵乇賷丞 丨賵賱 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賵賲鬲賷賲賵賳 亘丨亘 丕賱賵胤賳 賵賱賰賳賴賲 毓賱賶 睾賷乇 賵毓賷 賰丕賮 亘賲兀爻丕丞 丕賱賳丕爻 丕賱毓丕丿賷賷賳.
乇睾亘丞 丕賱丕賳鬲賯丕賲 賲賳 丕賱噩賱丕丿責 乇睾亘丞 丕賱爻賱丕賲 賵兀丨賱丕賲 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳賷丞 亘乇睾賲 "丕賱賳噩賵賲" 毓賱賶 賰鬲賮 丕賱囟丕亘胤責
賵卮禺氐賷丕鬲 鬲賲孬賱 丨丕賱 丕賱毓丕賲丞 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 胤毓賳丞 賮賷 禺丕氐乇丞 丕賱賵胤賳 賵賮賷 賱丨馗丞 鬲睾丿賵 卮賵賰丞 賮賷 丨賱賯 丕賱毓丿賵. 賲賳 賷毓賷賱 兀胤賮丕賱丕 賵賱丕賷丿乇賷 賲丕 賷噩乇賷 禺丕乇噩 丕賱賵胤賳 賲賳 鬲丨賵賱丕鬲 孬賵乇賷丞 賵賱丕 賷爻賲毓 廿賱丕 禺胤亘 丕賱賯丕丿丞 丕賱毓氐賲丕亍 丕賱噩賵賮丕亍: 賴賱 賷毓賲賱 賮賷 丕賱賲爻鬲賵胤賳丕鬲 賲賳 丕噩賱 賱賯賲丞 丕賱毓賷卮責 兀賲 賷兀賰賱 丨乇賵賮 賰賱賲丕鬲 匕賵賷 丕賱賰乇賵卮 丕賱賲賳鬲賮禺丞責 兀賲 賷丨賲賱 賴賲 丕賱賵胤賳 毓賱賶 賰鬲賮賴 賮丕賱兀賯賵賷丕亍 賱丕 賷胤兀胤卅賵賳責
兀亘乇夭鬲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱丕丿賵乇丕乇 丕賱賲鬲毓丿丿丞 賵丕賱賲鬲賳丕賯囟丞 兀丨賷丕賳丕 賱賱賲乇兀丞 丕賱賮賱爻胤賷賳賷丞貙 賲賳 丕賱孬丕卅乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賮鬲卮 賵鬲賴丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱噩爻乇貙 賵鬲丐乇賯 賲囟噩毓 丕賱睾夭丕丞 .廿賱賶 丕賱賲爻賰賷賳丞 丕賱賲鬲賰賵賲丞 賮賷 亘賷鬲賴丕 賵鬲禺丕賮 毓賱賶 兀賵賱丕丿賴丕 賲賳 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱貙 廿賱賶 丕賱賲鬲賷賲丞 亘丕賱孬賵丕乇 賵丕賱孬賵乇丞 賵鬲禺卮賶 賲賵丕噩丞 兀亘賷賴丕 賮賷 賯乇丕乇 夭賵噩賴丕 賲賳 乇噩賱 賱丕 鬲毓乇賮賴.
賵兀禺賷乇丕貙 丕賱胤賮賱 (丕賱噩賷賱 丕賱賯丕丿賲) 丕賱匕賷 賷賯賱亘 丕賱賲毓丕丿賱丞 賵賷賳爻賮 丕賱賴賷丕賰賱 丕賱毓賮賳丞 賵賷毓丿 丕賱丨胤亘 賮賷 賲賵賯丿 丕賱孬賵乇丞 賲賳 噩丿賷丿 亘毓丿 兀賳 噩賲丿賴 丕賱氐賯賷毓
爻丨乇 禺賱賷賮丞貙 胤乇丨鬲 鬲爻丕丐賱丕鬲 賴丕賲丞 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賳丕貙 兀噩丕亘鬲 丕賱亘毓囟 賵鬲乇賰鬲 亘毓囟賴丕 亘丨丕噩丞 廿賱賶 廿噩丕亘丞
卮禺氐賷丕鬲 鬲賵丨賷 亘丨丕賱 丕賱賯賷丕丿丞 丕賱賲賴鬲乇卅丞 賵丕賱爻丕亘丨丞 賮賷 禺賷丕賱丕鬲 丕賱賲丕囟賷 賵丕賳鬲氐丕乇丕鬲 丕賱噩丿賵丿 賲毓賲賷丞 毓賳 賯匕丕乇丞 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賵丕賱賵丨賱 丕賱匕賷 賷睾賷氐 賮賷賴 丕賱卮毓亘. 賵丕賱卮亘丕亘 丕賱孬賵乇賷 丕賱賲賳卮睾賱 賮賷 丕賱丕賷丿賱賵噩賷丕鬲 丕賱孬賵乇賷丞 丨賵賱 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賵賲鬲賷賲賵賳 亘丨亘 丕賱賵胤賳 賵賱賰賳賴賲 毓賱賶 睾賷乇 賵毓賷 賰丕賮 亘賲兀爻丕丞 丕賱賳丕爻 丕賱毓丕丿賷賷賳.
