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Benghazi
Benghazi is the story of Mariam Khaldoon, a Libyan teenager who is confronted with the stultifying power of patriarchy, embodied by an emotionally distant father, and the tyrannical rule of Italian Fascism, typified by Benito Mussolini, with whom she finds herself face to face during a moment that will leave her scarred for the rest of her life. Thanks to the mysterious revelations of a charismatic Tuareg woman, Mariam learns that the path toward healing lies in her capacity to distance herself from the dysfunctional adult environment around her and to find emotional sustenance in the powers of the imagination. The teenager’s inner quest for affective self-sustenance is a narrative of personal emancipation, but it is also a story with universal resonance—a gripping exploration of the many layers of incomprehension between fathers and daughters common to our patriarchal world.
- GenresFiction
115 pages, Hardcover
First published October 16, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 16, 2022
Pathos and emotional depth
The Michigan Quarterly quote on the book's back cover states that Salah el Moncef deals with the marks of history. Benghazi does indeed dissect the traumatic marks history leaves in the mind of a highly perspicacious girl, in a city, and in an entire region that readers don't typically associate with the atrocities of WWII. There is a lot of pathos and a lot of emotional depth revealed through Mariam, a precocious preteen who reveals so much about how the pathologies and dysfunctions of a patriarchal system go hand in hand with the pathologies and dysfunctions of fascism.
This book was a genuine revelation – both in form and in content.
The Michigan Quarterly quote on the book's back cover states that Salah el Moncef deals with the marks of history. Benghazi does indeed dissect the traumatic marks history leaves in the mind of a highly perspicacious girl, in a city, and in an entire region that readers don't typically associate with the atrocities of WWII. There is a lot of pathos and a lot of emotional depth revealed through Mariam, a precocious preteen who reveals so much about how the pathologies and dysfunctions of a patriarchal system go hand in hand with the pathologies and dysfunctions of fascism.
This book was a genuine revelation – both in form and in content.
November 15, 2022
Small but powerful
This is a small but powerful book. The Benghazi you will discover as you enter into Moncef's fictional creation is unlike anything you've read about this city. The vision of the author was so powerful, the story and its characters lingered in my mind long after I had finished reading it.
This is a small but powerful book. The Benghazi you will discover as you enter into Moncef's fictional creation is unlike anything you've read about this city. The vision of the author was so powerful, the story and its characters lingered in my mind long after I had finished reading it.
November 15, 2022
👀👀👀 An Eye-Opener 👀👀👀
There is a lot of shuttling back and forth between time periods in Salah el Moncef's Benghazi, but the author handles flashbacks in a well-structured manner, creating depth of experience and meaning. The result is a dazzling exploration operating on two levels: the inner psychological processes of a child struggling with the confusion of adults, and the workings of Italian fascism in a part of the world that we don't often associate with the atrocities of European totalitarianism. The prose is stunning (everybody is commenting about what a great wordsmith Moncef is, by the way). This is a refreshing eye-opener of a book. The events that preceded World War II depicted in Benghazi are unlike any portrayed in the books you read about that era. If you are looking for a completely fresh perspective on the events that led up to the bloodiest war in human history, you're going to love Benghazi. The point of view featured in this book – that of a Libyan teenager – is not only refreshing but also highly instructive. At last, a genuinely original World War II story!
There is a lot of shuttling back and forth between time periods in Salah el Moncef's Benghazi, but the author handles flashbacks in a well-structured manner, creating depth of experience and meaning. The result is a dazzling exploration operating on two levels: the inner psychological processes of a child struggling with the confusion of adults, and the workings of Italian fascism in a part of the world that we don't often associate with the atrocities of European totalitarianism. The prose is stunning (everybody is commenting about what a great wordsmith Moncef is, by the way). This is a refreshing eye-opener of a book. The events that preceded World War II depicted in Benghazi are unlike any portrayed in the books you read about that era. If you are looking for a completely fresh perspective on the events that led up to the bloodiest war in human history, you're going to love Benghazi. The point of view featured in this book – that of a Libyan teenager – is not only refreshing but also highly instructive. At last, a genuinely original World War II story!
November 20, 2022
Psychological literature at its best
I read Moncef's The Offering, and while the backdrop of Benghazi is World War II, this short novel is identical in its psychological depth and insight. The author has such an uncanny gift for depicting the most subtle nuances of human psychology, from the psychology of the masses to the psychology of precocious children. A must-read.
