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Lipsticks and Bullets: ISIS, Crisis, and the Cost of Revolution
English Literature student Fairouz dreams of a revolution and a Syria free from the rule of the tyrannical Bashar al-Assad and his minions. But revolutions are not so easily achieved, as she realises when her life transforms into a blockbuster movie before her very eyes. Fairouz Abdalla's diary Lipsticks and Bullets takes us on an exclusive trip into her politically-charged world and among the demonstrators on the historic roads of Old Damascus and Hama. Syria is a dangerous place for an activist -- and especially for a woman. Forced into making life or death decisions, and faced with losing all she loves, Fairouz must fight not just for a Syrian revolution, but also for the lives of her loved ones, herself, and against the growing nightmare that is ISIS. This is not only the intimate story of a woman but a Syrian woman who is a powerful witness to the terror and horror wrought by Assad on the lives and souls of Syria's citizens. A tale of love, bravery, courage, and dedication. Syria's story is her story.
380 pages, Paperback
Published March 15, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 16, 2017
I'm always ready to criticise oriental authors. Why is that? Sometimes I feel that the quality of novels from that part of the world just isn't that great. Fairouz Abdalla here is changing my mind.
June 1, 2017
Fairouz is a master storyteller. She is great with words and produces scenes that flow like poetry. The story is touching, emotional and speaks of Syria’s hardships and the political situation. Deeper than that, it speaks of the courage of those affected to carry on living and loving, to fight for justice and to fight for their rights. If you don't happen to shed a tear at some point while reading, you're heartless. You find yourself transported to Syria where you smile, cry, and feel pity right alongside the vivid characters in this book. Reading it, you will feel the richness of the Arab culture and gain an insight into the intimate life and love lives of Arab women.
It was an eye-opener to me, with my first world problems here in the West. But all of this could happen to us one day too in this uncertain world. Harrowing, but I feel educated to have read it, it is an honour to review it.
It was an eye-opener to me, with my first world problems here in the West. But all of this could happen to us one day too in this uncertain world. Harrowing, but I feel educated to have read it, it is an honour to review it.
June 17, 2017
This book is breathtaking – It is about ordinary people who are trapped - caught up in a tumultuous mix of religion, politics, money and most dangerously mens egos and pride. It is just a little slice of the many complicated layers of that time and place - It is the beautifully poised central character Fairouz, and the tender imagery of this decaying world shown through her eyes that made this book shine for me. A true gem for your bookshelf.
June 17, 2017
WOW!
I’m just too speechless to describe this!!! Just effing read the book.
June 2, 2017
The novel paints such a vivid picture of the lives of Syria's educated and artistic people whose lives suddenly turn upside down. The snippets of imagery, the nuggets of wisdom are so visceral, that I had to pause for a while. I had to gather my thoughts before continuing. In a way, this book is a feminist work, and it shows how sexuality is seen in the Arab world
June 13, 2017
OK! So, this taught me a lesson to not to be a book snob from now on! To start with actually I was very apprehensive to start this book or rather reluctant to. If it wasn’t for my book club I doubt I would have ever bought this book. There were many reasons for it, first of all its not really my genre and secondly I thought it would be more apt for females… filled with all the cringe cliché stuff..
It wasn’t… it is an actual serious book that touches upon a variety different things.
Initially when I first started this book I had made up my mind that I won’t like and its nothing special but it proved me wrong totally. Though it started slow… about quarter way through it made a space in my heart gradually with out me knowing and then it made me realize how wrongly I had judged this book. I just could not believe this is Fairouz’s first book because her writing is so beautiful, flawless and heart touching that it took me in to the story. However, I think as she is an Arabic poet, it shows through in her work.
That makes this story even more beautiful to read. On the whole I am really glad to have read this book!
It wasn’t… it is an actual serious book that touches upon a variety different things.
Initially when I first started this book I had made up my mind that I won’t like and its nothing special but it proved me wrong totally. Though it started slow… about quarter way through it made a space in my heart gradually with out me knowing and then it made me realize how wrongly I had judged this book. I just could not believe this is Fairouz’s first book because her writing is so beautiful, flawless and heart touching that it took me in to the story. However, I think as she is an Arabic poet, it shows through in her work.
That makes this story even more beautiful to read. On the whole I am really glad to have read this book!
June 26, 2017
This brought home the entirety of the Syrian war experience in such a rich, beautiful way that it will stay with me for a long time.
June 22, 2017
Sensitive writer … this one kind of sneaks up on you...starts kind of slowly, but then bit by bit becomes compelling and in the end leaves you speechless.
June 22, 2017
This was a wonderfully written book offering much insight into the challenges of life in Syria. A delightful read. Our bookclub read it and invited the author to our gathering via Skype. She gave us more fabulous insights to the culture of her heritage. We'll worth my invested time.
November 6, 2017
Absolutely BREATHTAKING.
I'm still speechless & in tears .
Lipsticks and Bullets caught me off guard people. I expected it to be the ' typical book about revolution ' , but BOY WAS I WRONG.
