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Letters From Gaza: Post October 2023, the first collection of in-the-moment reflections from the people of Gaza; written from the vortex of turmoil
As the year 2023 came to an end, and wistfulness filled the air with hopes for the new tidings; the whole world was left startled with the unfolding of the largest humanitarian crisis of this century.
While we lamented at the visuals of unimaginable destruction, loss, and unsurmountable pain, there were people living that reality.
Men, women, and children with plans for the weekend and dreams to fulfill; many wrapping their chores early to take a walk by the sea. Millions of such diverse individuals who were now only spoken of words wrapped in tragedy; all merged into one.
Surviving war isn’t a blanket experience; there are many facets which remain unheard. This collection is pertinent in bringing focus to the diverse human stories behind the crisis, the emotions that rang loudly in the silence of the night, when the shutters went down and the dust had settled.
Throughout the year, 30 people living in the Gaza strip, of varied ages and ethnographies, penned their feelings, fears, memories, thoughts, and hopes on the tempestuous days of war. Each story is a reminder of the world held within every person and how humanity at large was at stake with them.
While we lamented at the visuals of unimaginable destruction, loss, and unsurmountable pain, there were people living that reality.
Men, women, and children with plans for the weekend and dreams to fulfill; many wrapping their chores early to take a walk by the sea. Millions of such diverse individuals who were now only spoken of words wrapped in tragedy; all merged into one.
Surviving war isn’t a blanket experience; there are many facets which remain unheard. This collection is pertinent in bringing focus to the diverse human stories behind the crisis, the emotions that rang loudly in the silence of the night, when the shutters went down and the dust had settled.
Throughout the year, 30 people living in the Gaza strip, of varied ages and ethnographies, penned their feelings, fears, memories, thoughts, and hopes on the tempestuous days of war. Each story is a reminder of the world held within every person and how humanity at large was at stake with them.
250 pages, Hardcover
Published April 28, 2025
50 people are currently reading
1578 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
April 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.
Letters From Gaza: A Collection By the People is the most devastating book I’ve read in years; a raw, unflinching chronicle of life under genocide. Edited by Mahmoud Alshaer and Mohammed Al-Zaqzooq, this anthology gathers letters penned by Gazan writers in the aftermath of October 2023, as Israel’s brutal assault ravaged their homes, families, and futures. These pages are a gut-punch. The authors, many now martyred, document unimaginable horrors: children drafting their own obituaries, mothers whispering apologies to unborn babies they know will not survive, and entire lineages erased in seconds. One passage haunts me: “I am searching for the meaning of our lives—of life—in war. Nothing has any meaning except imagining what will happen to us and our bodies when the bombs fall. How will we die? In one piece, two pieces…three? Will we be just body parts? Where will our blood splatter?” This existential dread permeates every page. Children draft their own obituaries; mothers cradle newborns they know will not survive; families scavenge for limbs in rubble. A contributor recounts: “I climbed over the rubble... looking for [my family’s] remains. But a cat arrived before me and devoured a piece of flesh. I wasn’t sure if it was my cousin’s wife. His children?”
The letters force you to inhabit Gazans’ terror, their sleepless nights under bombardment, their grief as they bury neighbors with bare hands, their grotesque calculus of survival. The intimacy of their voices (often cut short by death) shatters the dehumanizing rhetoric of headlines. You don’t just read about starvation; you feel a father’s shame as he fails to find bread for his daughter. You don’t just see statistics of dead children; you hear a 10-year-old calmly describe preparing her “death bag.” The letters reveal how survival itself becomes a paradox. One passage captures the numbing repetition of trauma: “Four seasons have passed, and you are in a place that doesn’t know you... We question our ability to hold on, but war tightens its grip even more. We live the same day with the same set of feelings: ‘How did the people of Gaza endure all this pain?’”
The book forces audiences to reckon with complicity. Israel’s siege weaponizes even basic needs: "Even then, the Occupation targeted bread, water, and fuel lines. To think of eating became a crime, a transgression for which children, women, and even the defeated elderly paid the toll.” These are firsthand accounts from Palestinians living, and dying, under Israel’s genocidal, savage and inhumane assault post-October 2023. These letters, many penned by authors who were later killed, are not mere narratives; they are visceral screams against oblivion.« Tonight, I will fall asleep telling myself that the noise outside is fireworks, a celebration and nothing more. That the frightened screams of children are the gleeful terror of suspense before something long-awaited, like Eid. »
Letters From Gaza is a counter-archive against historical amnesia. It echoes Kanafani’s Letter from Gaza (1956), where a wounded niece’s amputated leg becomes a metaphor for collective steadfastness. Again, this is the most devastating and painful book I’ve read in years. It left me sobbing, furious, and irrevocably changed. As one letter pleads: “Come back, my friend! We are waiting for you,” a call to global solidarity.
"The people of Gaza have lived through days of fear, hunger, and loss. The pain of separation passed like heavy clouds across the sky, but the sun of the next day washed it away. This resilience is not due to a lack of heart, but because the constant stream of painful events hardens you, forcing you to suppress your feelings and breaking your pride, leaving you to weep."