乇睾亘丞 丕賱丕賳鬲賯丕賲 賲賳 丕賱噩賱丕丿責 乇睾亘丞 丕賱爻賱丕賲 賵兀丨賱丕賲 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳賷丞 亘乇睾賲 "丕賱賳噩賵賲" 毓賱賶 賰鬲賮 丕賱囟丕亘胤責
賵卮禺氐賷丕鬲 鬲賲孬賱 丨丕賱 丕賱毓丕賲丞 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 胤毓賳丞 賮賷 禺丕氐乇丞 丕賱賵胤賳 賵賮賷 賱丨馗丞 鬲睾丿賵 卮賵賰丞 賮賷 丨賱賯 丕賱毓丿賵. 賲賳 賷毓賷賱 兀胤賮丕賱丕 賵賱丕賷丿乇賷 賲丕 賷噩乇賷 禺丕乇噩 丕賱賵胤賳 賲賳 鬲丨賵賱丕鬲 孬賵乇賷丞 賵賱丕 賷爻賲毓 廿賱丕 禺胤亘 丕賱賯丕丿丞 丕賱毓氐賲丕亍 丕賱噩賵賮丕亍: 賴賱 賷毓賲賱 賮賷 丕賱賲爻鬲賵胤賳丕鬲 賲賳 丕噩賱 賱賯賲丞 丕賱毓賷卮責 兀賲 賷兀賰賱 丨乇賵賮 賰賱賲丕鬲 匕賵賷 丕賱賰乇賵卮 丕賱賲賳鬲賮禺丞責 兀賲 賷丨賲賱 賴賲 丕賱賵胤賳 毓賱賶 賰鬲賮賴 賮丕賱兀賯賵賷丕亍 賱丕 賷胤兀胤卅賵賳責
兀亘乇夭鬲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱丕丿賵乇丕乇 丕賱賲鬲毓丿丿丞 賵丕賱賲鬲賳丕賯囟丞 兀丨賷丕賳丕 賱賱賲乇兀丞 丕賱賮賱爻胤賷賳賷丞貙 賲賳 丕賱孬丕卅乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賮鬲卮 賵鬲賴丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱噩爻乇貙 賵鬲丐乇賯 賲囟噩毓 丕賱睾夭丕丞 .廿賱賶 丕賱賲爻賰賷賳丞 丕賱賲鬲賰賵賲丞 賮賷 亘賷鬲賴丕 賵鬲禺丕賮 毓賱賶 兀賵賱丕丿賴丕 賲賳 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱貙 廿賱賶 丕賱賲鬲賷賲丞 亘丕賱孬賵丕乇 賵丕賱孬賵乇丞 賵鬲禺卮賶 賲賵丕噩丞 兀亘賷賴丕 賮賷 賯乇丕乇 夭賵噩賴丕 賲賳 乇噩賱 賱丕 鬲毓乇賮賴.
賵兀禺賷乇丕貙 丕賱胤賮賱 (丕賱噩賷賱 丕賱賯丕丿賲) 丕賱匕賷 賷賯賱亘 丕賱賲毓丕丿賱丞 賵賷賳爻賮 丕賱賴賷丕賰賱 丕賱毓賮賳丞 賵賷毓丿 丕賱丨胤亘 賮賷 賲賵賯丿 丕賱孬賵乇丞 賲賳 噩丿賷丿 亘毓丿 兀賳 噩賲丿賴 丕賱氐賯賷毓
爻丨乇 禺賱賷賮丞貙 胤乇丨鬲 鬲爻丕丐賱丕鬲 賴丕賲丞 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賳丕貙 兀噩丕亘鬲 丕賱亘毓囟 賵鬲乇賰鬲 亘毓囟賴丕 亘丨丕噩丞 廿賱賶 廿噩丕亘丞
January 9, 2025
"But I ask you, is it possible to grow roses from thorns?"
A groundbreaking early novel about life under the Israeli occupation in the West Bank. It essentially asks how Palestinians deal with the feeling of "賯賴乇" - the soul-crushing frustration, grief, tiredness and anger that come from living under violent colonial apartheid. Many characters in this book see no other option but to become tough as thorns. Disgusted by the complacency of their people, they join the armed resistance and carry out attacks. "But I ask you, is it possible to grow roses from thorns?"
A groundbreaking early novel about life under the Israeli occupation in the West Bank. It essentially asks how Palestinians deal with the feeling of "賯賴乇" - the soul-crushing frustration, grief, tiredness and anger that come from living under violent colonial apartheid. Many characters in this book see no other option but to become tough as thorns. Disgusted by the complacency of their people, they join the armed resistance and carry out attacks. "But I ask you, is it possible to grow roses from thorns?"
April 28, 2016
Wild Thorns is a powerful novel by Sahar Khalifeh that captures the complexities of the Israeli occupied West Bank through the use of dynamic male characters such as Usama and his cousin Adil. The weight in the novel comes from the multiple layers of narrative that complicate simplistic views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Khalifeh's use of these male narratives allows readers to see two sides of the same coin. The novel opens with Usama's perspective as he returns to the West Bank in order to complete his mission of blowing up the buses that transport the Palestinian workers into Israel. However, when he comes back home, Usama realizes that the reality of life in Palestine is much different than what he envisioned from the outside. Usama represents the resistance of Israeli occupation from outside of Palestine. He believes in fighting for the nation of Palestine and actively resisting the Israeli occupation.
In contrast of Usama, Adil's narrative is one of a Palestinian worker who relies on his occupation in Israel to support his family. Adil's job causes him to lack the same hatred that Usama feels towards Israelis despite his people's suffering. Although both characters struggle with the same situation of stolen land, their perspectives produce widely different views of their homeland. Their narratives and the narratives of the other men in the novel complicate and challenge social dynamics surrounding the occupation of the West Bank.
However, Khalifeh's novel is not solely about the men and politics of occupied land. It is also about the Palestinian women and their role in the occupation. Khalifeh uses the male voice to her advantage by manipulating the men's narratives to depict their weaknesses, weaknesses of the system itself, and the strength of the women who run the households when their husbands are in jail.
Although Wild Thorns was originally written in Arabic for a primarily Arab audience, Khalifeh's choice to translate the novel to English creates a danger for it to be read through an orientalist lens. Khalifeh's honest and vivid portrayal of daily life in the West Bank makes it easy for the reader to become lost in the story of the novel as if they are getting access into the life of occupied Palestine. This consumability can be problematic because it gives readers an opportunity to further ideas that men's voices are the only voices with power, ignore women's narratives, and leave the reader with little understanding of Palestinian women's existence during occupation. However, Khalifeh uses frequent dialogue and change in narrators in order to subvert the consumability of the language and forces the audience to think carefully about the context and purpose of each man's story.
This novel is a valuable read for any class studying the complexities of Arab women writers or for any person seeking to understand the depth of the Israeli occupation in Palestine. I enjoyed the layers of Khalifeh's craft and the multifaceted narratives of each character. Wild Thorns is a novel that I appreciate due to Khalifeh's amazing artistry of language, dialogue, and poetry, but also for its ability to encourage an understanding of the Palestine's occupation through multiple lenses.