This book is far from being about war & politics , It's a book of humanity , resilience , empowerment and a reflection of a horrid reality.
I've learnt a lot about the Syrian hardships throughout this book and I've learnt valuable lessons as well.
As a Tunisian english student , I could not help but put myself in Fairouz's shoes .
If I were her , Would I do the same things ? would I be as courageous as her ? All kinds of questions rushed through my mind and up until now , I'm still speechless.
Speechless , not only of the poetic story telling and the capability of attracting the reader's attention but also because I am ashamed.
I am ashamed that it was a Tunisian who harmed Fairouz's family , ashamed because Tunisians made Syrian's life much more challenging and miserable , therefore , I'm sorry , on behalf of all these a**holes , I'm deeply sorry.
If you're looking for a book about the Syrian revolution but in an insightful way , this is it .
I feel like I still have a lot to say about it , but I can't let it out .. I, unfortunately , cannot transform my frustration into words ..
Definitely one of my 2017 best reads.
I'm still speechless & in tears .
Lipsticks and Bullets caught me off guard people. I expected it to be the ' typical book about revolution ' , but BOY WAS I WRONG.
This book is far from being about war & politics , It's a book of humanity , resilience , empowerment and a reflection of a horrid reality.
I've learnt a lot about the Syrian hardships throughout this book and I've learnt valuable lessons as well.
As a Tunisian english student , I could not help but put myself in Fairouz's shoes .
If I were her , Would I do the same things ? would I be as courageous as her ? All kinds of questions rushed through my mind and up until now , I'm still speechless.
Speechless , not only of the poetic story telling and the capability of attracting the reader's attention but also because I am ashamed.
I am ashamed that it was a Tunisian who harmed Fairouz's family , ashamed because Tunisians made Syrian's life much more challenging and miserable , therefore , I'm sorry , on behalf of all these a**holes , I'm deeply sorry.
If you're looking for a book about the Syrian revolution but in an insightful way , this is it .
I feel like I still have a lot to say about it , but I can't let it out .. I, unfortunately , cannot transform my frustration into words ..
Definitely one of my 2017 best reads.
June 16, 2017
A mesmerizing story to savour, Lipsticks and Bullets brings to life Fairouz a Syrian from a mixed Christian and Muslim background. Perhaps the most profound part of this novel is the solace Fairouz finds in both faiths. Her life in precarious Syria is well wrought, I felt like I, too, inhabited these places and despaired the mounting conflict and its casualties. Fairouz and the people closest to her are shining examples of Syrian people who have experienced the most extreme trauma who manage somehow to bear the pain ... they maintain a fundamental optimism as their life turns into an actual Hollywood blockbuster. Unforgettable Novel.
June 18, 2017
Lipsticks and Bullets is set in Syria, a country dealing with conflict, violence, and hunger. But it is also a love story when Fairouz an orphaned artist activist raised Christian, falls for Emad, a Muslim from a well to do family. Beautifully and smoothly written, it is a very real and emotional read.
June 18, 2017
I couldn’t wait to pick it up off of my bedside table each night… such an engaging and deep book, kept me awake for long hours at night.
June 1, 2017
This was a very strong read. Despite its disturbing subject matter, the book was extremely engaging, consistently interesting, and highly informative. Fairouz is not only a freedom fighter but also an engaging and vivacious storyteller and Lipsticks and Bullets were never boring at any point – at times it was hard to put down. Despite dealing with some complex subjects (Sunni/Shia conflict, The Arab Spring, Middle Eastern politics, Islamic State, etc.), Fairouz doesn’t lose the reader. My favorite character is Emad. I wish this book could be made into a movie. Because amongst everything else this is also a real life love story.
June 22, 2017
Utterly engrossing. This is the story of love, faith and family amidst political, economic, and social upheaval, and of the Arab dispossesseion and diaspora. It’s Fairouz’s story -- a Middle class woman from Hama who studied English and is an artist poet and more.. who was raised in Maloula by her Christian grandparents although her father is a conservative Muslim, and who flees to Damascus where she mingles with the upper class of society and continues to fight for freedom against Hezbollah Iran, Russia and Assad regime. This book is full of love and also heart ache. A must read for sure.
June 17, 2017
One of the most necessary reads you will have this year!
I am normally sceptical of new books but this is a modern, relevant and important book. The characters are engaging, the drama real. It gives you a good idea of how it was to live in Syria during some of the harrowing times in the past 6 years or so. Nothing you’ll have read about or seen on the news. This is very personal and thus insightful. You don’t have to love politics or current affairs to get into it.
I am normally sceptical of new books but this is a modern, relevant and important book. The characters are engaging, the drama real. It gives you a good idea of how it was to live in Syria during some of the harrowing times in the past 6 years or so. Nothing you’ll have read about or seen on the news. This is very personal and thus insightful. You don’t have to love politics or current affairs to get into it.