Letters From Gaza: A Collection By the People is the most devastating book I’ve read in years; a raw, unflinching chronicle of life under genocide. Edited by Mahmoud Alshaer and Mohammed Al-Zaqzooq, this anthology gathers letters penned by Gazan writers in the aftermath of October 2023, as Israel’s brutal assault ravaged their homes, families, and futures. These pages are a gut-punch. The authors, many now martyred, document unimaginable horrors: children drafting their own obituaries, mothers whispering apologies to unborn babies they know will not survive, and entire lineages erased in seconds. One passage haunts me: “I am searching for the meaning of our lives—of life—in war. Nothing has any meaning except imagining what will happen to us and our bodies when the bombs fall. How will we die? In one piece, two pieces…three? Will we be just body parts? Where will our blood splatter?” This existential dread permeates every page. Children draft their own obituaries; mothers cradle newborns they know will not survive; families scavenge for limbs in rubble. A contributor recounts: “I climbed over the rubble... looking for [my family’s] remains. But a cat arrived before me and devoured a piece of flesh. I wasn’t sure if it was my cousin’s wife. His children?”
The letters force you to inhabit Gazans’ terror, their sleepless nights under bombardment, their grief as they bury neighbors with bare hands, their grotesque calculus of survival. The intimacy of their voices (often cut short by death) shatters the dehumanizing rhetoric of headlines. You don’t just read about starvation; you feel a father’s shame as he fails to find bread for his daughter. You don’t just see statistics of dead children; you hear a 10-year-old calmly describe preparing her “death bag.” The letters reveal how survival itself becomes a paradox. One passage captures the numbing repetition of trauma: “Four seasons have passed, and you are in a place that doesn’t know you... We question our ability to hold on, but war tightens its grip even more. We live the same day with the same set of feelings: ‘How did the people of Gaza endure all this pain?’”
The book forces audiences to reckon with complicity. Israel’s siege weaponizes even basic needs: "Even then, the Occupation targeted bread, water, and fuel lines. To think of eating became a crime, a transgression for which children, women, and even the defeated elderly paid the toll.” These are firsthand accounts from Palestinians living, and dying, under Israel’s genocidal, savage and inhumane assault post-October 2023. These letters, many penned by authors who were later killed, are not mere narratives; they are visceral screams against oblivion.« Tonight, I will fall asleep telling myself that the noise outside is fireworks, a celebration and nothing more. That the frightened screams of children are the gleeful terror of suspense before something long-awaited, like Eid. »
Letters From Gaza is a counter-archive against historical amnesia. It echoes Kanafani’s Letter from Gaza (1956), where a wounded niece’s amputated leg becomes a metaphor for collective steadfastness. Again, this is the most devastating and painful book I’ve read in years. It left me sobbing, furious, and irrevocably changed. As one letter pleads: “Come back, my friend! We are waiting for you,” a call to global solidarity.
May 7, 2025
This is a collection of real-time short writings and poems compiled directly from writers in Gaza under displacement (the Afterword goes into more detail about the collaboration between translators, publisher, and the authors who put this book together).
Each piece in this has a unique tone with unfiltered and direct perspectives from Gazans themselves. I appreciated how the author of each piece had tiny bios describing who they are and what they did. Some of these writers have also been martyred. This book, in its entirety, humanizes the Palestinians. The collection comes together to represent their grief and resilience. The immense level of scholasticide suffered at the hands of Isra*l’s genoc*de is truly horrifying. So, a recurring theme throughout this book is that the act of writing will always be a tool of resistance.
This book struck so many chords within me. Each of the writings in this were truly impactful and reflective through the diverse perspectives that are presented. It makes you consider how the Western media still tries to desensitize us to the horror and brutal atrocities Palestinians face daily, by constantly vilifying them. Each of these pieces forces you see things from their POV. It forces us to acknowledge our complicity in the genocide.
It makes us truly witness, through their words, how their lives drastically changed under Isr*el’s occupation (even more so in the current state of censorship that our society is in). We see how they mourn the way everyday life used to be: the uneventful days, fleeting frustrations and stress that are no longer relevant with how they must prioritize survival. We see how they go through constant grief. We also see how they try to preserve their memories of a beautiful home they no longer have.
A few snippets that really stood out to me:
“Our fear now centers on inventing ways other than screaming for the kids to express their fear, because screaming means you’re alive, and that’s a dangerous coincidence that is undesirable to the other side.”
“We miss you; this feeling invades us and we are sad because we do not know how to get you back, we do not know how to tell you that we miss you.”
“In our regular everyday lives, we need to search for meaning. But in the life of pain, we must create meaning. Who creates meaning if not those who have been scalded by unending pain?”
“You were forced to leave everything behind: the city of your soul; the streets that gave birth to you, and were born to you. The house your father left for you. And all your dreams, or what’s left of them.”
Truly thankful to have read this important piece and I would strongly recommend this for anyone out there. Many many thanks to Netgalley and RandomHouse SEA for the ARC!
