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Amour, sexe et Terre promise - Reportage en Israël et Palestine
Raconter le conflit depuis la chambre à coucher.
Entamée en 2018, cette enquête intime donne la parole à seize témoins, hommes et femmes, palestiniens et israéliens, arabes et juifs, qui racontent comment la guerre et la religion s'insinuent dans leur vie amoureuse et sexuelle. Une vie codifiée, contrainte, blessée : l'amour sous le joug de la géopolitique.
Avec délicatesse et sans tabou, cette BD éclaire d'un jour inédit un conflit qui dure depuis des décennies.
Entamée en 2018, cette enquête intime donne la parole à seize témoins, hommes et femmes, palestiniens et israéliens, arabes et juifs, qui racontent comment la guerre et la religion s'insinuent dans leur vie amoureuse et sexuelle. Une vie codifiée, contrainte, blessée : l'amour sous le joug de la géopolitique.
Avec délicatesse et sans tabou, cette BD éclaire d'un jour inédit un conflit qui dure depuis des décennies.
149 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I was very happy to see the note included on this book having been written before October 7, as it adds some more important context to the stories. The fact that the interviewees were also given space to express their feelings about Oct 7 and the aftermath was also appreciated, as it changed how some of them felt more generally about the topic of the book.
With (and honestly, also without) that context, this collection of stories gives much appreciated insight into the everyday experiences of love and lust in Israel and Palestine and among Israelis and Palestinians (and those who love them). It is easy to forget, especially in the case of Palestinians, that everyday life happens despite the occupation, and I appreciated the nuance these stories included about the occupation on one hand and Hamas and living in Palestine as a Muslim on the other, as well as the ways in which these two clash. What I also appreciated was the inclusion of bureaucratic hurdles such as the armed crossings into Palestinian territories, and the awareness that the author was quite privileged with her passport, compared to the average Palestinian.
Generally, these stories included a variety of experiences with love and lust, including same-sex and nonsexual experiences, and a variety of ages. The art style was nice and fit the general vibe of the stories well, and this graphic novel was pleasant to read and really opened my eyes to new perspectives and experiences. Definitely recommend, especially after October 7, but also more generally to introduce a facet of everyday life in Israel and Palestine.
I was very happy to see the note included on this book having been written before October 7, as it adds some more important context to the stories. The fact that the interviewees were also given space to express their feelings about Oct 7 and the aftermath was also appreciated, as it changed how some of them felt more generally about the topic of the book.
With (and honestly, also without) that context, this collection of stories gives much appreciated insight into the everyday experiences of love and lust in Israel and Palestine and among Israelis and Palestinians (and those who love them). It is easy to forget, especially in the case of Palestinians, that everyday life happens despite the occupation, and I appreciated the nuance these stories included about the occupation on one hand and Hamas and living in Palestine as a Muslim on the other, as well as the ways in which these two clash. What I also appreciated was the inclusion of bureaucratic hurdles such as the armed crossings into Palestinian territories, and the awareness that the author was quite privileged with her passport, compared to the average Palestinian.
Generally, these stories included a variety of experiences with love and lust, including same-sex and nonsexual experiences, and a variety of ages. The art style was nice and fit the general vibe of the stories well, and this graphic novel was pleasant to read and really opened my eyes to new perspectives and experiences. Definitely recommend, especially after October 7, but also more generally to introduce a facet of everyday life in Israel and Palestine.
May 24, 2024
Excellent reportage graphique sur la société israelo-palestinienne à travers les différents types de relations intimes ou familiales possibles. L'angle du reportage est très original et permet de mieux appréhender une société parfois ultra-religieuse parfois très ouverte sur certaines questions (co-parentalité/ inséminations) et ainsi de mieux saisir la dualité voire les contradictions des gens apportant une subtilité et une nuance que les textes politiques, géographiques ou historiques ne peuvent pas atteindre.
Cette BD prouve bien que la petite histoire permet parfois mieux de comprendre la grande.
Cette BD prouve bien que la petite histoire permet parfois mieux de comprendre la grande.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Memorable, illuminating. This is an example of how a graphic novel can elevate a topic and make it more accessible.
A French journalist visits people in Israel and Palestinian territories before Oct. 7, 2023, and asks them about their sexual relationships. Each is then illustrated in a vignette, often with interludes of the journalist trying to navigate the various checkpoints and bureaucratic hurdles to get to each interview.