In contrast of Usama, Adil's narrative is one of a Palestinian worker who relies on his occupation in Israel to support his family. Adil's job causes him to lack the same hatred that Usama feels towards Israelis despite his people's suffering. Although both characters struggle with the same situation of stolen land, their perspectives produce widely different views of their homeland. Their narratives and the narratives of the other men in the novel complicate and challenge social dynamics surrounding the occupation of the West Bank.
However, Khalifeh's novel is not solely about the men and politics of occupied land. It is also about the Palestinian women and their role in the occupation. Khalifeh uses the male voice to her advantage by manipulating the men's narratives to depict their weaknesses, weaknesses of the system itself, and the strength of the women who run the households when their husbands are in jail.
Although Wild Thorns was originally written in Arabic for a primarily Arab audience, Khalifeh's choice to translate the novel to English creates a danger for it to be read through an orientalist lens. Khalifeh's honest and vivid portrayal of daily life in the West Bank makes it easy for the reader to become lost in the story of the novel as if they are getting access into the life of occupied Palestine. This consumability can be problematic because it gives readers an opportunity to further ideas that men's voices are the only voices with power, ignore women's narratives, and leave the reader with little understanding of Palestinian women's existence during occupation. However, Khalifeh uses frequent dialogue and change in narrators in order to subvert the consumability of the language and forces the audience to think carefully about the context and purpose of each man's story.
This novel is a valuable read for any class studying the complexities of Arab women writers or for any person seeking to understand the depth of the Israeli occupation in Palestine. I enjoyed the layers of Khalifeh's craft and the multifaceted narratives of each character. Wild Thorns is a novel that I appreciate due to Khalifeh's amazing artistry of language, dialogue, and poetry, but also for its ability to encourage an understanding of the Palestine's occupation through multiple lenses.
December 5, 2023
what is the right way to resist?
read during #ReadPalestine Week (27th Nov - 5th Dec)
Wild Thorns begs this question; is the mere existence in the face of the occupation a resistance, or violence resistance is the right way? Our protagonist, Usama, comes back to the West Bank from the Golf countries to find a different Palestine. According to him, Palestinians who are working with Israelis are betraying their cause and nationalism. His cousin is one of them, abandoning his farm to work in Israelis factories.
The book highlights the struggle and the layers of war and the Israeli occupation of Palestine within Palestinian communities. Beside the daily oppression by the IOF, Palestinians are like any other people; struggling to make ends meets, falling in love and trying to make the best of their lives. Usama is the embodiment of the angry resentment many youths have against their oppressors, to the point he came to Nablus to blow one of the buses taking Palestinians from the West Bank to work in the occupied lands by Israel.
Wild Throns is originally published in Arabic under the name , meaning Cacti. Al-Subar in arabic is close to the word "Sabr", which means patience. Patience is a theme dominant in this book; Usama and later his cousin, Basil, are impatient to fight back the IOF. His other cousin, Adil, is patient in his arguments with Usama who is urging him to join the resistance.
I don't think I've read a very nuanced book like this one, giving the characters more layers and making him human in the eye of the reader and not just names on paper.
read during #ReadPalestine Week (27th Nov - 5th Dec)
Wild Thorns begs this question; is the mere existence in the face of the occupation a resistance, or violence resistance is the right way? Our protagonist, Usama, comes back to the West Bank from the Golf countries to find a different Palestine. According to him, Palestinians who are working with Israelis are betraying their cause and nationalism. His cousin is one of them, abandoning his farm to work in Israelis factories.
The book highlights the struggle and the layers of war and the Israeli occupation of Palestine within Palestinian communities. Beside the daily oppression by the IOF, Palestinians are like any other people; struggling to make ends meets, falling in love and trying to make the best of their lives. Usama is the embodiment of the angry resentment many youths have against their oppressors, to the point he came to Nablus to blow one of the buses taking Palestinians from the West Bank to work in the occupied lands by Israel.
Wild Throns is originally published in Arabic under the name , meaning Cacti. Al-Subar in arabic is close to the word "Sabr", which means patience. Patience is a theme dominant in this book; Usama and later his cousin, Basil, are impatient to fight back the IOF. His other cousin, Adil, is patient in his arguments with Usama who is urging him to join the resistance.
I don't think I've read a very nuanced book like this one, giving the characters more layers and making him human in the eye of the reader and not just names on paper.
December 25, 2023
This book felt deeply personal, full of emotion and personality and big characters. Immediately I was drawn in by the writing, it was easy to lose yourself in this book and the rich settings. There were many moments where my heart was in my mouth, desperately searching the page for answers. Moving and profoundly written.
July 8, 2024
兀賵賱 乇賵丕賷丞 兀賯乇兀賴丕 賱賰丕鬲亘丞 賲賳 賲丿賷賳鬲賷 賳丕亘賱爻. 賳購卮乇鬲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賮賷 丕賱爻亘毓賷賳賷丕鬲 賵鬲丨賰賷 賯氐丞 兀爻丕賲丞 丕賱匕賷 賷爻丕賮乇 亘毓丿 賳賰爻丞 1967 賵賷毓賵丿 亘毓丿 禺賲爻 爻賳賵丕鬲 賱賷鬲賮丕噩兀 亘鬲睾賷乇 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賮賷 賳丕亘賱爻 賵丕毓鬲賷丕丿 丕賱賳丕爻 毓賱賶 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱. 賷賰鬲卮賮 丕賱賯丕乇卅 兀賳 兀爻丕賲丞 賰丕賳 賷鬲丿乇亘 賲毓 丕賱賮丿丕卅賷賷賳 賵賷毓賵丿 賱鬲賳賮賷匕 賲賴賲丞 鬲賮噩賷乇 丨丕賮賱丕鬲 丕賱毓賲丕賱 丕賱賮賱爻胤賷賳賷賷賳 丕賱匕賷賳 賷毓賲賱賵賳 賮賷 廿爻乇丕卅賷賱貙 賲毓鬲亘乇賸丕 廿賷丕賴賲 禺賵賳丞.