Each piece in this has a unique tone with unfiltered and direct perspectives from Gazans themselves. I appreciated how the author of each piece had tiny bios describing who they are and what they did. Some of these writers have also been martyred. This book, in its entirety, humanizes the Palestinians. The collection comes together to represent their grief and resilience. The immense level of scholasticide suffered at the hands of Isra*l’s genoc*de is truly horrifying. So, a recurring theme throughout this book is that the act of writing will always be a tool of resistance.
This book struck so many chords within me. Each of the writings in this were truly impactful and reflective through the diverse perspectives that are presented. It makes you consider how the Western media still tries to desensitize us to the horror and brutal atrocities Palestinians face daily, by constantly vilifying them. Each of these pieces forces you see things from their POV. It forces us to acknowledge our complicity in the genocide.
It makes us truly witness, through their words, how their lives drastically changed under Isr*el’s occupation (even more so in the current state of censorship that our society is in). We see how they mourn the way everyday life used to be: the uneventful days, fleeting frustrations and stress that are no longer relevant with how they must prioritize survival. We see how they go through constant grief. We also see how they try to preserve their memories of a beautiful home they no longer have.
A few snippets that really stood out to me:
“Our fear now centers on inventing ways other than screaming for the kids to express their fear, because screaming means you’re alive, and that’s a dangerous coincidence that is undesirable to the other side.”
“We miss you; this feeling invades us and we are sad because we do not know how to get you back, we do not know how to tell you that we miss you.”
“In our regular everyday lives, we need to search for meaning. But in the life of pain, we must create meaning. Who creates meaning if not those who have been scalded by unending pain?”
“You were forced to leave everything behind: the city of your soul; the streets that gave birth to you, and were born to you. The house your father left for you. And all your dreams, or what’s left of them.”
Truly thankful to have read this important piece and I would strongly recommend this for anyone out there. Many many thanks to Netgalley and RandomHouse SEA for the ARC!
September 6, 2025
"I’m skilled at pitching a tent and breaking my hunger with a loaf of bread and some za’atar and hugging my mother when Death looms over us."
Raw, emotional, and absolutely heartbreaking.
This is a heartfelt collection of poetic letters from the Palestinian people in Gaza that reads like a stab to the gut, over and over again. They don't hold anything back, and this includes their emotions and their experiences. Who can blame them when they have nothing else left to lose?
As I'm writing this review, Israel's Operation Gideon's Chariots II is underway in Gaza City. Along with starving Gazans, killing them indiscriminately, and forcing their displacement yet again, Israel is razing the city to the ground, bombing any building left standing and bulldozing entire neighborhoods.
The authors in this book bear witness to Israel's atrocities, both past and present. These letters are firsthand testimonies to Israel's war crimes. I'm glad that this book was published so that the world can get to know these Palestinians and read about their lives and their firsthand accounts. Their voices need and should be heard, especially in this crucial moment.
Palestinians are people with hopes and dreams, just like you and me. Stop the genocide, let them live, and give them their land back.
"While the world sleeps, the people of Gaza face a treacherous occupier and grapple with the mighty question: ‘How alone are we?’"
Thank you to Penguin Random House SEA and NetGalley for this arc.
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May 24, 2025
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I find it really difficult to put into words what I read. Just as I had expected, this was an extremely difficult read for me, leaving me more broken than ever and making me feel terrible because what I feel is just a fraction of what the average Palestinian is currently going through.
The most terrifying part for me was the realization that every single thing I read was a real life account of someone's life and not fiction. I couldn't even try to convince myself that it's not real, that it's just words on paper, because that's not true. Every event mentioned in here is real and every single person's suffering laid out in the open is real. The fact that the world has chosen to turn a blind eye is also real and it is something that should enrage us all.
Everyone should read this book and understand the Palestinian experience from a Palestinian perspective. These are real people fighting for their lives—for their survival—in real time. No one should ever have to go through this and nothing can justify the gravity of their suffering.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸 from the river to the sea.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.
I find it really difficult to put into words what I read. Just as I had expected, this was an extremely difficult read for me, leaving me more broken than ever and making me feel terrible because what I feel is just a fraction of what the average Palestinian is currently going through.
The most terrifying part for me was the realization that every single thing I read was a real life account of someone's life and not fiction. I couldn't even try to convince myself that it's not real, that it's just words on paper, because that's not true. Every event mentioned in here is real and every single person's suffering laid out in the open is real. The fact that the world has chosen to turn a blind eye is also real and it is something that should enrage us all.
Everyone should read this book and understand the Palestinian experience from a Palestinian perspective. These are real people fighting for their lives—for their survival—in real time. No one should ever have to go through this and nothing can justify the gravity of their suffering.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸 from the river to the sea.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.
December 8, 2025
A book that lingers in the heart and conscience.
Letters from Gaza is not simply a book; it is a living archive of voices, emotions, and truths. This collection of letters captures the pulse of everyday life under extraordinary hardship. Each page feels like opening a window into Gaza — where laughter, love, and resilience coexist with grief, loss, and the relentless shadow of war.