At the beginning, there's some throat-clearing text about Oct. 7 that I skipped.
There are some interesting Israeli stories like of the orthodox Jewish female gynecologist who helps women understand their bodies because they've never been taught how things work and a middle-aged man who wants to have children but never found someone to marry so he has a kid with a woman who doesn't want to marry but wants a child, too. But it was the Palestinian stories that spoke most to me.
* A blonde, blue-eyed Palestinian woman who could not explore her sexuality with Palestinian men but had to endure constant casual racism with Jewish men if she wanted to be with them.
* The Palestinian feminist who campaigns against street harassment by Arab men while getting little support from Palestinian women who pretend it doesn't happen, although it's common, because to be a victim of harassment is to be dishonored.
* The Palestinian woman whose husband is in an Israeli jail; he masturbates into a candy wrapper, slips it to her through chainlink at visiting time, she rushes to a fertility clinic and gets impregnated. Every step must be witnessed to prove the woman didn't get pregnant by an affair.
* The gay Palestinian who will be killed if his homosexuality is revealed and meets men through online chats. One night, he meets a man who turns out to be a member of Hamas who blackmails him to give him money for not killing him as gay.
* The Palestinian lesbian dating an Israeli army intelligence officer.
At the end, the author contacts the various interview subjects to find out how things are going after Oct. 7. These short, one-paragraph entries are powerful.
Excellent artwork, too.
A French journalist visits people in Israel and Palestinian territories before Oct. 7, 2023, and asks them about their sexual relationships. Each is then illustrated in a vignette, often with interludes of the journalist trying to navigate the various checkpoints and bureaucratic hurdles to get to each interview.
At the beginning, there's some throat-clearing text about Oct. 7 that I skipped.
There are some interesting Israeli stories like of the orthodox Jewish female gynecologist who helps women understand their bodies because they've never been taught how things work and a middle-aged man who wants to have children but never found someone to marry so he has a kid with a woman who doesn't want to marry but wants a child, too. But it was the Palestinian stories that spoke most to me.
* A blonde, blue-eyed Palestinian woman who could not explore her sexuality with Palestinian men but had to endure constant casual racism with Jewish men if she wanted to be with them.
* The Palestinian feminist who campaigns against street harassment by Arab men while getting little support from Palestinian women who pretend it doesn't happen, although it's common, because to be a victim of harassment is to be dishonored.
* The Palestinian woman whose husband is in an Israeli jail; he masturbates into a candy wrapper, slips it to her through chainlink at visiting time, she rushes to a fertility clinic and gets impregnated. Every step must be witnessed to prove the woman didn't get pregnant by an affair.
* The gay Palestinian who will be killed if his homosexuality is revealed and meets men through online chats. One night, he meets a man who turns out to be a member of Hamas who blackmails him to give him money for not killing him as gay.
* The Palestinian lesbian dating an Israeli army intelligence officer.
At the end, the author contacts the various interview subjects to find out how things are going after Oct. 7. These short, one-paragraph entries are powerful.
Excellent artwork, too.
September 23, 2024
Super BD reportage sur le thème des effets du conflit israélo palestinien sur l’intimité, le sexe, l’amour, le lien filial. Un angle d’analyse extrêmement riche!
J’ai apprécié lire sur ce conflit en laissant, pour une fois, les humains qui le vivent se raconter eux mêmes. Je me suis toutefois demandé à quel point ces quelques histoires sont anecdotiques ou réellement répandues par dizaines, voire milliers.
J’ai adoré les illustrations. Les regards des personnages étaient si réussis. Les décors et paysages urbains magnifiques. Chapeau!
J’ai apprécié lire sur ce conflit en laissant, pour une fois, les humains qui le vivent se raconter eux mêmes. Je me suis toutefois demandé à quel point ces quelques histoires sont anecdotiques ou réellement répandues par dizaines, voire milliers.
J’ai adoré les illustrations. Les regards des personnages étaient si réussis. Les décors et paysages urbains magnifiques. Chapeau!
July 17, 2026
Thanks for the Publisher and Netgalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF ≈17%
I didn't feel comfortable with reading that.
For God's sake, reducing the conflict to matters of love, desire, and sex is by no means commendable. Even if you want to show another side of what is happening in Palestine, I don't think this is the right angle to tell.
DNF ≈17%
I didn't feel comfortable with reading that.