賲賳 丕賱氐毓亘 鬲丨丿賷丿 賲賵賯賮 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 亘賷賳 丿毓賲 丕賱賲賯丕賵賲丞 兀賵 丕賱毓賲丕賱貙 廿匕 鬲購馗賴乇 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲亘乇賷乇丕鬲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賱賲賵丕賯賮賴丕. 賲丕 賷毓噩亘賳賷 賴賵 噩乇兀鬲賴丕 賮賷 賳賯丿 丕賱噩丕賳亘 丕賱賮賱爻胤賷賳賷貙 毓賱賶 毓賰爻 丕賱鬲賲噩賷丿 丕賱賲毓鬲丕丿. 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲爻賱胤 丕賱囟賵亍 毓賱賶 丕賱胤亘賯賷丞 賵氐毓賵亘丞 丕賱賲毓賷卮丞 賮賷 丕賱囟賮丞 丕賱睾乇亘賷丞貙 亘賷賳賲丕 亘丕卅毓賵 丕賱賵胤賳賷丞 賷鬲賮賱爻賮賵賳 毓賱賶 賲賳 賷爻毓賶 賱鬲兀賲賷賳 賯賵鬲 賷賵賲賴.
賲賳 丕賱氐毓亘 鬲丨丿賷丿 賲賵賯賮 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 亘賷賳 丿毓賲 丕賱賲賯丕賵賲丞 兀賵 丕賱毓賲丕賱貙 廿匕 鬲購馗賴乇 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲亘乇賷乇丕鬲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賱賲賵丕賯賮賴丕. 賲丕 賷毓噩亘賳賷 賴賵 噩乇兀鬲賴丕 賮賷 賳賯丿 丕賱噩丕賳亘 丕賱賮賱爻胤賷賳賷貙 毓賱賶 毓賰爻 丕賱鬲賲噩賷丿 丕賱賲毓鬲丕丿. 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲爻賱胤 丕賱囟賵亍 毓賱賶 丕賱胤亘賯賷丞 賵氐毓賵亘丞 丕賱賲毓賷卮丞 賮賷 丕賱囟賮丞 丕賱睾乇亘賷丞貙 亘賷賳賲丕 亘丕卅毓賵 丕賱賵胤賳賷丞 賷鬲賮賱爻賮賵賳 毓賱賶 賲賳 賷爻毓賶 賱鬲兀賲賷賳 賯賵鬲 賷賵賲賴.
February 25, 2024
Such a deeply personal and complex book. This is about the lives of several people and families living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank. She paints a vivid picture of how different people react to such traumatic circumstances and how people choose to (and are able to) resist. Definitely a book that makes you feel.
December 8, 2023
A very powerful novel. Reading this on day 62 of the attack on Gaza is frustrating. It gives a sense of desperation that Palestine will never be free, that Palestinian men and women fighting for their land will always be labeled terrorists, and that no amount of explanation for these so called terrorist act will change the world. The novel aims to make us question the values of peace, friendship, loyalty, family when they are tested against an unjust system. It reminds us that nothing is illegal in an unjust world, truly lex iniusta non est lex, but it鈥檚 a reminder, more than 40 years after the novel was published, that resonates with despair. We know there is no justice. Yet we continue condemning so called evil acts or murder.
The characters are confused, reflecting the confusion of their situation under occupation. They clash, as they should. What better way to show the world the effects of being forced out of your own land?
The characters are confused, reflecting the confusion of their situation under occupation. They clash, as they should. What better way to show the world the effects of being forced out of your own land?
February 17, 2024
Wild Thorns by Sahar Khalifeh is my new book recommendation! It delicately handles the topic of how different people handle their country/community being occupied. Wild Thorns is accessible, engaging, and emotional.
June 26, 2017
鬲鬲賳丕賵賱 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲賵囟賵毓丕 卮丕卅賰丕 丕噩丕丿鬲 爻丨乇 毓乇囟賴 亘丕爻賱賵亘賴丕 丕賱亘爻賷胤 丕賱賲賲鬲毓 貙 賮賱爻胤賷賳賷賵 丕賱丿丕禺賱 賵丕賱禺丕乇噩 賮賷 賲賵丕噩賴丞 氐乇賷丨丞 貙 賲賵丕噩賴丞 鬲毓卮卮 賮賷 夭賵丕賷丕 賲禺亘卅丞 丿丕卅賲丕 賱賰賳 賮賷 丕賱氐亘丕乇 毓乇囟鬲賴丕 爻丨乇 亘氐乇丕丨鬲賴丕 丕賱賲毓賴賵丿丞 賵賱賲 鬲兀賱 噩賴丿丕 賮賷 丕爻賯丕胤鬲賴丕 丕賱毓馗賷賲丞
丕爻丕賲丞 丕賱賰乇賲賷 卮丕亘 毓丕卅丿 丕賱賶 亘賱丕丿賴 亘毓丿 丕賳 賳丕賱 賱賲 丕賱卮賲賱 賵丕禺賷乇丕 貙 賷毓賵丿 賱賷噩丿 丕賴賱賴 丕賳卮睾賱賵丕 亘賯賵鬲 賷賵賲賴賲 毓賳 賯囟賷鬲賴賲 貙 鬲賰丕賱亘賵丕 毓賱賶 亘毓囟賴賲 賮 賱賲 賷毓丿 丕賱毓賲賱 賮賷 丕爻乇丕卅賷賱 賷卮賰賱 賲卮賰賱丞 毓賳丿賴賲 貙 賴賰匕丕 賷賮毓賱 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱 貙 賷賲賷鬲 賲丕 賴賵 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 丕賱噩爻丿 貙 賷賲賷鬲 丕賱乇賵丨 亘亘胤卅 卮丿賷丿 貙 賷賲賷鬲 丕賱賯賷賲 賵丕賱賲毓丕賳賷 賵賷禺賱賯 丕賱丕夭丿丕賵噩賷丞 賵丕賱賱丕賴賵賷丞
賷乇賮囟 丕爻丕賲賴 賴匕丕 丕賱鬲賵丕胤卅 丕賱賱丕賲毓賱賳 貙 賴匕賴 丕賱賱夭賵噩丞 丕賱毓賮賳賴 貙 賵賱賰賳 賱丕氐丨丕亘賴 丨噩噩賴賲 貙 賮賲賳 賮賷 丕賱禺丕乇噩 丕賳卮睾賱賵丕 丕賷囟丕 亘賯賵鬲賴賲 賵賳爻賵丕 丕賳賮爻賴賲 貙 賮賱賲丕匕丕 賷賳鬲馗乇賵賳 丕賱鬲囟丨賷丞 賲賳丕 賳丨賳 賵丨爻亘 責
氐乇丕毓 毓賲賷賯 鬲毓乇囟賴 賱賳丕 爻丨乇 禺賱賷賮丞 賮賷 氐亘丕乇賴丕 丕賱賯丕爻賷 貙 鬲丨丕乇 賲毓 賲賳 鬲賯賮 責 賵賴賱 賷噩亘 丕賳 賳噩丿 丿賵賲丕 賲賰丕賳 賳賯賮 賮賷賴 責 丕賱賷爻 賱賱丨賯賷賯賴 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 亘毓丿 責 丕賲 丕賳 亘毓囟 丕賱丕賲賵乇 賱丕 鬲賯丕爻 亘賳爻賷亘丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞 亘賱 亘孬亘丕鬲 丕賱賲胤賱賯 賵丕賳 賰丕賳 丕賱孬賲賳 丕賱乇賵丨 ..