What makes this work unforgettable is its intimacy and immediacy. These letters are not distant reflections; they are written in real time, amid chaos and uncertainty. You hear the echo of children’s joy, the tenderness of family bonds, and the quiet strength of people determined to endure. Then, just as vividly, you feel the heartbreak of interrupted dreams and the weight of absence. The contrast between ordinary routines and extraordinary suffering is what makes the book so profoundly moving.
The writing is honest, lyrical, and deeply human. It doesn’t dramatize pain, nor does it soften it, instead, it insists that we see Gaza as more than a headline. It is a home, a community, a place where hope persists even in devastation.
This collection is more than literature; it is testimony. It is remembrance. It is resistance. It reminds us that storytelling is survival, and that memory itself can be an act of defiance. Closing the book, I felt both sorrow and a renewed sense of responsibility to listen, to witness, and to carry these voices forward.
FREE PALESTINE! 🍉
Letters from Gaza is not simply a book; it is a living archive of voices, emotions, and truths. This collection of letters captures the pulse of everyday life under extraordinary hardship. Each page feels like opening a window into Gaza — where laughter, love, and resilience coexist with grief, loss, and the relentless shadow of war.
What makes this work unforgettable is its intimacy and immediacy. These letters are not distant reflections; they are written in real time, amid chaos and uncertainty. You hear the echo of children’s joy, the tenderness of family bonds, and the quiet strength of people determined to endure. Then, just as vividly, you feel the heartbreak of interrupted dreams and the weight of absence. The contrast between ordinary routines and extraordinary suffering is what makes the book so profoundly moving.
The writing is honest, lyrical, and deeply human. It doesn’t dramatize pain, nor does it soften it, instead, it insists that we see Gaza as more than a headline. It is a home, a community, a place where hope persists even in devastation.
This collection is more than literature; it is testimony. It is remembrance. It is resistance. It reminds us that storytelling is survival, and that memory itself can be an act of defiance. Closing the book, I felt both sorrow and a renewed sense of responsibility to listen, to witness, and to carry these voices forward.
FREE PALESTINE! 🍉
May 15, 2025
Letters from Gaza is a powerful collection of poems, letters, essays and monologues straight from the proverbial "mouth" and hearts of the people in Gaza. A raw and emotional mosaic of human experiences and accounts of life under siege.
Whilst the writing styles and prose vary widely from person to person, each piece of work is vulnerable and portrays the author's emotion, suffering and pain for everyone to see.
I find books like these so difficult to review, especially when learning that some of the authors that contributed to this collection are no longer alive to hear their voices heard. I wish this book didn't have to exist but it does and it is crucial.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Whilst the writing styles and prose vary widely from person to person, each piece of work is vulnerable and portrays the author's emotion, suffering and pain for everyone to see.
I find books like these so difficult to review, especially when learning that some of the authors that contributed to this collection are no longer alive to hear their voices heard. I wish this book didn't have to exist but it does and it is crucial.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 28, 2025
In Letters From Gaza, Mahmoud Alshaer and Mohammed Al-Zaqzooq have curated more than just a collection of reflections, they’ve preserved human testimony. Unlike many narratives written from a distance, this book speaks from within. Each piece is raw, unfiltered, and burning with truth - making it impossible to look away.
Stylistically, the book is as varied as its voices. Some entries are lyrical and meditative; others are stark, almost journalistic in tone. This variety enhances the emotional impact, allowing readers to feel the rhythm of daily life, the ordinary and the extraordinary under occupation and siege.
This is not an easy book to sit with and that’s kind of the point.
Letters From Gaza is a collection of reflections, diary entries, poems, and personal letters written by people living through one of the most devastating years Gaza has faced. Rather than offering a polished or distant perspective, the book gives you exactly what it promises: raw, unfiltered stories and emotions, straight from the people themselves.
That said, I did find myself having to pause often not because the writing was slow, but because it hits hard. There’s no emotional cushion here. And maybe there shouldn’t be.
What stuck with me most was how many of the writers return, again and again, to ideas of memory, hope, and dignity. Even in the darkest moments, there’s this fierce desire not to be forgotten. To be more than a number. I felt broken with every word, as they opened their hearts to show us what life is under the genocide truly looks like. None of us can fully imagine the reality of life in Gaza.
I’m not going to lie, there were moments where I felt overwhelmed by the pain, and a few places where the structure felt a bit disjointed (which is maybe unavoidable in a book like this). But even then, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d just read. Some images and phrases stay with you long after the page.
If you’re looking for a neat narrative or a typical memoir, this isn’t it. But if you want to understand Gaza not just through headlines but through human voices-grieving, surviving, resisting - then this collection is what you need to pick up. Letters From Gaza is an essential book. It is a testament to the power of words when wielded with honesty and heart, and to the resilience of a people who continue to write, even when the world turns away.
It’s not a book I “enjoyed” in the traditional sense, but it’s one I’ll carry with me.
Thank you @penguinbookssea @chai_n_books @bookstore.baby for sending me this review copy.
Stylistically, the book is as varied as its voices. Some entries are lyrical and meditative; others are stark, almost journalistic in tone. This variety enhances the emotional impact, allowing readers to feel the rhythm of daily life, the ordinary and the extraordinary under occupation and siege.