For God's sake, reducing the conflict to matters of love, desire, and sex is by no means commendable. Even if you want to show another side of what is happening in Palestine, I don't think this is the right angle to tell.
February 27, 2025
Un recueil de témoignages intelligent sans volonté de prendre parti, ce qui est fort louable. Un conflit inextricable vu du point de vue de l'amour, de la vie de couple. C'est un beau travail de journaliste
August 31, 2025
J’ai adoré!! Je trouve que c’est écrit avec beaucoup de nuance, les témoignages recueillis sont très touchants et j’ai beaucoup aimé les dessins.
Ça permet d’avoir une vision nouvelle des sociétés palestinienne et israélienne qu’on ne nous présente jamais dans les médias
Ça permet d’avoir une vision nouvelle des sociétés palestinienne et israélienne qu’on ne nous présente jamais dans les médias
October 7, 2024
Jamais, je crois, je n’aurai lu une BD aussi proche de l’actualité. Je la termine un jour avant le soulignement de la première année de la guerre israélo-palestinienne. Mieux comprendre comment la vie se fraie un chemin, malgré les conflits, les religions, les territoires, la haine… jamais voyeur, on entre pourtant dans l’intimité de plusieurs protagonistes et on touche à une vérité cachée. Une magnifique BD écrite savamment par Salomé Parent-Rachdi et dessiné magnifiquement, près du dessin de presse, mais avec un souci et une tendresse palpable , par Deloupy. À lire absolument.
Want to Read
November 29, 2025Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love and Desire in the Promised Land is a graphic memoir of the lives and loves between Palestinians and Jews in Israel and Gaza, and the conflicts and heartbreak that they share. It’s so prescient with everything happening in that region currently, and helps give the reader perspective, especially for those that don’t live in that region or understand the cultural diversity and challenges they face.
The graphic memoir is written as a series of interviews with real people, and touched on issues I had no idea about in the region such as challenges regarding fertility, marital and familial expectations and responsibilities.
I especially liked the interview with Palestinian American, Yasmeen. It was interesting to read about her line of clothing, with phrases such as, “Not your habibti”, and how she wants to empower women through their clothing.
This journalistic effort also covers parts of the Gaza conflict that I was unaware of, such as the discrimination that Palestinians constantly face. For example, at a checkpoint, the yellow Israeli plates can drive anywhere, but the green Palestinian plates are restricted from certain roads, etc.
The artwork and illustrations done by Zac Deloupy are beautiful and I loved the range of colors and medium used to create them. On some pages, there is an urban sketch feel, and the buildings and perspective are gorgeous. The color choices used on the people give them extra life as you read.
Thank you to Salomé Parent-Rachdi, Zac Deloupy, and Fantagraphics for this advanced reader copy of an amazing graphic novel.
The graphic memoir is written as a series of interviews with real people, and touched on issues I had no idea about in the region such as challenges regarding fertility, marital and familial expectations and responsibilities.
I especially liked the interview with Palestinian American, Yasmeen. It was interesting to read about her line of clothing, with phrases such as, “Not your habibti”, and how she wants to empower women through their clothing.
This journalistic effort also covers parts of the Gaza conflict that I was unaware of, such as the discrimination that Palestinians constantly face. For example, at a checkpoint, the yellow Israeli plates can drive anywhere, but the green Palestinian plates are restricted from certain roads, etc.
The artwork and illustrations done by Zac Deloupy are beautiful and I loved the range of colors and medium used to create them. On some pages, there is an urban sketch feel, and the buildings and perspective are gorgeous. The color choices used on the people give them extra life as you read.
Thank you to Salomé Parent-Rachdi, Zac Deloupy, and Fantagraphics for this advanced reader copy of an amazing graphic novel.
July 8, 2026
This is a beautiful, nuanced account of personal testimonies of the residents of the disputed territories of Israel/Palestine, navigating love and desire. It’s a great look at their daily lives, and their deeply dysfunctional existence in this police state (for all practical purposes). In the poignant foreword, the artists explain that they had finished inking this, on 6th October 2023. So it’s particularly heartbreaking to see their gorgeous full page panels of a vibrant, thriving Gaza, whose residents were making the best of a situation where all of them were crowded onto a tiny piece of land, making it one of the most densely populated parts of the planet. While the title might be about love and desire, it’s impossible in this part of the world, to separate the personal and the political, and it’s excellent that the actions of the intrusive State are not elided. This is a work of non-fiction reportage so the artists don’t take sides, but report on all aspects of the situation, leaving you to make up your mind. The testimonies chosen are quite diverse-the restrictions placed on some people from conceiving and how they get around those, stereotypes surrounding women, the complications of identity, the strange justifications religious people can make to themselves in their personal lives. Through these people’s daily lives, you also get a sense of how apartheid-adjacent the society and some parts seem. It leaves you haunted by the eventual fate of these people, and the ongoing conflict and devastation to lives.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Fantagraphics for the e-ARC.
