Customer Reviews

Miral: A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I just finished reading this book and I want to say I found it amazing! Having just visited Palestine this past summer, last time I was there was 1976, I known where every part of this book takes place. Rula does such a great job bringing alive the colors, smells and landscape of the country. I eyewitnessed myself and my 18 year old son, the hardship of occupation but the unrelating hope that both sides have for peace. In Ramallah there is contact bustle from shop owner and their customers. Especially coming from America and knowing the freedom to be able to travel anywhere in the 50 states without carrying passports or official documents, i couldn't help but be sad for those kicked off the bus just because they were Palestinian. But they were content and went back to there homes. In Jersulem, although separated I witnessed Isreali and Palestinian walking and working together. It is a hard life for both peoples but especially the Palestinian people. That being said there is always a glimmer of hope for peace! Rula does such a great writing this book and her story is so amazing for her to have accomplished this much. I would recommend this book to everyone. It gives you such a great sense of hope for one day peace in the region!

Surprisingly, I learned about this book on the late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon. I purchased it the day I received my Kindle for Christmas (First book I read on the ebook reader!). Jebreal is a talented author with the ability to hook readers. Most surprisingly, I have learned a significant amount about the historical context of the story. Not a product plug, but... It helped reading with the Kindle as the dictionary would explain some cultural references. Enjoy! And thank you Jimmy Fallon!

Charlie Rose in his inimitable choice of guests on his show gave the public a chance to meet Rula Jabreal. It didn't take a minute after the show for me to run to my computer and push the Amazon.com quick order button to get her book. Although Rula calls her book a novel - it is based on a true story and she writes in a journalistic rather than literary style - at first reading a little confusing.
There are statements in the book one wants to underline! It gives a heart-rendering account not only of the harsh political background but the experience of suffering political choices can,have and always will create. The further away from the first reading the more impact the content has on you - it warrants a second reading. One feels the true cry for the world in general to pursue Peace as a first priority. One word of warning: Don't see the film without having read the book! The film is good as augmentation.

This book is amazing! I had to read it for a sociology class and it really opens your eyes to a different perspective to the Israel/Palestinian conflict. A really good book and a fast read.

I first became aware of this book because at a movie theater a preview/trailer was shown about the movie based on the book---and the movie was never, ever, shown. Mmmmmm. I wonder why.

Anyway, I bought the book and was delighted to see that the Palestinian side of the Middle East fiasco is presented, albeit in a fictional form (for a nonfictional book, read Palestine Inside Out. After decades and decades of having Zionist propaganda shoved down our collective throats here in the States---not to mention having to sit through endless Holocaust films from Hollywood---it was refreshing to see things from the other point of view. The endless indignities and humiliations and atrocities that Palestinians have to endure are seen through the eyes of the various women in the book and the way that they cope.

Living in the United States I rarely get an unbiased account of life in the middle east. This book helps change that.

This is a very interesting story. The perspective is different from what we usually hear -- and it is well-written, making it easy to read.

I came across this book by accident, trying to find the kind of book I am interested in, anything International Affairs, in particularly the Palestinian conflict.

Miral presents a strong historical references, including Deir Yassin, which helps the readers to understand the depth and brutality of the situation in Palestine. It also gives it a unique perspective through not only lives of different women at first, but of women, and of students, and how people from every demographic got involved politically, and how the politics really changed everything, from the Balfour Declaration 9132 on.

This is one of the favorite books I ever read, reading The Iron Cage: A Palestinian Struggle for Statehood, which is more of an academic then reading Miral, Miral brings the issues to life for people who do not know that much about the conflict, and it helps them to understand how it affected everyone.

I picked this book up out of the blue, never having heard of it. It sounded interesting from the blurbs. I really enjoy reading books that are set in different cultures. Unfortunately I found this book really boring. I gave up after several chapters.

It wasn't necessarily the story line that was boring, but definitely the writing. It was all short simple sentences. It reminded me of a history book for grade school or middle school students that is trying to personalize history but still recites everything in a methodical factual way. No matter what was happening in the story, the writing was still "she sat on the table" "her stepfather climbed into bed with her" "the children were dirty and ragged." Six years of child abuse are wrapped up in a few paragraphs.

Nadia leaves home and makes a pretty good life for herself until a good man wants to marry her. She runs away in the middle of the night. "Once in a while, she felt a bit of nostalgia for Yossi and his kind manner, but she quickly forgot about him." That's it. On to a description of a reunion with her sister that she hasn't seen since she left home years ago. There is no description at all of Nadia's emotions during all these years completely separated from her family, her home, and her sisters who she left living with a child abuser.

This book just comes across as a recitation of facts. She went here, she did that, then that happened. I like books that suck me in and usually I'm completely unaware of the writer's style.

I noticed the reviewer Robi says the last half of the book is better but doesn't make it sound good enough for me to plod onward. I'm not trying to fill time, I have to squeeze in time for reading.

I could read the New York Times everyday and still never get the inside,
the real, the authentic story of the history of the Palestinian people.
It took this work of "fiction" to document the history and the tragedy.
Yes, I knew about the British Mandate and Zionism etc. yet the focus was
always on the aggressive acts of the Palestinians instead of on the
aggressive acts they were and are constantly subjected to. I
never really understood the sadness and the rage until I read this book.
It is a work of literary merit and the characters are unforgettable. The
author's struggles only made her as strong as she is beautiful. This
book will open your eyes as well as your heart.