I read Moncef's The Offering, and while the backdrop of Benghazi is World War II, this short novel is identical in its psychological depth and insight. The author has such an uncanny gift for depicting the most subtle nuances of human psychology, from the psychology of the masses to the psychology of precocious children. A must-read.
November 22, 2022
In The Offering, Moncef puts the reader inside the claustrophobic inner world of an obsessed artist—with earth-shattering results. In Benghazi, we see the world through the eyes of a fortyish woman contemplating herself as a brilliant preteen, and the outcome is equally powerful. How does he manage to do it? This writer's capacity for identification with his characters is just supernatural.
Mariam may be relatively serene as she begins to tell her story, but the deeper you plunge into it with her, the more you lose yourself in the rage, resentment, and powerlessness of a child facing two forms of tyranny: fascism, and patriarchy. This is one of the greatest gifts of this amazing writer: he possesses that rare power to make you identify with his character to the point of completely losing yourself in his fictional world. As a result, you come out of his books dazed, altered, and … wiser.
Mariam may be relatively serene as she begins to tell her story, but the deeper you plunge into it with her, the more you lose yourself in the rage, resentment, and powerlessness of a child facing two forms of tyranny: fascism, and patriarchy. This is one of the greatest gifts of this amazing writer: he possesses that rare power to make you identify with his character to the point of completely losing yourself in his fictional world. As a result, you come out of his books dazed, altered, and … wiser.
November 17, 2022
An Arab woman writing herstory—at last
In Benghazi, Moncef revisits the history of WWII from the point of view of an Arab woman looking back on her past as a dissatisfied but highly gifted pretteen. There are many brilliantly constructed layers of critical reassessment of history in this book – and they are long overdue.
In Benghazi, Moncef revisits the history of WWII from the point of view of an Arab woman looking back on her past as a dissatisfied but highly gifted pretteen. There are many brilliantly constructed layers of critical reassessment of history in this book – and they are long overdue.
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December 13, 2022BENGHAZI by Salah El Moncef is a fictionalized version of Mussolini's fascist reign, told from the perspective of a young Libyan girl whose family is forever changed by the presence of this oppressive patriarchal rule.
Read the full review on Booktrib.com
Read the full review on Booktrib.com
November 19, 2022
Moncef's Benghazi is a classic
Benghazi is an enchanting little novel. Don't miss it—everything the critics are saying about is spot-on!
Benghazi is an enchanting little novel. Don't miss it—everything the critics are saying about is spot-on!
November 15, 2022
This novel is short but rich in ideas and gorgeous esthetic impressions. Compelling themes in El Moncef's Benghazi include the powerlessness of women (young and older) facing the repressive order of a male-dominated society. Here, we find many interesting (and shocking) similarities between Miriam's father and Mussolini! The author makes it dramatically clear that patriarchy and fascism are similar in that they are the enemies of women's freedom and fulfillment. Another theme is the manipulative power of fascism, brilliantly conveyed by the narrator when she describes the indoctrination in school, the feverish rallies, etc. A topical theme, for sure!
As far as the author's style is concerned, the prose is stunning, the descriptions so vivid they are like paintings in words. Also, he has this incredible gift for making his characters at once colorful, striking, and mysterious.
As far as the author's style is concerned, the prose is stunning, the descriptions so vivid they are like paintings in words. Also, he has this incredible gift for making his characters at once colorful, striking, and mysterious.
December 3, 2023
It’s a short but powerful read
Patriarchy being a thread to woman’s freedom is something everyone should read about
Patriarchy being a thread to woman’s freedom is something everyone should read about
December 31, 2023
This small book dwells into the depths of patriarchy.
Benghazi is a lybian girl. Her father's strict hand is upon her.
She has to live under fascism of Mussolini.
This book makes us look in another angle about the city.
The Italian phrases are good.
The setting is alien to me.
But i enjoyed the writing.
Benghazi is a lybian girl. Her father's strict hand is upon her.
She has to live under fascism of Mussolini.
This book makes us look in another angle about the city.
The Italian phrases are good.
The setting is alien to me.
But i enjoyed the writing.