Love and Desire in the Promised Land is a graphic nonfiction narrative featuring interviews with 12 Palestinian and Israeli individuals that all occurred prior to the events of October 7, 2023. The afterword includes statements from interviewees with their reflections on the ongoing conflict, which was especially poignant.
This is a uniquely nuanced look at how a longstanding geopolitical colonial project has manifested in the daily lives of those in Palestinian Territories and Israel. It quickly becomes very clear that the tension between religion and ethnic identities are felt in how people interact and build relationships. It is interesting to note that religious conservatism and shame based attitudes toward sex are predominant in these societies. There are interviews with mixed heritage couples with strong identity and political ties to both Palestine and Israel, which treat the armed elephant in the room (systemic militarized violence and constant surveillance) from different angles. Some prefer to take the “color blind” approach, while others detail why the relationships ultimately failed. It is a unique overview of how the Israel-Palestine conflict frames individuals’ means of building relationships. There is no overt framing of whether the geopolitical conflict is right or wrong, but it’s clear that it has had profound impacts of those in the region.
The artwork is incredible. The panels were filled with appropriately vivid details depending on the scenery and the dialogue, transitioning to more subdued color palettes and close up framing to lend weight to the interviewee’s responses. These subtle transitions communicate the requisite care given to each person’s story, allowing them to fully be in focus.
Love and Desire in the Promised Land is a graphic nonfiction narrative featuring interviews with 12 Palestinian and Israeli individuals that all occurred prior to the events of October 7, 2023. The afterword includes statements from interviewees with their reflections on the ongoing conflict, which was especially poignant.
This is a uniquely nuanced look at how a longstanding geopolitical colonial project has manifested in the daily lives of those in Palestinian Territories and Israel. It quickly becomes very clear that the tension between religion and ethnic identities are felt in how people interact and build relationships. It is interesting to note that religious conservatism and shame based attitudes toward sex are predominant in these societies. There are interviews with mixed heritage couples with strong identity and political ties to both Palestine and Israel, which treat the armed elephant in the room (systemic militarized violence and constant surveillance) from different angles. Some prefer to take the “color blind” approach, while others detail why the relationships ultimately failed. It is a unique overview of how the Israel-Palestine conflict frames individuals’ means of building relationships. There is no overt framing of whether the geopolitical conflict is right or wrong, but it’s clear that it has had profound impacts of those in the region.
The artwork is incredible. The panels were filled with appropriately vivid details depending on the scenery and the dialogue, transitioning to more subdued color palettes and close up framing to lend weight to the interviewee’s responses. These subtle transitions communicate the requisite care given to each person’s story, allowing them to fully be in focus.
June 21, 2026
Love and Desire in the Promised Land is a marvelous and important read for every Israeli, Palestinian, and human being. It's about the personal lives - specifically, romantic relationships - of people living in Israel and the Palestinian territories who were drawn against their will into the ongoing local conflict. The Author, Salomé, who was a Middle East affairs correspondent, collaborated with the illustrator Deloupy, and she treats every person she interviews as an individual in their own right rather than as a representative of an entire people - and that's how it should be.
In the graphic novel you can read (so far it's only been released in French and English) about the relationship of Israeli Arab-muslim TV Reporter Lucy Aharish and Israeli-Jewish Actor Tzachi Halevy, and also about the interracial, inter-faith marriage of the artist Zoya Cherkassky, but also about lesser-known people - Jean, the traditional French-Israeli who had a daughter through co-parenting; an anonymous gay Palestinian man who fears both Hamas and life in Israel; and Avi, the ex-Haredi man trying to navigate the secular world and find love that will accept him as he is. Charming and highly recommended, with an optimistic yet aching perspective that feels terribly important in the post–October 7th era.
