“As each conflict has developed and eventually made way for the next, wave of migrants have followed in its wake ; the human make up of this country , this region is constantly changing , loyalties forever unfixed and those left behind whether Lebanese or Palestinian whether from Syria, Iraq, Libya or Yemen find themselves disconnected and dependent on whatever , whomever provides reprieve from this state of drifting. Is disposession exclusive to the poor and destitute or are we all in the same situation now?”
- Nada Anwar Jarrar, An Unsafe Haven.
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I actually enjoyed this book more than i thought i would be. This is solely because of goodreads rating doesnt look that promising. However, since i havent read anything that featured Lebanon as its setting, i decided to just jump into it. The book was set in multiple point of view of its characters specifically Hannah, Peter, Anas and Maysoun. I believe the intention of the author for this book is to demonstrate the ripple effect of War (The threat of Islamic States, Syrian War and even from Iraqi War and Illegal Occupation of Palestine) - how these wars affected the neighboring countries by bearing the influx of refugees seeking protection and ultimately, to highlight the plight of these dispossessed people. The pacing is slow but it is within the right context as readers might need time to fully comprehend the magnitude of civil unrest, The human displacement, and clashes of cultural values / Upbringing among these 4 characters. I would recommend it as i felt this book is meant to be contemplative - to put yourself in these people’s shoes and ponder the question “Would you do the same?”