November 22, 2022
Critique of fascism/patriarchy, virtuoso work of art
Set in Benghazi during the 1930s, Moncef's novella presents a brilliant account of the wave of totalitarianism that had swept over Europe shortly before the Second World War. The fact that those feverish days are depicted from the point of view of an Arab woman, Mariam Khaldoon, contemplating the tyranny of the Italian fascists in Libya makes Benghazi an exceptional work of fiction and a unique cultural document.
Combined with Mariam's account of the workings of fascism in Libya—the manipulation of the truth, the indoctrination of schoolchildren, the manipulation of the masses—her retrospective assessment of the authoritarian presence of her wealthy and powerful father in the family creates a set of subtle but powerfully evocative connections between the tyranny of fascism and the suffocating rule of patriarchy.
These are thematic connections that are brilliantly orchestrated by El Moncef in the novella and are, of course, as pressing as ever today. However, it is equally important to point out the aesthetic brilliance of Benghazi: as a virtuoso work of art the book is quite simply a tour de force.
Set in Benghazi during the 1930s, Moncef's novella presents a brilliant account of the wave of totalitarianism that had swept over Europe shortly before the Second World War. The fact that those feverish days are depicted from the point of view of an Arab woman, Mariam Khaldoon, contemplating the tyranny of the Italian fascists in Libya makes Benghazi an exceptional work of fiction and a unique cultural document.
Combined with Mariam's account of the workings of fascism in Libya—the manipulation of the truth, the indoctrination of schoolchildren, the manipulation of the masses—her retrospective assessment of the authoritarian presence of her wealthy and powerful father in the family creates a set of subtle but powerfully evocative connections between the tyranny of fascism and the suffocating rule of patriarchy.
These are thematic connections that are brilliantly orchestrated by El Moncef in the novella and are, of course, as pressing as ever today. However, it is equally important to point out the aesthetic brilliance of Benghazi: as a virtuoso work of art the book is quite simply a tour de force.
November 21, 2022
A haunting portrait of childhood, an incisive dissection of fascism
A haunting portrait of an exceptionally gifted, insightful child who finds herself confronted with Italian fascism and the injustice of patriarchy. What a journey!
A haunting portrait of an exceptionally gifted, insightful child who finds herself confronted with Italian fascism and the injustice of patriarchy. What a journey!
December 5, 2023
Esta es la historia de Mariam una mujer que vive en Benghazi bajo un régimen donde el patriarcado domina con fuerza y es una lucha constante contra el orden represivo mientras el mundo comienza a vislumbrar los inicios de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Este libro nos trae una nueva perspectiva de esta época y lo que se vivía en esta ciudad, la historia nos muestra dos facetas de la protagonista, la actualidad que vive y su niñez y adolescencia manejando los cambios de tiempo de una gran manera por lo que te sumerges en ambos tiempos sin problema ademas de tocar temas difíciles como es crecer en una sociedad donde el patriarcado es tan fuerte, donde hay adoctrinamiento desde niños y el fascismo sin duda domina la escena, todos estos temas ademas de los inicios de una guerra enorme son muy bien manejados en este libro y sin duda desde una perspectiva que no me había topado nunca antes lo que lo hace mucho mas interesante:
Los personajes son profundos, bien estructurados y complejos dando mayor fuerza a la historia combinada con las grandes descripciones del autor logrando que sientas que estas en cada lugar al que acompañas a la protagonista.
Sin duda un libro muy interesante con una protagonista fuerte con un gran desarrollo y un tema histórico visto desde lugares que poco se mencionan pero que sin duda es importante para recordar como puede afectar este tipo de situaciones hasta las ciudades mas lejanas.
Agradezco mucho a Booktasters y al autor por el envío digital del libro para esta colaboración.
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This is the story of Mariam, a woman who lives in Benghazi under a regime where patriarchy strongly dominates and is a constant fight against the repressive order while the world begins to glimpse the beginnings of the Second World War.
This book brings us a new perspective of this time and what was experienced in this city, the story shows us two facets of the protagonist, the current situation she lives in and her childhood and adolescence, managing the changes of time in a great way, so You immerse yourself in both times without a problem, in addition to touching on difficult topics such as growing up in a society where patriarchy is so strong, where there is indoctrination since childhood and fascism undoubtedly dominates the scene, all these topics in addition to the beginnings of a huge war. They are very well handled in this book and certainly from a perspective that I had never encountered before, which makes it much more interesting.
The characters are deep, well structured and complex, giving greater strength to the story combined with the author's great descriptions, making you feel that you are in every place you accompany the protagonist.