责!
丕爻丕賲丞 丕賱賰乇賲賷 卮丕亘 毓丕卅丿 丕賱賶 亘賱丕丿賴 亘毓丿 丕賳 賳丕賱 賱賲 丕賱卮賲賱 賵丕禺賷乇丕 貙 賷毓賵丿 賱賷噩丿 丕賴賱賴 丕賳卮睾賱賵丕 亘賯賵鬲 賷賵賲賴賲 毓賳 賯囟賷鬲賴賲 貙 鬲賰丕賱亘賵丕 毓賱賶 亘毓囟賴賲 賮 賱賲 賷毓丿 丕賱毓賲賱 賮賷 丕爻乇丕卅賷賱 賷卮賰賱 賲卮賰賱丞 毓賳丿賴賲 貙 賴賰匕丕 賷賮毓賱 丕賱丕丨鬲賱丕賱 貙 賷賲賷鬲 賲丕 賴賵 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 丕賱噩爻丿 貙 賷賲賷鬲 丕賱乇賵丨 亘亘胤卅 卮丿賷丿 貙 賷賲賷鬲 丕賱賯賷賲 賵丕賱賲毓丕賳賷 賵賷禺賱賯 丕賱丕夭丿丕賵噩賷丞 賵丕賱賱丕賴賵賷丞
賷乇賮囟 丕爻丕賲賴 賴匕丕 丕賱鬲賵丕胤卅 丕賱賱丕賲毓賱賳 貙 賴匕賴 丕賱賱夭賵噩丞 丕賱毓賮賳賴 貙 賵賱賰賳 賱丕氐丨丕亘賴 丨噩噩賴賲 貙 賮賲賳 賮賷 丕賱禺丕乇噩 丕賳卮睾賱賵丕 丕賷囟丕 亘賯賵鬲賴賲 賵賳爻賵丕 丕賳賮爻賴賲 貙 賮賱賲丕匕丕 賷賳鬲馗乇賵賳 丕賱鬲囟丨賷丞 賲賳丕 賳丨賳 賵丨爻亘 責
氐乇丕毓 毓賲賷賯 鬲毓乇囟賴 賱賳丕 爻丨乇 禺賱賷賮丞 賮賷 氐亘丕乇賴丕 丕賱賯丕爻賷 貙 鬲丨丕乇 賲毓 賲賳 鬲賯賮 責 賵賴賱 賷噩亘 丕賳 賳噩丿 丿賵賲丕 賲賰丕賳 賳賯賮 賮賷賴 責 丕賱賷爻 賱賱丨賯賷賯賴 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 亘毓丿 責 丕賲 丕賳 亘毓囟 丕賱丕賲賵乇 賱丕 鬲賯丕爻 亘賳爻賷亘丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞 亘賱 亘孬亘丕鬲 丕賱賲胤賱賯 賵丕賳 賰丕賳 丕賱孬賲賳 丕賱乇賵丨 ..
责!
December 27, 2024
Que gran libro. Sobre todo ese pedazo de Zuzhi de Tell my mother I died a martyr y la voz interna de Usama. Es buen铆simo.
December 16, 2024
I鈥檓 moving towards the light along the dark paths of anger
April 12, 2016
It's an overtly political act to take a side in a conflict, especially in one as fraught with moral quagmires as the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine. But what about simultaneously taking and critiquing both sides while living within the society of one side? This is exactly what Sahar Khalifeh does in her introspective firecracker of a novel, "Wild Thorns."
The novel is primarily told from the perspective of Usama, a young man who once aspired to be a poet, but is now thrust into the position of guerilla combatant due to the increasingly hostile and violent environment he lives in. Readers are forced to bear witness to this man's aspirations to be a lover, as opposed to a fighter, repeatedly get dashed against the rocks, as he spirals into the cycle of violence that is all too prevalent in the conflict between these two warring states.
Khalifeh's use of male protagonists (there are two others, Adil and Zudhi,) is particularly notable in telling this story, as it gives her an opportunity to produce some salient points in relation to men's perspectives of war and of manhood, and how those can often act as a detriment to society as a whole. We see the actions of Usama and some of the other men in this book get brought into question and criticized by the supporting female cast, and we see how stabbings and bombings end up doing more harm than good. Male perspective is used to subvert how we perceive masculinity during times of crisis, which is a novel twist.
Also noteworthy is the somewhat neutral tone Khalifeh takes. While, clearly, Israel's subjugation of Palestine is something that's difficult to look at in an objective light, Khalifeh manages to humanize Israeli citizens while criticizing the acts of violence carried out by their military. Likewise, she manages to both show the collective suffering of Palestine, while still harshly damning acts of violence being perpetrated by guerilla combatants. Khalifeh is not concerned, it seems, with choosing a side, but with demonstrating the real human suffering and cost of war in general. In particular, the caustic side effects of caustic masculine warfare.