This is not an easy book to sit with and that’s kind of the point.
Letters From Gaza is a collection of reflections, diary entries, poems, and personal letters written by people living through one of the most devastating years Gaza has faced. Rather than offering a polished or distant perspective, the book gives you exactly what it promises: raw, unfiltered stories and emotions, straight from the people themselves.
That said, I did find myself having to pause often not because the writing was slow, but because it hits hard. There’s no emotional cushion here. And maybe there shouldn’t be.
What stuck with me most was how many of the writers return, again and again, to ideas of memory, hope, and dignity. Even in the darkest moments, there’s this fierce desire not to be forgotten. To be more than a number. I felt broken with every word, as they opened their hearts to show us what life is under the genocide truly looks like. None of us can fully imagine the reality of life in Gaza.
I’m not going to lie, there were moments where I felt overwhelmed by the pain, and a few places where the structure felt a bit disjointed (which is maybe unavoidable in a book like this). But even then, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d just read. Some images and phrases stay with you long after the page.
If you’re looking for a neat narrative or a typical memoir, this isn’t it. But if you want to understand Gaza not just through headlines but through human voices-grieving, surviving, resisting - then this collection is what you need to pick up. Letters From Gaza is an essential book. It is a testament to the power of words when wielded with honesty and heart, and to the resilience of a people who continue to write, even when the world turns away.
It’s not a book I “enjoyed” in the traditional sense, but it’s one I’ll carry with me.
Thank you @penguinbookssea @chai_n_books @bookstore.baby for sending me this review copy.
May 19, 2025
Short but utterly devastating. This epistolary story captures the pain, loss, and resilience of the Palestinian people with such clarity and emotional weight. In just a few pages, the book delivers a powerful narrative about love, resistance, and choosing to stay in the face of destruction.
The voice is intimate and personal, but the impact is universal. It’s a reminder that behind every headline or statistic is a real, breathing human being with dreams, grief, and unshakable hope. I had chills reading this. A necessary, unforgettable read.
Thank you so much @penguinbooksseafor the copy and for letting me review this remarkable work.
The voice is intimate and personal, but the impact is universal. It’s a reminder that behind every headline or statistic is a real, breathing human being with dreams, grief, and unshakable hope. I had chills reading this. A necessary, unforgettable read.
Thank you so much @penguinbooksseafor the copy and for letting me review this remarkable work.
October 22, 2025
This is a work that is objectively hard to gather thoughts and put into words, because it's such a heartfelt and desperate look at what's going on in Palestine everyday. I think that even if you can't finish the collected works, it's very important and worth your time to read some of the poems, letters and short essays from people who are doing their best to cope with active genocide.
July 19, 2025
.. stories, testimonies, and visions of life under genocide.
Very hard to read without tears. I have no more words.
Very hard to read without tears. I have no more words.
May 27, 2025
I wish this book didn't exist, there's nothing beautiful about grieving basic necessities.
There's nothing to romanticize about when one loses their loves ones, hopes and dreams to a gen0cide. This book is going to hurt, it took me weeks to finish this book, and then it felt very heavy in my heart. This book doesn't leave you once you finish the last page.
Must read.
Thankyou NetGalley and Penguin Random House SEA for the book.
There's nothing to romanticize about when one loses their loves ones, hopes and dreams to a gen0cide. This book is going to hurt, it took me weeks to finish this book, and then it felt very heavy in my heart. This book doesn't leave you once you finish the last page.
Must read.
Thankyou NetGalley and Penguin Random House SEA for the book.
April 26, 2025
A poignant yet unflinching portrayal of lived resistance and suffering, written with devastating autheticity. The dire situation faces currently by 🇵🇸 is wildly beyond human’s imagination based on these heartwrenching collections of letters, monologues & poetry. Imagine yourself receiving letters from them but it will torment your feelings for being helplessness. I am grateful for this compilation because it should shake our comfort core and provoke our thoughts on ongoing gen0c1de towards Gazan in 🇵🇸.
Using writing as a tool of resistance, they convey the everyday horrors of life under siege, longing for a peaceful life, expressing unbearable weight of lossing their beloved and echo on precious children’s life who’s unfortunately perish in numerous times. Plus, how can these writings didn’t strike a chord? Their lyrical, poetic tone softens nothing but only deepens the ache. Some pieces really stir my emotions, only happens to cause me tearing so bad. Some would left me in hollow. Besides that, sorrowness so profound & took over me, has gotten myself putting my thoughts into words beside their creation.
I can’t thank enough for Gazan people on their contribution in expressing on their vulnerable life and surrounding while strongly resist the gen0c1de. In fact, I need everyone who has capacity to read their testimony to suffering, survival, and unyielding hope during this gen0c1de. Let this be a gesture that however small carries the hope of easing their burden. And for us, may these composition awaken our compassion so that we will move toward more meaningful and strong solidarity ✊🏼🤲.
May peace reach then at last and may we continue to stand strong behind them, in sorrow, in solidarity and in hope.