In the graphic novel you can read (so far it's only been released in French and English) about the relationship of Israeli Arab-muslim TV Reporter Lucy Aharish and Israeli-Jewish Actor Tzachi Halevy, and also about the interracial, inter-faith marriage of the artist Zoya Cherkassky, but also about lesser-known people - Jean, the traditional French-Israeli who had a daughter through co-parenting; an anonymous gay Palestinian man who fears both Hamas and life in Israel; and Avi, the ex-Haredi man trying to navigate the secular world and find love that will accept him as he is. Charming and highly recommended, with an optimistic yet aching perspective that feels terribly important in the post–October 7th era.
June 14, 2026
4.75
Wow. This is such a powerful piece of Graphic Journalism. It took me a bit longer to read than Graphic Novels usually take me because it had a lot of text for a Graphic Narrative. But, it was worth the triggering of my brain fog and reading it over multiple days.
Parent-Rachdi and Deloupy capture a unique perspective on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict just before tragedy and genocide made everything even worse. I grew up being taught to blindly support Israel because of the Holocaust. But, over the past 30 years, I've learned more and more about the hypocrisy of the government there, especially as they have become more and more conservative.
Reading this book made me want to yell from the rafters for everyone to read it because Parent-Rachdi's interviews show that everyone is human and wants love in some form. But with each passing interview, the terrible oppression everyone in the region is living under also becomes starkly apparent. And, in my opinion, also exposes how controlling and corrupting a force religion can be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Wow. This is such a powerful piece of Graphic Journalism. It took me a bit longer to read than Graphic Novels usually take me because it had a lot of text for a Graphic Narrative. But, it was worth the triggering of my brain fog and reading it over multiple days.
Parent-Rachdi and Deloupy capture a unique perspective on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict just before tragedy and genocide made everything even worse. I grew up being taught to blindly support Israel because of the Holocaust. But, over the past 30 years, I've learned more and more about the hypocrisy of the government there, especially as they have become more and more conservative.
Reading this book made me want to yell from the rafters for everyone to read it because Parent-Rachdi's interviews show that everyone is human and wants love in some form. But with each passing interview, the terrible oppression everyone in the region is living under also becomes starkly apparent. And, in my opinion, also exposes how controlling and corrupting a force religion can be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 18, 2026
3.5 stars - I think this graphic novel accomplished what it set out to do: humanize both Palestinians and Israelis through their personal stories. I liked that it included interviews from a wide range of experiences, giving a fairly broad perspective in a limited number of short stories. The conversations cover religion, love, identity, and the many ways the conflict between Israel and Palestine has shaped people’s lives.
These stories take place before the current war, offering a glimpse of life in a still-standing, active Gaza Strip. The formatting took a little getting used to. It has a book-within-a-book feel, with the interviewer constantly moving from one conversation to the next, from walls to cabs to other interviews. It felt a little restless at times, but it also kept the pace moving.
The art is clean, and the illustrations help keep some of the heavier stories from feeling too dense. I came away with a more intimate understanding of Israel and Palestine through the lives and voices of the people sharing their experiences.
I was gifted this book from the publisher as an eARC.
These stories take place before the current war, offering a glimpse of life in a still-standing, active Gaza Strip. The formatting took a little getting used to. It has a book-within-a-book feel, with the interviewer constantly moving from one conversation to the next, from walls to cabs to other interviews. It felt a little restless at times, but it also kept the pace moving.
The art is clean, and the illustrations help keep some of the heavier stories from feeling too dense. I came away with a more intimate understanding of Israel and Palestine through the lives and voices of the people sharing their experiences.
I was gifted this book from the publisher as an eARC.
July 14, 2026
It's really a pity that I'm looking at this excellent piece of graphic reporting is being released after the events of 10/7/23 and its aftermath. I admired that the author and illustrator confronted that complication immediately at the outset of the narrative, but it doesn't solve the problem that the world they're discussing in the book simply does not exist anymore. The few contributors who were willing to speak to the effects of 10/7 on their lives made it abundantly clear that their lives have a before and an after and their love stories are simply not the same, especially for the very few of live(d) in Gaza.
Despite the intercession of geopolitics on the stories being told, Parent-Rachdi is an excellent interviewer who obviously sets her subjects at ease despite their myriad differences, and Deloupy's illustrations make the settings and people feel realistic and distinct. It would have been easy to fall back on a style that was familiar from the other graphical journalism work from the region, but Deloupy avoids this to make his own graphic style that fits Parent-Rachdi's tone.
I wish we were still living in the mostly hopeful world that Parent-Rachdi departed Israel/Palestine still believing could exist.