One particular gripe I have with the novel, however, comes with that preoccupation on men. Most of the women in the novel feel largely ancillary. Only one particular woman stands out, and even then, she is mostly a reactant to the actions of the men in the novel, and only occasionally a catalyst for action. While I understand the rationale behind having most of the women being supports (it's a critique of men's preoccupation with destroying the enemy as opposed to actually listening to the needs of their populace,) it sometimes treads the line of feeling like erasure. While, of course, I doubt that a woman from Palestine would actively erase other Palestinian women's voices, it nevertheless would be nice to see more tangible, substantial female characters.
Aside from that, however, "Wild Thorns" succeeds because it seems like it accomplishes what Khalifeh set out to do from the outside. It manages to do interesting things with a male protagonist, and succeeds in giving a different, less binary perception of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine. It is a fast, furious read that raises a wealth of questions and valid points, and for that, it's worthy of a recommendation.
The novel is primarily told from the perspective of Usama, a young man who once aspired to be a poet, but is now thrust into the position of guerilla combatant due to the increasingly hostile and violent environment he lives in. Readers are forced to bear witness to this man's aspirations to be a lover, as opposed to a fighter, repeatedly get dashed against the rocks, as he spirals into the cycle of violence that is all too prevalent in the conflict between these two warring states.
Khalifeh's use of male protagonists (there are two others, Adil and Zudhi,) is particularly notable in telling this story, as it gives her an opportunity to produce some salient points in relation to men's perspectives of war and of manhood, and how those can often act as a detriment to society as a whole. We see the actions of Usama and some of the other men in this book get brought into question and criticized by the supporting female cast, and we see how stabbings and bombings end up doing more harm than good. Male perspective is used to subvert how we perceive masculinity during times of crisis, which is a novel twist.
Also noteworthy is the somewhat neutral tone Khalifeh takes. While, clearly, Israel's subjugation of Palestine is something that's difficult to look at in an objective light, Khalifeh manages to humanize Israeli citizens while criticizing the acts of violence carried out by their military. Likewise, she manages to both show the collective suffering of Palestine, while still harshly damning acts of violence being perpetrated by guerilla combatants. Khalifeh is not concerned, it seems, with choosing a side, but with demonstrating the real human suffering and cost of war in general. In particular, the caustic side effects of caustic masculine warfare.
One particular gripe I have with the novel, however, comes with that preoccupation on men. Most of the women in the novel feel largely ancillary. Only one particular woman stands out, and even then, she is mostly a reactant to the actions of the men in the novel, and only occasionally a catalyst for action. While I understand the rationale behind having most of the women being supports (it's a critique of men's preoccupation with destroying the enemy as opposed to actually listening to the needs of their populace,) it sometimes treads the line of feeling like erasure. While, of course, I doubt that a woman from Palestine would actively erase other Palestinian women's voices, it nevertheless would be nice to see more tangible, substantial female characters.
Aside from that, however, "Wild Thorns" succeeds because it seems like it accomplishes what Khalifeh set out to do from the outside. It manages to do interesting things with a male protagonist, and succeeds in giving a different, less binary perception of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine. It is a fast, furious read that raises a wealth of questions and valid points, and for that, it's worthy of a recommendation.
May 5, 2014
This novel, published in 1985, is set in the West Bank during a time of Israeli occupation. It follows Usama as he returns home from living abroad for several years. Filled with specific notions of proper Palestinian resistance, he begins to realize that his expectations are not met by his friends, family, or peers. Although much more complex than I am letting on, this work explores relationships between people and their communities, their nations, and ultimately the world.
The text is provocative in both diction and subject matter. Khalifeh's writing style engages the reader, highlighting multiple senses in various scenes. An example of this is the initial scene at the airport; Usama is trying to make his way through security in order to return home, while describing his surroundings. The reader's auditory senses are stimulated from the screams coming from the girl being tortured and the officer questioning Usama, while the descriptions of the various rooms engage your visual senses. This scene is one of the reasons I continued to read the book. The images became so vivid that I felt as though I were there.
The emphasis that I place on the real world application of this text demonstrates the relationship it should have with the rest of the world. One of the most compelling components of the text are the various forms of resistance. These include spoken, violent resistance, such as Usama's, religious faith, such as Usama's mother, and everything in between. This discourse brought a realistic element to the text because its applicable to Western life. Seldom are there obvious parallels between texts by Arab women writers and Western society. However, this element of the text is showing Orientalist audiences that similar to their own societies, every individual does not think or respond the same. This undermines our society's association between 9/11 and Muslims, the Middle East, or anyone upholding our stereotypes.
The problem with the text is the expectation that it creates in Western audiences for a realistic image of the Israeli occupation. We begin to accept Khalifeh's tale as truthful instead of genuine; it is imperative to me that readers understand that every story has two sides. Because we typically only hear one side, it becomes normal to assume this rendition as the truth. It is our duty as readers to understand that this is just one story amongst an infinite amount of others. As readers, we are morally responsible to treat it as such. This note of caution is not intended to undermine the power of the text because this book is an extraordinary work of literature that does offer insight into said perspective. And because it does that, it has immeasurable value.
Overall, I would highly recommend not only reading this book, but thinking about how it can relate to your life. Don't fall victim to Western ideologies that alienate you from personally relating to what Khalifeh is saying and don't negate your position in the global community. This text is a good place to start.
The text is provocative in both diction and subject matter. Khalifeh's writing style engages the reader, highlighting multiple senses in various scenes. An example of this is the initial scene at the airport; Usama is trying to make his way through security in order to return home, while describing his surroundings. The reader's auditory senses are stimulated from the screams coming from the girl being tortured and the officer questioning Usama, while the descriptions of the various rooms engage your visual senses. This scene is one of the reasons I continued to read the book. The images became so vivid that I felt as though I were there.
The emphasis that I place on the real world application of this text demonstrates the relationship it should have with the rest of the world. One of the most compelling components of the text are the various forms of resistance. These include spoken, violent resistance, such as Usama's, religious faith, such as Usama's mother, and everything in between. This discourse brought a realistic element to the text because its applicable to Western life. Seldom are there obvious parallels between texts by Arab women writers and Western society. However, this element of the text is showing Orientalist audiences that similar to their own societies, every individual does not think or respond the same. This undermines our society's association between 9/11 and Muslims, the Middle East, or anyone upholding our stereotypes.