Thank you @penguinbookssea @chai_n_books @bookstore.baby for this review copy ✨
Using writing as a tool of resistance, they convey the everyday horrors of life under siege, longing for a peaceful life, expressing unbearable weight of lossing their beloved and echo on precious children’s life who’s unfortunately perish in numerous times. Plus, how can these writings didn’t strike a chord? Their lyrical, poetic tone softens nothing but only deepens the ache. Some pieces really stir my emotions, only happens to cause me tearing so bad. Some would left me in hollow. Besides that, sorrowness so profound & took over me, has gotten myself putting my thoughts into words beside their creation.
I can’t thank enough for Gazan people on their contribution in expressing on their vulnerable life and surrounding while strongly resist the gen0c1de. In fact, I need everyone who has capacity to read their testimony to suffering, survival, and unyielding hope during this gen0c1de. Let this be a gesture that however small carries the hope of easing their burden. And for us, may these composition awaken our compassion so that we will move toward more meaningful and strong solidarity ✊🏼🤲.
May peace reach then at last and may we continue to stand strong behind them, in sorrow, in solidarity and in hope.
Thank you @penguinbookssea @chai_n_books @bookstore.baby for this review copy ✨
July 9, 2025
Letters From Gaza: A Collection By the People; Unveiling Their Stories and Emotions From the Year That Has Been is a collection of short stories and poems written by people living in the Gaza Strip where they have penned down their feelings, fears, memories, thoughts, and hopes on the turbulent days of war.
While reading this heartwrenching book, I couldn't help but feel disheartened by the futility of wars. The book vividly captures the pain of people leaving behind their homes, their loved ones, and the memories they once held fondly, yet still holding on to the fragile hope that someday, their suffering will come to an end. Their constant fear of not surviving the night, of being blown to bits before seeing another light of the day, is portrayed with such honesty that it will stay with you long after you finish reading the book.
Everyone should read Letters From Gaza to truly understand the effects of war and to remind ourselves of the resilience, grief, and hope that continue to shape the lives of the people living through it.
While reading this heartwrenching book, I couldn't help but feel disheartened by the futility of wars. The book vividly captures the pain of people leaving behind their homes, their loved ones, and the memories they once held fondly, yet still holding on to the fragile hope that someday, their suffering will come to an end. Their constant fear of not surviving the night, of being blown to bits before seeing another light of the day, is portrayed with such honesty that it will stay with you long after you finish reading the book.
Everyone should read Letters From Gaza to truly understand the effects of war and to remind ourselves of the resilience, grief, and hope that continue to shape the lives of the people living through it.
October 17, 2025
This book is a collection of stories, poems, and writings from the people living through the ongoing genocide. It shows individuals trying to survive, love, and maintain hope amid chaos. Those voices carries hope and dream. It's a heartbreaking reads. I hope this book will be reached by everyone outthere.
September 8, 2025
"But how can I try to look to the future when I cannot guarantee being alive in the next few minutes?"
- Mahmoud Alshaer
It feels a little weird giving this book a rating, as this isn't exactly a book you judge like it's entertainment. However, I'm still giving it one because I want it to reach as many people as it can.
This is book is more than just about the horrors and the heartbreak from the genocide in Gaza. It's also a book about hope and dreams of the people there. Dicerse stories that share thoughts, feelings, memories and more—all showing the different realities of surviving a war.
This is not an easy book to read (even took me months to actually finish it, tried to read at least one essay a day), but this is definitely a significant book, with voices that deserve to be heard. It's also a reminder that we should continue supporting and fighting for the people of Gaza however we can. I hope more people find this book.
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House SEA for sending me a copy of this book!
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
April 29, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Letters From Gaza collected by Mahmoud Alshaer and Mohammed Al-Zaqzooq is a nonfiction anthology of translated letters and poems written by Palestinians in Gaza documenting the genocide that is happening in their homeland.
This is the kind of work that I really struggle to give a star rating to. Not because I don’t find it meaningful or impactful, but because I really struggle to give a star rating to something documenting human suffering like this. I just feel it misses the point entirely. The main reason I’m giving it a star rating is because that’s something people do look for when deciding to pick up a work and I think this anthology is far too important to get lost in the noise of everything else or to be forgotten by history. As stated in the forward, Palestine was known for short stories in order to avoid censorship, but now these individuals are stating clearly and explicitly what is happening.
There’s a very famous quote about how we mourn one death but a million deaths is just a statistic. Unfortunately, I think there is some truth to that quote and I think this anthology combats it wonderfully. Every single piece is accompanied by a bio detailing the life of the writer, their other published works, and, in some, what they’re doing now. It humanizes them further and gives a face, a life, a name to these words. I cried multiple times while reading this and I do believe that the bios played a part in how hard it was hitting me.
Two of the common features of the letters that make me feel this is a must read are 1) the mentions of social media and mobile phones and 2) the disruption of education, life, love, and happiness. It is so easy for many of us to just buy into this idea that countries outside of our own are less developed or, in the near future, accept a larger distance from what happened than there actually is. We do that already by having images of the Civil Rights Movement in black and white instead of in full color, which we absolutely could be circulating instead. It reminds the reader constantly that this is a modern event that is on-going no matter how uncomfortable that might make us.