Thank you to NetGalley for this excellent eARC.
Despite the intercession of geopolitics on the stories being told, Parent-Rachdi is an excellent interviewer who obviously sets her subjects at ease despite their myriad differences, and Deloupy's illustrations make the settings and people feel realistic and distinct. It would have been easy to fall back on a style that was familiar from the other graphical journalism work from the region, but Deloupy avoids this to make his own graphic style that fits Parent-Rachdi's tone.
I wish we were still living in the mostly hopeful world that Parent-Rachdi departed Israel/Palestine still believing could exist.
Thank you to NetGalley for this excellent eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A truly intimate exploration of a world that is no more. Love and Desire in the Promised Land: the Private Lives of Israelis and Palestinians presents a series of anonymized interviews with a dozen people living within the borders of Israel. They have a wide and balanced pool of subjects, half male and half female, and there are Gazans, Israelis and Christians.
Salome Parent-Rachdi is our primary voice, and she is depicted moving through various cityscapes, meeting with the different interviewees. Deloupy’s art is hyper realistic, recreating restaurants, apartments or the militarized border zones. It is very much focused on the lived experience of those trying to have romance and relationships in a region best known for constant tensions, and following the October 7th attacks, war and genocide.
The dozen interviewees reflect on their coming of age, struggle to find happiness or acceptance and what they have learned from past lovers or flings. Some also discuss the challenges of getting married and having children, but it is very much a spectrum talking to those both (relatively) young and middle aged. Parent-Rachdi doesn’t just interview the hetero-normative, but also talks with LGBT individuals, as well as one male who wants children, but not necessarily a wife and he has pursued IV treatments and a partnership.
A constant theme of the book is that the personal is public and nothing is ever truly separate. The cover illustration clearly shows the conflict, our bedrooms are our most private and intimate spaces, but there is always the lingering of societal pressures and attitudes.
Recommended to readers of graphic (novel) narratives, personal stories or love and romance in the face of embattled society.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
Salome Parent-Rachdi is our primary voice, and she is depicted moving through various cityscapes, meeting with the different interviewees. Deloupy’s art is hyper realistic, recreating restaurants, apartments or the militarized border zones. It is very much focused on the lived experience of those trying to have romance and relationships in a region best known for constant tensions, and following the October 7th attacks, war and genocide.
The dozen interviewees reflect on their coming of age, struggle to find happiness or acceptance and what they have learned from past lovers or flings. Some also discuss the challenges of getting married and having children, but it is very much a spectrum talking to those both (relatively) young and middle aged. Parent-Rachdi doesn’t just interview the hetero-normative, but also talks with LGBT individuals, as well as one male who wants children, but not necessarily a wife and he has pursued IV treatments and a partnership.
A constant theme of the book is that the personal is public and nothing is ever truly separate. The cover illustration clearly shows the conflict, our bedrooms are our most private and intimate spaces, but there is always the lingering of societal pressures and attitudes.
Recommended to readers of graphic (novel) narratives, personal stories or love and romance in the face of embattled society.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
October 22, 2024
Des regards croisés pour comprendre le conflit sous l'angle du quotidien et des relations intimes. Je ne sais pas quelle portée cette approche peut avoir, car politiquement on voit que chacun voit midi à sa porte, si ce n'est de rappeler que la guerre n'est jamais anonyme, et qu'il y a la réalité d'êtres humains qui souffrent.
J'ai été surpris que les termes Palestiniens/Arabes/Musulmans d'une part ou Juifs/Israëliens d'autres parts aient été souvent mélangés et employés indifféremment. Peut-être que je loupe quelque chose mais il y a un amalgame qui me gêne.
J'ai été surpris que les termes Palestiniens/Arabes/Musulmans d'une part ou Juifs/Israëliens d'autres parts aient été souvent mélangés et employés indifféremment. Peut-être que je loupe quelque chose mais il y a un amalgame qui me gêne.
July 4, 2026
to be honest, I did enjoy this comic book, and it made me see the relationships in Israel and Gaza better and with other eyes, my main complain is that the letter is very small and I had trouble reading having to zoom in more often than not, and that can be very distracting, I wonder how it will look on a real book.
I really recommend for people to try to read this book and keep an open mind about what takes place in that small corner of the world
Thank you Netgalley and Fantagraphics Books | Fantagraphics for the free ARC and this my honest opinion.
