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A review by melcanread
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
We follow two stories in this book, the first from the perspective of an Israeli Offence Officer one year after the Nakba, the second from the perspective of a Palestinian woman who finds herself obsessed with the story.
From a social standpoint, this book is a must read for anyone curious about the Palestine/Israel conflict, and Israeli oppression since the beginning in the 1940s.
Shibli's writing is left vague for, what I believe to be, political reasons. No characters are given names, you're never really told anyone's personalities. It's a very literal dictation of events as they've played out, as though Shibli was really trying to get across to you that this is a real story for some Palestinian who has suffered at the hands of the Israeli forces. This is everyone's story, not just the characters. She was also very thorough in making the reader realise that the Israeli soldiers are not supposed to be there, and that they are suffering just by being there. The soldier's POV, on numerous occassions, focusses on how he needs to sleep and get rest, how he's been bitten by insects, how he sweats and suffers in the extreme heat because his European body isn't used to such weather. His plight is emphasised over and over again, a constant reminder of his occupation and offensive nature.
The way that Palestinians are treated in this book is awful, and it's even worse when you remember that this is still very much a problem to this day. The modern aspect coming in during the second chapter and letting you know that this conflict never ended, that Palestinians are still treated like animals within their own homes, and are monitored all the time. The way that the female Palestinian at the beginning, and the female Palestinian at the end are treated throughout the novel is nothing short of barbaric, and it makes the reader stop, think, and take stock of their uncomfortability, especially if they are white. If you are white, you should read this.
Overall, this book is worthy of the 5 star review because it was engaging, sickening, and really showcased the talent of Shibli while also serving as an important educational tool told through fiction. I highly recommend everyone pick this book up - but be warned, there are many triggers.
From a social standpoint, this book is a must read for anyone curious about the Palestine/Israel conflict, and Israeli oppression since the beginning in the 1940s.
Shibli's writing is left vague for, what I believe to be, political reasons. No characters are given names, you're never really told anyone's personalities. It's a very literal dictation of events as they've played out, as though Shibli was really trying to get across to you that this is a real story for some Palestinian who has suffered at the hands of the Israeli forces. This is everyone's story, not just the characters. She was also very thorough in making the reader realise that the Israeli soldiers are not supposed to be there, and that they are suffering just by being there. The soldier's POV, on numerous occassions, focusses on how he needs to sleep and get rest, how he's been bitten by insects, how he sweats and suffers in the extreme heat because his European body isn't used to such weather. His plight is emphasised over and over again, a constant reminder of his occupation and offensive nature.
The way that Palestinians are treated in this book is awful, and it's even worse when you remember that this is still very much a problem to this day. The modern aspect coming in during the second chapter and letting you know that this conflict never ended, that Palestinians are still treated like animals within their own homes, and are monitored all the time. The way that the female Palestinian at the beginning, and the female Palestinian at the end are treated throughout the novel is nothing short of barbaric, and it makes the reader stop, think, and take stock of their uncomfortability, especially if they are white. If you are white, you should read this.
Overall, this book is worthy of the 5 star review because it was engaging, sickening, and really showcased the talent of Shibli while also serving as an important educational tool told through fiction. I highly recommend everyone pick this book up - but be warned, there are many triggers.