Content warning for death and genocide
I would recommend this to anyone who has even a passing interest in supporting Palestinians
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June 4, 2025Letters from Gaza is a heart-shattering, soul-etching collection that lingers long after the final page. Published by Penguin, this compilation of poems, prose, and personal reflections offers an unfiltered glimpse into the lives of Gazans living under the constant shadow of conflict and displacement.
Reading this took me an entire month. Not because it was slow, but because it was heavy. Exhausting, even.
Many stories centered around personal experiences of ongoing attacks, but what struck me the most were those moments when the lens widened—when the writers captured the suffering not only of themselves but of others: a family member, a friend, a nameless stranger. The collection places you in the very moments we often read about in headlines—from missile launches and evacuations to the aching reality of leaving behind beds, unfinished poems, and a pair of shoes. The everyday becomes sacred in the face of loss.
This book is proof that the lives of Gazans—of Palestinians—will never be the same. And the least we can do, as readers, is to listen... to carry these voices forward and amplify them.
Reading this took me an entire month. Not because it was slow, but because it was heavy. Exhausting, even.
Many stories centered around personal experiences of ongoing attacks, but what struck me the most were those moments when the lens widened—when the writers captured the suffering not only of themselves but of others: a family member, a friend, a nameless stranger. The collection places you in the very moments we often read about in headlines—from missile launches and evacuations to the aching reality of leaving behind beds, unfinished poems, and a pair of shoes. The everyday becomes sacred in the face of loss.
This book is proof that the lives of Gazans—of Palestinians—will never be the same. And the least we can do, as readers, is to listen... to carry these voices forward and amplify them.
November 14, 2025
Heartbreaking and full of heart. It is not limited, you know, what the heart is made of and what it feels.
Every word in this collection is written from deep pain and persistent hope, unimaginable grief and unimaginable resilience. To live each moment of every day for more than two years as if you were going to be killed in that exact moment by something from the sky or some murderer hidden behind a window, is not something any of us will ever remotely comprehend.
And to write, to actually WRITE through those truly terrifying moments about those moments, the need to document and more urgently, the need to create a poem or an essay and share it with whoever is listening, is an undeniably strong and moving act. One of courage and infinite love. For the land, for the people, for life.
The heinous occupation has killed some of the writers who have contributed to this important collection, many others still live in Gaza and continue to struggle to survive and rebuild. I urge you to buy a copy of this book to support these most beautiful and honourable people of the earth, even if you don’t have the stomach to read it immediately. Please also donate generously to the numerous fundraising campaigns that exist, or ask me and I will share a collated list. And please please continue to speak for them when you can, give them the mic when they are with you, read and write as much as you can, and hold them all in your big generous heart 💓❤️🩹❤️🔥💞🫂
Every word in this collection is written from deep pain and persistent hope, unimaginable grief and unimaginable resilience. To live each moment of every day for more than two years as if you were going to be killed in that exact moment by something from the sky or some murderer hidden behind a window, is not something any of us will ever remotely comprehend.
And to write, to actually WRITE through those truly terrifying moments about those moments, the need to document and more urgently, the need to create a poem or an essay and share it with whoever is listening, is an undeniably strong and moving act. One of courage and infinite love. For the land, for the people, for life.
The heinous occupation has killed some of the writers who have contributed to this important collection, many others still live in Gaza and continue to struggle to survive and rebuild. I urge you to buy a copy of this book to support these most beautiful and honourable people of the earth, even if you don’t have the stomach to read it immediately. Please also donate generously to the numerous fundraising campaigns that exist, or ask me and I will share a collated list. And please please continue to speak for them when you can, give them the mic when they are with you, read and write as much as you can, and hold them all in your big generous heart 💓❤️🩹❤️🔥💞🫂
May 4, 2025
This book deserves all the stars and I'm not sure how to even review it. Some of the people who contributed to this book have sadly died during bombardment. This is a very heartbreaking story of those who are caught in the midst of the atrocities of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Each of these are their real experiences and encounters of the situation there that they want the world to know. They have opened their hearts to us ensuring the book appropriately represents the accurate emotions of the war.
I had to pause after reading a few chapters as it was too heart wrenching. I just can't imagine that they're still suffering and I hope this book reaches everyone as these are stories deserved to be heard
I had to pause after reading a few chapters as it was too heart wrenching. I just can't imagine that they're still suffering and I hope this book reaches everyone as these are stories deserved to be heard
May 31, 2025
A heartfelt and important read, Letters from Gaza is an offering from @penguinbookssea that compiles essays, poems, and stories from Palestinians.
I will be honest and say that this is definitely a heavy read as each piece presents the unimaginable effects of living in a war-stricken land but I’ll also admit that aside from the emotional scars of war that is embedded in the pages, the bravery of the contributors also rises. Letters from Gaza is a concrete testament to the Palestinians’ unparalleled resilience.
I’d like to thank the Penguin SEA team for arranging this collection and for giving an avenue for the significant voices to be heard.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!