I really recommend for people to try to read this book and keep an open mind about what takes place in that small corner of the world
Thank you Netgalley and Fantagraphics Books | Fantagraphics for the free ARC and this my honest opinion.
July 25, 2026
Quick read, graphic novel about the private lives, most sexual and romantic lives, of Palestinians and Israelis before October 2024.
I think it’s an important addition to the usual narratives, but the authors seemed so intent on making sure everyone knew that even though this was all written before October 7, they were anti- genocide and consider what has been happening a genocide. That’s fine but it certainly limits the audience for this to those who agree with them.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
I think it’s an important addition to the usual narratives, but the authors seemed so intent on making sure everyone knew that even though this was all written before October 7, they were anti- genocide and consider what has been happening a genocide. That’s fine but it certainly limits the audience for this to those who agree with them.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 30, 2026
Lacking a traditional narrative, despite on opening frame that establishes what is to follow, Love and Desire in the Promised Land offers insight into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through reporting on the sex lives of those in the area. Frank, adult, illuminating and heartbreaking this beautifully rendered graphic novel reveals details about those in Gaza (and the West Bank) beyond the politics in a way that connects reader to the authors' subjects most basic needs: sex and love.
July 26, 2026
Interviewing eight Israelis and eight Palestinians made for a balanced foundation even if the authors struggled not to overly privilege the Palestinian cause.
And there’s certainly something here to offend everyone, whether it’s a gay Palestinian talking about Hamas blackmailing and murdering gay people or sympathy for the loyal wife of a terrorist who arranged suicide bombings.
I’m glad I read it. It’s a beautiful, complicated book that felt very authentic to my experience of Israel.
And there’s certainly something here to offend everyone, whether it’s a gay Palestinian talking about Hamas blackmailing and murdering gay people or sympathy for the loyal wife of a terrorist who arranged suicide bombings.
I’m glad I read it. It’s a beautiful, complicated book that felt very authentic to my experience of Israel.
September 28, 2024
Mais quelle excellente porte d'entrée pour parler des dégâts dans la vie quotidienne et intime des Palestinien•nes et Israélien•ne que cause ce conflit, cette guerre, depuis si longtemps !!!
Chacun des témoignages est touchant et nous rend chacune de ces personnes proche.
A lire absolument afin que les chiffres deviennent des prénoms, des visages, des histoires personnelles !
Chacun des témoignages est touchant et nous rend chacune de ces personnes proche.
A lire absolument afin que les chiffres deviennent des prénoms, des visages, des histoires personnelles !
June 28, 2026
Es como asomarte a la ventanita de cada casa y ver qué se cuece dentro. No profundiza, pero aún así se aprende. La periodista no se moja en las entrevistas, es más una charleta que un análisis real de la situación de cada pareja.
Mala traducción por parte de la editorial, ¡con el estilo que siempre ha tenido Norma! >:(
Mala traducción por parte de la editorial, ¡con el estilo que siempre ha tenido Norma! >:(
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This graphic novel is a beautiful exploration of love, relationships, and human connection in a region shaped by conflict. I realized while reading that I was largely unaware of many of the social nuances, taboos, and stereotypes that exist within both Israeli and Palestinian societies. The book provided valuable insight into a world I knew very little about.
What stood out most was how humanizing it was. Beyond the headlines and political discussions, the stories in this book put real faces, names, and experiences at the center of the conversation. It gave me a deeper understanding of the people living through these realities and left me with a great deal to reflect on. An insightful and thought-provoking read.
What stood out most was how humanizing it was. Beyond the headlines and political discussions, the stories in this book put real faces, names, and experiences at the center of the conversation. It gave me a deeper understanding of the people living through these realities and left me with a great deal to reflect on. An insightful and thought-provoking read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a book I will recommend to everyone I see. This tells about the lives of Israelis and Palestinians like you've never read about before! There is so much to unpack from this read - I've never learned so much from a graphic novel before. Highly recommend if you want to see a more intimate side of the conflict.
March 6, 2025
Consigliato!
June 6, 2025
Super sujet, super projet, sans prise de parti. Des témoignages riches traitants du relationnel dans une société qui peut être très religieuse.
Read
June 19, 2025différents personnages, différents portraits, différentes manières d'aimer en Israël, à Gaza et en Cisjordanie...
March 3, 2026
Reportage au travers de témoignages d’israéliens et de palestiniens, de leur vie au sein de deux communautés ennemies.
Très touchant.
Très touchant.
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