The problem with the text is the expectation that it creates in Western audiences for a realistic image of the Israeli occupation. We begin to accept Khalifeh's tale as truthful instead of genuine; it is imperative to me that readers understand that every story has two sides. Because we typically only hear one side, it becomes normal to assume this rendition as the truth. It is our duty as readers to understand that this is just one story amongst an infinite amount of others. As readers, we are morally responsible to treat it as such. This note of caution is not intended to undermine the power of the text because this book is an extraordinary work of literature that does offer insight into said perspective. And because it does that, it has immeasurable value.
Overall, I would highly recommend not only reading this book, but thinking about how it can relate to your life. Don't fall victim to Western ideologies that alienate you from personally relating to what Khalifeh is saying and don't negate your position in the global community. This text is a good place to start.
December 7, 2021
A vivid and powerful novel of the different experiences and worldviews of Palestinians living under occupation. Usma left Palestine and has now returned with rage and revenge in his heart, not only for the Israelis but those Palestinians who he sees as traitors for working across the border. Standing in contrast to him is Adil and many others who need this work to support their families.
The novel shows how nothing is ever black and white and that people's lives are complex especially when living in an occupied situation, never knowing whose house will be bombed because of suspected 'terrorist' activity, when supply chains will dry up. They still want to get married and have a family, they still want education and a better future and sometimes compromises have to be made for this. There is tension in the novel as constant arguments and discussions take place and it moves towards a perhaps inevitable conclusion.
The novel shows how nothing is ever black and white and that people's lives are complex especially when living in an occupied situation, never knowing whose house will be bombed because of suspected 'terrorist' activity, when supply chains will dry up. They still want to get married and have a family, they still want education and a better future and sometimes compromises have to be made for this. There is tension in the novel as constant arguments and discussions take place and it moves towards a perhaps inevitable conclusion.
June 26, 2007
I read this for my post-colonialism class. Written by an Arab woman, it tells the story of the Israeli occupation of Palestine through the eyes of two cousins, one who believes in violent resistance and one who just believes in surviving day to day. Reading fiction such as these is a great way to understand sometimes complicated and confusing historical events in a human way. I recommend it to anyone looking to understand what the Palestians are going through in the struggle for their land.
January 16, 2016
Worth reading for the subject matter, but characters, dialogue fall flat.
August 8, 2024
This was the final book on Slingshot鈥檚 books to read before they get burnt (or something like that) list, and probably my favorite.
Wild Thorns was published in 1976 in Arabic, and was translated into English fairly recently (I think). It takes place in Palestine and is a story told through the eyes of a few Palestinians living in occupied territories. Some are actively fighting back against the Israeli occupiers, while other鈥檚 aren鈥檛; but all are angry and have some kind of analysis of the horrid situation. This was almost 50 years ago, and the situation has gotten exponentially worse, but reading this book sure filled me with anger and despair.
Khalifeh writes in a simple, yet very deep way. The way she manages to convey the feelings of the freedom fighters and the more resigned folks who have taken jobs within 鈥淚srael鈥� to support their families, is relatable. Without using any antisemitism or exaggeration, she makes the reader feel the desperation of people just trying to live their lives while constantly being thrown in jail, murdered, and having all of their possessions destroyed or stolen. The descriptions of having to go through checkpoints or being in prison for doing nothing other than being Palestinian is better than any nonfiction account I鈥檝e read.
This is a book that everyone who has any interest in the g*n0c*dE should definitely read. The hopefulness expressed by many characters in this book is absolutely heartbreaking to anyone who has ability to feel. I couldn鈥檛 escape the thought that I鈥檓 reading something by a person who is of a culture that is getting erased right before our eyes while the world sits around and debates over who the next leader of the world will be, like it matters.
Wild Thorns was published in 1976 in Arabic, and was translated into English fairly recently (I think). It takes place in Palestine and is a story told through the eyes of a few Palestinians living in occupied territories. Some are actively fighting back against the Israeli occupiers, while other鈥檚 aren鈥檛; but all are angry and have some kind of analysis of the horrid situation. This was almost 50 years ago, and the situation has gotten exponentially worse, but reading this book sure filled me with anger and despair.
Khalifeh writes in a simple, yet very deep way. The way she manages to convey the feelings of the freedom fighters and the more resigned folks who have taken jobs within 鈥淚srael鈥� to support their families, is relatable. Without using any antisemitism or exaggeration, she makes the reader feel the desperation of people just trying to live their lives while constantly being thrown in jail, murdered, and having all of their possessions destroyed or stolen. The descriptions of having to go through checkpoints or being in prison for doing nothing other than being Palestinian is better than any nonfiction account I鈥檝e read.
This is a book that everyone who has any interest in the g*n0c*dE should definitely read. The hopefulness expressed by many characters in this book is absolutely heartbreaking to anyone who has ability to feel. I couldn鈥檛 escape the thought that I鈥檓 reading something by a person who is of a culture that is getting erased right before our eyes while the world sits around and debates over who the next leader of the world will be, like it matters.
December 11, 2023
The entire time I was reading this, an excerpt from Noam Chomsky鈥檚 鈥淔ateful Triangle鈥� stayed at the forefront of my mind:
鈥淪hehadeh distinguishes three ways of responding to occupation. The first is that of blind hate, the second, mute submission. To the captive population, the first way is that of the freedom fighter, the second, that of the quisling.
To the conqueror, the first way, is that of the terrorist, the second, that of the moderate. The paymasters keep to the rhetoric of the conqueror, naturally.
What then is the third way? That is the way of the Samid, the steadfast one, who watches his home turned into a prison. You choose to stay in that prison, because it is your home, and because you fear that, if you leave, your jailer will not allow you to return. Living like this, you must constantly resist the twin temptations of either acquiescing in the jailers plan in numb despair, or becoming crazed by consuming hatred for your jailer and yourself, the prisoner.鈥�
This short novel perfectly encapsulates with striking accuracy and nuance, the many layers of different Palestinians living under occupation. And although every story arc ended, the overwhelming and looming specter of settler colonialism, like a suffocating blanket, is ever present and ever tragic.