June 18, 2017
My eyes were opened up to the Middle Eastern way, their traditions, the cultures, and the people. Often times we only know what has been spoon fed to us via the media and our own false perceptions. In this story about Fairouz, a freedom fighter who suffers rape, experiences love and sex, who suffers losses and makes gains… She brings to life an exotic world set mostly in Hama and Damascus in Syria. The prose is wonderful and it's an easy read. I was completely transported.
June 21, 2017
This book is absolutely inspiring - the kind of book that doesn't let you just sit with it, it motivates you to do something. it's incredibly empowering.. and entertaining at the same time! One doesn't have to be political or religious to read it though. So, do read it. I am glad I did.
P.S beautiful cover.
P.S beautiful cover.
June 18, 2017
A really wonderful read. I will admit though, I considered putting it down at first because I felt it started a little slow. However about 20 pages into the book, it picked up rapid pace and took me by surprise! It was interesting to learn about Muslims and Christians in the Middle East. Definitely made me want to learn more about Syria too. Interesting characters, beautiful prose making it one of my favourite books ever.
June 16, 2017
This book is endlessly interesting-- a priceless look into the life of modern Syrians. In the last part of the book, she also shows the lives and personalities of Islamic state terrorists in a way humanizing them. Lots of twists and turns. Nicely written. I believe her story. I follow her on Instagram and Facebook too where she posts exclusive photos from Syria.
June 29, 2017
Even to me as an Arab lady, this book is educational. I am hard to please. I can definitely say this is a Arab who has written this, not only because of the culture and information, but also because of beautiful descriptive story telling.
June 5, 2017
An insightful and delicate read in a political revolution that still exists today. The narrative that comes with this book is strong and powerful.
June 18, 2017
The writing is brilliant, beautifully painful...!
June 26, 2017
So much more interesting than I thought it would be, to be perfectly honest. Ended up hooked and passing it on to my colleagues ! Well worth the buy!
December 2, 2017
fascinating insight into her private life! I will write a longer review at some point - but having just finished reading this deeply touching and artfully written memoir, I feel as though she is my best friend and feel connected to her. Thank you for sharing your deepest stories with the world. hugs
February 17, 2018
This book is what everyone needs to read in order to better understand how things went down in Syria. Much better than a plain history book or a political analysis, a war diary is one of the best thing you can get out of wars... it's human, it's humanitarian, it's a fellow human being describing what history books and analysis could never do. The horrors you read about, the lies, the killing, the little bits of love and hope that remind you that even through the darkest times, there are brighter spots. I had to stop reading for a couple days like 3 or 4 times in between, because even for someone like me who is used to reading about the horrors of war, I could not read further. I was either crying too much or my heart was aching too much... It's eye-opening, it fills you with anger and sadness but also love and compassion. I only pray for this madness to end soon, for the lost souls to find their way, for families to be reunited and for Syria to breathe free again!
April 1, 2018
This memoir gives me a completely different perspective about the conflict in Syria that I didn’t know existed before.
I know that the situation there is so bad but I don’t think what we understand is even close to cover the surface of the conflict itself. And Fairouz Abdalla wrote her personal story which is really touching, and gives insight on how hard it is to live in the middle of the conflict without really knowing what’s gonna happen to you in the future.
Fairouz’s background as a daughter of a Muslim Father and a Christian Mother also provides a different point of view that we don’t always find when reading stories about Syria in the news and other media, which makes the story even more real.
This book is really well-written, and I would recommend this book for everyone who wants to understand the conflict a little better, and hopefully, deciding on doing some real action to help the people there.
I know that the situation there is so bad but I don’t think what we understand is even close to cover the surface of the conflict itself. And Fairouz Abdalla wrote her personal story which is really touching, and gives insight on how hard it is to live in the middle of the conflict without really knowing what’s gonna happen to you in the future.
Fairouz’s background as a daughter of a Muslim Father and a Christian Mother also provides a different point of view that we don’t always find when reading stories about Syria in the news and other media, which makes the story even more real.
This book is really well-written, and I would recommend this book for everyone who wants to understand the conflict a little better, and hopefully, deciding on doing some real action to help the people there.
January 9, 2018
This is an exceptionally well-written novel. Emotional but not disturbing. Beautiful but not overly mushy. Has the right amount of everything. Great piece of literature.
June 29, 2017
OK, i've got to admit that this is not my usual genre but being a complete book nerd, I couldn't help but borrow (steal) it from a colleague at my firm (Sorry, Michelle...) This book affected me so much I was having dreams about it, the most touching part is the way she describes the prison guards "vultures" taking the women's bodies apart like rapid hyenas... There are both intense and light hearted and love filled moments, all of which are sure to affect you on a deeper level. Be ready for it.
July 7, 2017
Very well crafted with a stark reality behind it. Perhaps everyone should read this book. This is one of those books whose impact doesn't really sink in until you've completed it and have had time to reflect on what you've read. It is the amazing story of a woman in a time of war, determined to live against all odds. It offers the western reader an insight into the horror of the genocide happening in Syria, and is even more horrifying because it a story few people in the west have ever heard. It is not for the faint of heart, but I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews