Dreaming of Palestine
by Randa Ghazy

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Book Reviews of Dreaming of Palestine

Book Review: This books deserves more attention
Summary: 5 Stars

Heavy-handed it's not. Ghazy's stream of consciousness prose woven through the narrative (translated from the Italian by Marguerite Shore) is at first distracting, then mesmerizing. As I began to grasp the reality of the characters' lives, I realized their story couldn't be told any other way. Violence, destruction, and grief don't happen in ordered, logical sentences, with proper structure and format. The story follows the intersections of the lives of eight young Palestinians-Ibrahim, Nedal, Riham, Mohammed, Ramy, Gihad, Ahmed, and Ualid. Religion is not the common denominator that draws them together, since one of them is Christian. Instead they share the common experience of having lost family members at the hands of Israeli soldiers. Generations of war have destroyed their families and their heritage. They have every reason to be terrorists, but they are not. They strive-not always successfully-to live lives committed to non-violence and peace. Throughout the novel, the recurring theme of achieving non-violence one person at a time resonates.

Manipulative it's not. The seven men and one woman are like orphans in search of a family. This desire for family, to live among human beings who care for each other, is what binds them together. They cope with the unpredictable violence from the Israeli occupation forces by living together and helping each other create some sense of normalcy in their lives. Their bonds of friendship and love for each other give hope and meaning to their lives, under utterly hopeless circumstances. Politics and war represent disruption and devastation in their lives, not the force that drives them.

This novel is well written. I could easily dismiss that statement by adding: for a 15-year old. But that's not the case. Each character is so uniquely drawn I couldn't help but wonder if they are based on actual people. Ghazy shows a keen understanding of the lives of young adults, their dreams, fears, and the everyday struggles unique to that stage of life that seems far beyond her years. In contrasting these essences of normal life with the horror of neverending war, she displays real sophistication as a writer.

I believe "Dreaming of Palestine" is an important novel. It's not so much about religion or politics as it is about how war destroys young lives. It should be required reading for all young adults because they are the ones who will ultimately deal with the tragic inheritance of this conflict, and the trauma that will endure well into the future.

Summary of Dreaming of Palestine

Dreaming of Palestine is a work of astonishing insight that takes us into the hearts and lives of a group of young people caught up in the Palestinian drive for independence.

Writing in a passionate blend of poetry and prose, fifteen-year-old first-time novelist Randa Ghazy creates a convincing portrait of a group of friends who have grown up surrounded by fighting and know no world other than one with war or at least the threat of it. With eloquence and sensitivity, Ghazy creates a portrait of life in the Middle East that alternates the horrors of living amid war with the experiences of life-altering friendships, growing-up, falling in love, and dreaming of the future. Ibrahim, Nedal, Ramy, Mohammad, Ahmed, Gihad, Riham, and Uilad are characters with whom we can identify, even as they are experiencing the unimaginable.

Imagining the day-to-day experience of the Arab-Israeli conflict from a Palestinian perspective, Ghazy presents us with a world in which misery, frustration, and a sense of duty are ever-present, but in which hope continues to exist. Refusing to mince words, the book includes occasional passages of harsh language and depicts grim events that are meant to express the sentiments and realities of a population that the author believes to be underrepresented. By boldly depicting a sometimes shocking reality, Dreaming of Palestine underscores the importance of balancing thought with feeling, and loyalty with sympathy, making it clear that support for Israel and support for Palestine are not mutually exclusive.

Dreaming of Palestine bravely addresses a field of issues and feelings into which many writers would not even venture, and it comes at a time when maintaining freedom of speech is especially important. A novel that demands reflection, the book gives voice to the voiceless, while offering itself as a launching pad for dialogue and debate. With the confidence and eloquence of a mature novelist, the young Ghazy offers a story that might astonish readers with its intensity, but offers hope.

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