I will be honest and say that this is definitely a heavy read as each piece presents the unimaginable effects of living in a war-stricken land but I’ll also admit that aside from the emotional scars of war that is embedded in the pages, the bravery of the contributors also rises. Letters from Gaza is a concrete testament to the Palestinians’ unparalleled resilience.
I’d like to thank the Penguin SEA team for arranging this collection and for giving an avenue for the significant voices to be heard.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!
May 8, 2025
Big Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
'Letters from Gaza' is a difficult book to read, as it's an anthology of raw stories by people who experiencing the horrors of war and dangerous politics. A live description of history in the making, from people who don't want to be just numbers presented in the news as victims. And for that, I'm grateful that I've read their voices.
'Letters from Gaza' is a difficult book to read, as it's an anthology of raw stories by people who experiencing the horrors of war and dangerous politics. A live description of history in the making, from people who don't want to be just numbers presented in the news as victims. And for that, I'm grateful that I've read their voices.
July 16, 2025
This book describes the first hand experiences of citizens of Gaza as the Israeli army intentionally murders their people and systematically destroys their homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. It is heartbreaking to read the accounts of what is left of their lives after repeated forced evacuations and deaths of loved ones. The Israeli army has already killed more Gazans than US dead in Viet Nam and the killing in Gaza continues with the vital assistance of US taxpayers. That's right. US taxpayers, we are all contributing to the massacre. Gazans have described their feelings; how do you all feel about it?
July 16, 2025
Such a beautiful and heart wrenching read. Truly the courage that these writers have in order to not only publish what they’re going through but to live through it is amazing. It made me cry and I loved every moment of this book. I went out and bought my own physical copy (it’s the least I could do). I’m looking forward to more books like this and thank you to Penguin Random House for publishing Palestinian stories. They deserve to be seen and heard by everyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
May 22, 2025
"I am searching for the meaning of our lives - of live - in war. Nothing has any meaning except imagining what will happen to us and our bodies when the bombs fall." Beesan Nateel
Raw. Intimate. Angry. Sad. Little bit of hope. Disillusionment. Devastation.
You encounter many emotions from your side and from writers'. But this book is one of the most important books right now, especially when general public is starting to be disassociated (again). Tragedy of war (not only war - invasion, onslaught) cannot be forgotten. Victims cannot be forgotten. This book shows you beautiful writing of authors, who were or still are in displacement camps in southern Gaza, forcefully left their homes.
"Tonight, I will fall asleep telling myself that the noise outside is fireworks, a celebration and nothing more." Ahmed Mortaja
Many thanks to NetGalley for ARC.
Raw. Intimate. Angry. Sad. Little bit of hope. Disillusionment. Devastation.
You encounter many emotions from your side and from writers'. But this book is one of the most important books right now, especially when general public is starting to be disassociated (again). Tragedy of war (not only war - invasion, onslaught) cannot be forgotten. Victims cannot be forgotten. This book shows you beautiful writing of authors, who were or still are in displacement camps in southern Gaza, forcefully left their homes.
"Tonight, I will fall asleep telling myself that the noise outside is fireworks, a celebration and nothing more." Ahmed Mortaja
Many thanks to NetGalley for ARC.
June 12, 2025
What words can I ever put to describe how heart-shattering this book was. Letters from Gaza is a book that will bring you to the Palestinians — you will join them, mourn with them, and grieve with them.
Full review soon.
Full review soon.
October 18, 2025
palestinians deserve all the blessings this world can possibly give
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November 10, 2025An incredibly important collection that shares the voices and stories from Gaza. Please read this and bear witness to these stories.
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January 5, 2026let us all remember their resistance free palestine
September 2, 2025
Heartbreaking, essential reading. Hammers home the human damage caused by our failures as a society and government right now.
August 21, 2025
"Letters From Gaza" has been compiled by Mohammed Al-Zaqzooq and Mahmoud Alshaer, depicting the pain, deprivation, and sorrow of the natives through the voices of over 30 Gazans. This historical non-fiction book is a powerful testament to the experiences of the people of Gaza, told through letters, poems, and addresses.
As Gideon Levy, author and journalist at Haaretz, says, "Gaza deserves to be heard - and this book does it so well!" Living a peaceful life is not easy for everyone, and this book conveys that message poignantly. The food crisis, identity crisis, and other challenges have taken a toll on the people of Gaza, leaving them broken both internally and externally.
The book is a stark and honest portrayal of reality, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities faced by the Gazans. I believe this book should be read by people all over the world, so that the cries and messages of the Gazans can reach each and every one of us.
As Gideon Levy, author and journalist at Haaretz, says, "Gaza deserves to be heard - and this book does it so well!" Living a peaceful life is not easy for everyone, and this book conveys that message poignantly. The food crisis, identity crisis, and other challenges have taken a toll on the people of Gaza, leaving them broken both internally and externally.
The book is a stark and honest portrayal of reality, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities faced by the Gazans. I believe this book should be read by people all over the world, so that the cries and messages of the Gazans can reach each and every one of us.
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