Without a doubt a very interesting book with a strong protagonist with great development and a historical theme seen from places that are rarely mentioned but that is undoubtedly important to remember how this type of situation can affect even the most distant cities.
I am very grateful to Booktasters and the author for digitally submitting the book for this collaboration.
Este libro nos trae una nueva perspectiva de esta época y lo que se vivía en esta ciudad, la historia nos muestra dos facetas de la protagonista, la actualidad que vive y su niñez y adolescencia manejando los cambios de tiempo de una gran manera por lo que te sumerges en ambos tiempos sin problema ademas de tocar temas difíciles como es crecer en una sociedad donde el patriarcado es tan fuerte, donde hay adoctrinamiento desde niños y el fascismo sin duda domina la escena, todos estos temas ademas de los inicios de una guerra enorme son muy bien manejados en este libro y sin duda desde una perspectiva que no me había topado nunca antes lo que lo hace mucho mas interesante:
Los personajes son profundos, bien estructurados y complejos dando mayor fuerza a la historia combinada con las grandes descripciones del autor logrando que sientas que estas en cada lugar al que acompañas a la protagonista.
Sin duda un libro muy interesante con una protagonista fuerte con un gran desarrollo y un tema histórico visto desde lugares que poco se mencionan pero que sin duda es importante para recordar como puede afectar este tipo de situaciones hasta las ciudades mas lejanas.
Agradezco mucho a Booktasters y al autor por el envío digital del libro para esta colaboración.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the story of Mariam, a woman who lives in Benghazi under a regime where patriarchy strongly dominates and is a constant fight against the repressive order while the world begins to glimpse the beginnings of the Second World War.
This book brings us a new perspective of this time and what was experienced in this city, the story shows us two facets of the protagonist, the current situation she lives in and her childhood and adolescence, managing the changes of time in a great way, so You immerse yourself in both times without a problem, in addition to touching on difficult topics such as growing up in a society where patriarchy is so strong, where there is indoctrination since childhood and fascism undoubtedly dominates the scene, all these topics in addition to the beginnings of a huge war. They are very well handled in this book and certainly from a perspective that I had never encountered before, which makes it much more interesting.
The characters are deep, well structured and complex, giving greater strength to the story combined with the author's great descriptions, making you feel that you are in every place you accompany the protagonist.
Without a doubt a very interesting book with a strong protagonist with great development and a historical theme seen from places that are rarely mentioned but that is undoubtedly important to remember how this type of situation can affect even the most distant cities.
I am very grateful to Booktasters and the author for digitally submitting the book for this collaboration.
June 24, 2023
Benghazi, a novella written by Salah El Moncef, is a biographical glimpse of Miriam Khaldoon, a female teenager growing up in Benghazi, Libya, during the preliminaries to World War II. Miriam's family runs the Whale, an import/export business, and is one of the most successful in this Mediterranean port city, but experiences life changing difficulties with the invasion of fascist Italian dictator Mussolini in 1937. In this short book, a few events in the life of Miriam are recalled:
- in 1976, Miriam's husband Basil presents her with a fountain pen and a request to complete the book she started many years before
-as a teenager, Miriam was armed by brother Ali with guns and binoculars to fend off the fearsome fascists
-she was also accidentally hit in the mouth by her housekeeper's washboard, resulting in stitches,
but, based upon the family adherence to loyalty, Miriam claims that she fell on stairs
- Miriam is told her fortune by Markunda, who also presents Miriam a token safeguard
- students at the local Italian school, Miriam and sister Zaynad, present gifts to the visiting Mussolini
A careful reading of the long preface to this novella, written by a Professor Ruti of the University of Toronto of Newfoundland, is, in my opinion, essential to a more complete understanding of the book. Prof Ruti draws a contrast between two perceived dictators in Miriam's life. One is the invading fascist, Mussolini; the other is her businessman father, a member of the Sufi branch of Sunni Muslim, who believes that Muhammed has no successor and who "...seeks the pleasure of God by endeavoring to return to his original state of purity and natural disposition." Miriam's father hates the fascism of Mussolini, is dismayed at Miriam's mother's decision to place her into the Italian school, and, in Miriam's perception, gradually dies of heart attack due to his massive disappointment in his fellow Libyans' acceptance of the arrival of the foreign menace, Mussolini. Miriam only saw her father once a week, on the Muslim holy day of Friday, but even that minimal tradition ended in 1937. Mussolini, on the other hand, represents the arrival of loss of freedom, deportation of Jews, and ultimately entry into world war.
