‘there are some who consider this way of seeing, which is to say, focusing intently on the most minor details, like dust on the desk or fly shit on‘there are some who consider this way of seeing, which is to say, focusing intently on the most minor details, like dust on the desk or fly shit on a painting, as the only way to arrive at the truth and definitive proof of its existence.�
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli is a haunting and deeply affecting novel. Set in Palestine, the novel delicately explores the echoes of history and the enduring impact of violence on both individuals and communities.
The story unfolds in two parts, the first in 1949 during the Israeli occupation, and the second in present day, following a young woman's obsession with a minor detail in a wartime massacre.
The novel is an exploration of memory, trauma, and the search for meaning in the face of overwhelming loss. Through meticulous attention to detail and a keen sense of empathy, Shibli creates a narrative that is deeply personal, a meditation on the enduring legacy of violence and the elusive nature of justice.
Shibli's prose is both lyrical and precise, drawing the reader into a world haunted by the ghosts of the past.
“Somewhere along the way I got into this, and it’s become a habit with me. One thing leads to another, leads to another. Things get better, they ge“Somewhere along the way I got into this, and it’s become a habit with me. One thing leads to another, leads to another. Things get better, they get worse. Then one day you’re all the way thrown out, before you ever knew it was that serious. And you might be crazy, and you might have a gun, but even then it’s usually no big deal.�
Cherry follows the life of a young man. Initially enrolled in college and dating a girl named Emily, he loses his direction and flunks out. He chooses another path and enlists in the Army as a medic. He and Emily continue their relationship with a hasty marriage. The horrors of Iraq hit him as well as the trials of keeping things straight with Emily and a return to civilian life and the GI Bill. The money allows him to re enroll in college, but also feeds an opioid and heroin habit.
Things with Emily grow frayed when she also becomes addicted and their daily lives revolve around the next fix. From college student to a PTSD-afflicted veteran who now robs banks to pay for his and his wife's drug addiction.
Semi autobiographical and written by an incarcerated veteran, Cherry is an unaffected and realistic look at life in both military and criminal circles. Some might find the writing a bit unpolished, but it's authentic and a fascinating story.
It’s a piece about addiction, PTSD, and a desperation for purpose. This novel can be described as a train wreck. One that you cannot pry your eyes away from. It’s told in episodic chapters that give you insight into this young man’s descent. The writing is a tad vulgar and graphic, but one can also describe it as raw and penetrating. If this strikes you as the type of book you might be interested in, I would encourage you to take a chance on it. It’s a quick read that will definitely stay with you.
“Very slowly he turned his head back to look at Shmuel, who wasn't crying anymore, merely staring at the floor and looking as if he was trying to c“Very slowly he turned his head back to look at Shmuel, who wasn't crying anymore, merely staring at the floor and looking as if he was trying to convince his soul not to live inside his tiny body anymore, but to slip away and sail to the door and rise up into the sky, gliding through the clouds until it was very far away.''
Nine year old Bruno has to leave his home in Berlin and move with his family to a place called Out-With for his father's new job. Bruno is terribly homesick and he starts to wonder about the sad people in striped pyjamas he can see on the other side of the fence. One day he decides to go exploring and he meets Shmuel, who is sitting near the fence separating the two sides. They start talking and eventually Bruno's homesickness dissapears as they become good friends with every passing day.
A story of childhood innocence caught in the unforgiving clutches of war, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas will make you brim with emotions with it's simple words, effortless humor and captivating narration. Although a work of fiction, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is so poignant because the backdrop of the story is real. The war and the holocaust are both real. This added a layer of darkness to the book. The story was made all the more touching because it was told from a child's perspective. A child who has no idea what's going on in the world around them, who makes friends with someone without thinking about their identity, religion or race.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is written in such a beautiful innocent way and it made me feel so many emotions. A wonderful piece of historical fiction.
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