鈥淪hehadeh distinguishes three ways of responding to occupation. The first is that of blind hate, the second, mute submission. To the captive population, the first way is that of the freedom fighter, the second, that of the quisling.
To the conqueror, the first way, is that of the terrorist, the second, that of the moderate. The paymasters keep to the rhetoric of the conqueror, naturally.
What then is the third way? That is the way of the Samid, the steadfast one, who watches his home turned into a prison. You choose to stay in that prison, because it is your home, and because you fear that, if you leave, your jailer will not allow you to return. Living like this, you must constantly resist the twin temptations of either acquiescing in the jailers plan in numb despair, or becoming crazed by consuming hatred for your jailer and yourself, the prisoner.鈥�
This short novel perfectly encapsulates with striking accuracy and nuance, the many layers of different Palestinians living under occupation. And although every story arc ended, the overwhelming and looming specter of settler colonialism, like a suffocating blanket, is ever present and ever tragic.
January 27, 2025
Occupation or disintegration? Obey the rules of an oppressive, unjust system or change the system? Blame the Israeli soldiers for following orders or blame the Palestinian Resistance for doing the same? Can you be a part of the fight without fighting? Patience or rushing into the fight?
Every character mentioned -- Usama, Adil, Basil, Zehdi, among others -- goes through nuanced transformations, grappling with these existential questions. Each decision they make or refuse to make reflects the broader moral and social dilemmas of life under occupation. The novel's strength is not in providing easy answers to these questions. Rather, the complexity comes through its contradictions. Because, by the end, regardless of each character's individual decisions, contempt, and hope for a better life, for a return back to the past, none end up content. And such is the unfortunate reality.
Every character mentioned -- Usama, Adil, Basil, Zehdi, among others -- goes through nuanced transformations, grappling with these existential questions. Each decision they make or refuse to make reflects the broader moral and social dilemmas of life under occupation. The novel's strength is not in providing easy answers to these questions. Rather, the complexity comes through its contradictions. Because, by the end, regardless of each character's individual decisions, contempt, and hope for a better life, for a return back to the past, none end up content. And such is the unfortunate reality.
January 31, 2024
Det var veldig rart 氓 lese disse to b酶kene parallellt. Jeg har kjent mye p氓 maktesl酶shet n氓r jeg har lest begge. Det er fint 氓 lese b酶ker som fremmer f酶lelser, for da beveger de p氓 noe hos meg. Ingen av b酶kene f氓r toppkarakter. Historiene i begge b酶ker forteller meg noe om hvordan det er 氓 v忙re underlagt noen andres makt, og at det er helt forferdelig. Jeg tror vi alle har godt av 氓 f酶le litt p氓 det, selv om f氓 av oss noen sinne vil klare 氓 sette seg inn i det (simon strangers siste museumsbok og denne).
Noen sider er litt fantastiske og poetiske i sitt spr氓k, de synes jeg er litt vanskelige 氓 ta. Noen er s氓 lette 氓 ta at de g氓r rett inn i hjerterota og fremmer sinne. Verdt en titt!
Noen sider er litt fantastiske og poetiske i sitt spr氓k, de synes jeg er litt vanskelige 氓 ta. Noen er s氓 lette 氓 ta at de g氓r rett inn i hjerterota og fremmer sinne. Verdt en titt!
December 7, 2023
This book explores the impact of the occupation of Palestine not only on the external conflict with the Israeli community, but also on the internal dynamics within the Palestinian community itself. These dynamics, influenced by external pressures, are likely to play a significant role in shaping the characters' identities and actions. Khalifeh's exploration of these psychological factors provides readers with a nuanced understanding of the human experience in the context of colonization.
December 8, 2023
'Have you ever heard of a people that welcomes disaster with cries of joy?'
'Yes, I have. I swear I have.'
Maddening, enraging, multi-layered, beautiful, never shying away from complexity. Set in Palestine in the '70s, it's an unflinching, unsentimental and yet soul-crushing look at a group of people under the Israeli occupation.
This is not an easy book to read, both because io the content and because the writing is complex - fragmented, without clear signposting, rich with repetition and somehow also economical. I found the translation gorgeous.
'Yes, I have. I swear I have.'
Maddening, enraging, multi-layered, beautiful, never shying away from complexity. Set in Palestine in the '70s, it's an unflinching, unsentimental and yet soul-crushing look at a group of people under the Israeli occupation.
This is not an easy book to read, both because io the content and because the writing is complex - fragmented, without clear signposting, rich with repetition and somehow also economical. I found the translation gorgeous.
April 7, 2024
historically focuses on the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
after five years, Usama al-Karmi returns home only to discover his friends and family oppressed by Israeli forces. the novel focuses more on the daily realities of Palestinians living under occupation; simultaneously, Khalifeh depicts the harshness of Israeli soldiers, the confinement and oppression experienced by the Palestinians, and cultural shifts. the plot showcases the strong Israeli military presence and restrictions placed on freedom.
after five years, Usama al-Karmi returns home only to discover his friends and family oppressed by Israeli forces. the novel focuses more on the daily realities of Palestinians living under occupation; simultaneously, Khalifeh depicts the harshness of Israeli soldiers, the confinement and oppression experienced by the Palestinians, and cultural shifts. the plot showcases the strong Israeli military presence and restrictions placed on freedom.
April 7, 2024
Wild Thorns follows several young Palestinian men as they negotiate the struggles, indignities and abuses of life under occupation. Khalifeh does an excellent job of making you feel what the characters do within a relatively short novel. I did take a break from this in a fit of mood-readery-ness and that was definitely to my detriment because it did become a little difficult to keep track of all the different characters. Overall though an excellent read.
April 26, 2023
I鈥檓 glad I read this for the historical perspective. I suspect it lost a lot in the translation so it was not well written. The sadness and hopelessness does come through however. Young Palestinians like Usama and Basil are idealistic
But in the end it is people like Adil that keeps the family alive. I just wondered, why stay????
But in the end it is people like Adil that keeps the family alive. I just wondered, why stay????
February 7, 2025
beschreibt sehr gut alle bereiche des alltags unter der Besatzung in den 70ern, und wie damals schon der Widerstand wuchs, dementsprechend depressing wenn man wei脽 der Genozid hat bis heute nicht aufgeh枚rt
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