In the course of reading this short book, my mind turned briefly to Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn, as the device used by the author, that of seeing the world through the eyes of a child who does not fully comprehend but attaches his/her own meaning to events, is employed. In this case, though her character is nowhere near to being as developed as that by Twain, Miriam is Huck Finn.
- in 1976, Miriam's husband Basil presents her with a fountain pen and a request to complete the book she started many years before
-as a teenager, Miriam was armed by brother Ali with guns and binoculars to fend off the fearsome fascists
-she was also accidentally hit in the mouth by her housekeeper's washboard, resulting in stitches,
but, based upon the family adherence to loyalty, Miriam claims that she fell on stairs
- Miriam is told her fortune by Markunda, who also presents Miriam a token safeguard
- students at the local Italian school, Miriam and sister Zaynad, present gifts to the visiting Mussolini
A careful reading of the long preface to this novella, written by a Professor Ruti of the University of Toronto of Newfoundland, is, in my opinion, essential to a more complete understanding of the book. Prof Ruti draws a contrast between two perceived dictators in Miriam's life. One is the invading fascist, Mussolini; the other is her businessman father, a member of the Sufi branch of Sunni Muslim, who believes that Muhammed has no successor and who "...seeks the pleasure of God by endeavoring to return to his original state of purity and natural disposition." Miriam's father hates the fascism of Mussolini, is dismayed at Miriam's mother's decision to place her into the Italian school, and, in Miriam's perception, gradually dies of heart attack due to his massive disappointment in his fellow Libyans' acceptance of the arrival of the foreign menace, Mussolini. Miriam only saw her father once a week, on the Muslim holy day of Friday, but even that minimal tradition ended in 1937. Mussolini, on the other hand, represents the arrival of loss of freedom, deportation of Jews, and ultimately entry into world war.
In the course of reading this short book, my mind turned briefly to Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn, as the device used by the author, that of seeing the world through the eyes of a child who does not fully comprehend but attaches his/her own meaning to events, is employed. In this case, though her character is nowhere near to being as developed as that by Twain, Miriam is Huck Finn.
February 13, 2024
"Benghazi" by Salah El Moncef is a gripping exploration of Mariam Khaldoon's tumultuous journey through a landscape shaped by power, politics, and personal struggle. Set against the backdrop of Libya's turbulent history, Mariam is thrust into a maelstrom of emotional upheaval, grappling with the formidable influence of her father and the oppressive regime of Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italy.
At the heart of the narrative lies Mariam's poignant struggle for agency and self-discovery amidst the suffocating grip of patriarchal authority and foreign domination. El Moncef skillfully portrays Mariam as a highly perceptive and resilient protagonist, navigating the complexities of her inner world while confronting the external forces that seek to define her fate.
The author's masterful storytelling weaves a tapestry of emotional depth and societal commentary, capturing the essence of Mariam's quest for identity in a world rife with indifference and adversity. Through Mariam's eyes, readers are transported into a realm where innocence collides with harsh reality, where the pursuit of autonomy is fraught with sacrifice and self-doubt.
"Benghazi" emerges as a testament to El Moncef's remarkable imagination and narrative prowess, offering readers an immersive and thought-provoking exploration of human resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. As Mariam navigates the intricate web of familial duty and political intrigue, her journey becomes a universal testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth and redemption.
In conclusion, this book stands as an eloquent testament to the power of storytelling, inviting readers to embark on an unforgettable odyssey through the depths of the human experience. Through its vivid characters and evocative prose, El Moncef's novel resonates as a timeless exploration of love, loss, and the enduring quest for self-discovery amidst the tumult of history.
At the heart of the narrative lies Mariam's poignant struggle for agency and self-discovery amidst the suffocating grip of patriarchal authority and foreign domination. El Moncef skillfully portrays Mariam as a highly perceptive and resilient protagonist, navigating the complexities of her inner world while confronting the external forces that seek to define her fate.
The author's masterful storytelling weaves a tapestry of emotional depth and societal commentary, capturing the essence of Mariam's quest for identity in a world rife with indifference and adversity. Through Mariam's eyes, readers are transported into a realm where innocence collides with harsh reality, where the pursuit of autonomy is fraught with sacrifice and self-doubt.
"Benghazi" emerges as a testament to El Moncef's remarkable imagination and narrative prowess, offering readers an immersive and thought-provoking exploration of human resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. As Mariam navigates the intricate web of familial duty and political intrigue, her journey becomes a universal testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth and redemption.
In conclusion, this book stands as an eloquent testament to the power of storytelling, inviting readers to embark on an unforgettable odyssey through the depths of the human experience. Through its vivid characters and evocative prose, El Moncef's novel resonates as a timeless exploration of love, loss, and the enduring quest for self-discovery amidst the tumult of history.
June 12, 2025
Salah el Moncef's "Benghazi" opens with an intriguing framing device that immediately draws readers into a story within a story. Set in 1976 Bloomington, we meet a unnamed narrator encouraged by her devoted husband Basil to complete her memoir about "that other spring" and the tumultuous years leading up to it. The opening chapter masterfully establishes an atmosphere of literary intimacy, with elegant prose that captures both the tender dynamics between the couple and the weight of untold history waiting to be revealed.
El Moncef's writing is sophisticated and atmospheric, reminiscent of literary fiction that takes its time to build mood and character. The author skillfully uses small details—the Sacher torte, the Parker fountain pen gift, the reference to Samantha Eggar—to create a vivid sense of time and place. While this opening chapter is more setup than action, it promises a deeply personal exploration of memory, trauma, and the courage required to confront difficult truths. The layered narrative structure suggests a complex work that will weave together past and present, personal and political. For readers who appreciate literary fiction with historical depth and emotional complexity, "Benghazi" appears to offer a compelling journey into one woman's reckoning with her past.
El Moncef's writing is sophisticated and atmospheric, reminiscent of literary fiction that takes its time to build mood and character. The author skillfully uses small details—the Sacher torte, the Parker fountain pen gift, the reference to Samantha Eggar—to create a vivid sense of time and place. While this opening chapter is more setup than action, it promises a deeply personal exploration of memory, trauma, and the courage required to confront difficult truths. The layered narrative structure suggests a complex work that will weave together past and present, personal and political. For readers who appreciate literary fiction with historical depth and emotional complexity, "Benghazi" appears to offer a compelling journey into one woman's reckoning with her past.
August 14, 2023
Benghazi written by Salah El Moncef is a fantastic historical novel and
wonderful to read.
The book is beautifully written and evocatively captures the sights, sounds,
and smells of Benghazi during this time. El Moncef does an excellent job
of bringing the characters to life, and the main character Mariam Khaldoon
is a particularly memorable and sympathetic protagonist.
A few thoughts on this book:
* The characters are well-developed and believable
* The book offers a unique perspective
* Benghazi is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with you
long after you finish reading it.
Therefore, I recommend the book highly for everyone who is interested in
history and who wants to read a fantastic novel!
Without any doubts I give a 5 star rating!
wonderful to read.
The book is beautifully written and evocatively captures the sights, sounds,
and smells of Benghazi during this time. El Moncef does an excellent job
of bringing the characters to life, and the main character Mariam Khaldoon
is a particularly memorable and sympathetic protagonist.
A few thoughts on this book:
* The characters are well-developed and believable
* The book offers a unique perspective
* Benghazi is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with you
long after you finish reading it.
Therefore, I recommend the book highly for everyone who is interested in
history and who wants to read a fantastic novel!
Without any doubts I give a 5 star rating!
October 30, 2023
The author has beautifully woven the story of a blooming strong young girl into the historical background. It was enticing to read about incidents and how it would take a course of action in those times simply because a lot of injustice and things happened back then. The overlap of a fictional world with real life events that took place during that period is seamless. What could have been better is more depth in emotions (other than fear or sadness) when characters interact with each other. At some places while the text could describe what happened, I couldn't connect to the characters as it felt it was very superficial interaction.
April 10, 2023
This book was INCREDIBLY articulate and well written. I love the plot and I think the message it’s sending is so important and not spoken about enough. I adore Miriam’s character and think she is written with much talent and skill— she’s definitely someone to look up to with her bravery and strength.
The plot was a little slow/hard to follow at times but overall I think this was a very moving book. It was infused with courage and a sense of injustice and I love it. A very quick yet devastatingly influencing read.
The plot was a little slow/hard to follow at times but overall I think this was a very moving book. It was infused with courage and a sense of injustice and I love it. A very quick yet devastatingly influencing read.
July 13, 2023
Delightful novella by a truly gifted writer. The story of a young Benghazian woman during the 1930’s is told with sensitivity for the culture of her day. The author’s descriptions of the various scenes and characters were so detailed I felt I was there. The first 1/4 of the book was called a “prologue “ but was actually a book review. I recommend reading the book itself first
April 27, 2025
This book tells the story of Mariam, a Libyan teenager struggling against patriarchal power and tyranny. She finds solace in her imagination and learns to distance herself from her dysfunctional environment, embarking on a journey of personal emancipation.
It was surprisingly good, though I think the description is not aligned with the book properly. The story is quite simple to read, understand and relate to. The writing style was satisfactory.
However, I think the story’s beauty lies in its simplicity, I mean there are not crazy plot twists hitting your face on every single page, but the story is pretty simple and that’s where the beauty lies, I suppose.
Overall, a decent read!
Thanks to @Booktasters for sending the ebook in exchange for an honest review!
It was surprisingly good, though I think the description is not aligned with the book properly. The story is quite simple to read, understand and relate to. The writing style was satisfactory.
However, I think the story’s beauty lies in its simplicity, I mean there are not crazy plot twists hitting your face on every single page, but the story is pretty simple and that’s where the beauty lies, I suppose.
Overall, a decent read!
Thanks to @Booktasters for sending the ebook in exchange for an honest review!
March 20, 2023
This was a novella, so it was a short read, but very beautifully written. I was interested in the historical and political context, and I was interested in the protagonist and what she had to tell the reader. It was a thought-provoking and interesting read.
November 18, 2023
This was a short read but full of detail and emotion. I liked it very much; it's beautifully written. Mariam's a teenager dealing with the adult world around her, struggling to understand it all. War and political views may seem like too much for a girl who just wants to do well and be a good daughter. Yet, it is through her point of view that you, the reader, realize she is probably the only person who has a handle on life. She sees everything and through everyone with childlike wonder. Her father, her mother, her teachers, and all the adults around her are oblivious to the fact that she is just as much affected by her environment than they give her credit for. I enjoyed this very much and would recommend it. It is best suited for readers 13 years old and older.
November 27, 2022
This book is a page-turner. So, interesting that I read it all in 48 hours.
While our extended family gradually found peace—eventually coming to terms with the horror of his untimely death—the five of us were left with the lingering ache of his absence, which was, in many ways, far more terrible than the manner of his departure. I never really thought of an alternative to how he was—the way things were in those days for a father and his daughter—. Still, it would be dishonest to say that those Friday glimpses of Father had never left me with a nameless sense of incompletion or even emptiness. It was always as if the entire experience had a specific power—independent of either of us—to make me feel helpless and small before this one irrepressible realization: the wordless awareness that although our Friday hour was so dearly desired, there was something about the space in which it took place that I found impossible to accept—a physical force, maybe, that invested the whole room with a primal power of impinging meant entirely detached from his personal beliefs or volition; a mute, relentless agency acting like a harsh and hostile environment fraught with fundamental properties that were fundamentally toxic for both of us, as alien and unnatural to both our beings as the deep sea is to the novice diver. The political twist is exciting to read.
While our extended family gradually found peace—eventually coming to terms with the horror of his untimely death—the five of us were left with the lingering ache of his absence, which was, in many ways, far more terrible than the manner of his departure. I never really thought of an alternative to how he was—the way things were in those days for a father and his daughter—. Still, it would be dishonest to say that those Friday glimpses of Father had never left me with a nameless sense of incompletion or even emptiness. It was always as if the entire experience had a specific power—independent of either of us—to make me feel helpless and small before this one irrepressible realization: the wordless awareness that although our Friday hour was so dearly desired, there was something about the space in which it took place that I found impossible to accept—a physical force, maybe, that invested the whole room with a primal power of impinging meant entirely detached from his personal beliefs or volition; a mute, relentless agency acting like a harsh and hostile environment fraught with fundamental properties that were fundamentally toxic for both of us, as alien and unnatural to both our beings as the deep sea is to the novice diver. The political twist is exciting to read.
March 26, 2023
This was a novella, so it was a short read, but very beautifully written. I was interested in the historical and political context, and I was interested in the protagonist and what she had to tell the reader. It was a thought-provoking and interesting read.
December 13, 2022
This was written beautifully but it lacked a spark making it a snore to read.
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