What do you think?
Rate this book
this is not a border
A collection of essays, poetry and stories by authors and poets who have participated in the Palestinian Festival of Literature; edited by Booker Prize shortlisted author and founder of the Festival Adhaf Soeif and debut novelist Omar Robert Hamilton.
- GenresNonfiction
340 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Various
455k books1,340 followersVarious is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).
If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.
Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.
Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 26, 2023
This was an upsetting and emotional read. The book was published to celebrate the tenth anniversary of PalFest - The Palestinian Festival of Literature. The book itserlf is a collection of essays poems and stories by artists who have travelled to Palestine ato give talks and complete workshops. The event was a travelling event becausePalestians were unable through Israeli to travel outside their location.
Most of the contributors were American and British and gave their accounts of their experiences and reflections of their trip. At this point any descriptions they gave may be deemed an unsuitable place for a book club review- instead I would like to highlight two quore from a British and American participant in the festival so that anyone reading this review can draw their own conclusions and possibly get a copy of the book to read.
"When I returned home after just one week I am emotionnally drained.When I try to describe the situation and what I heard I cry. The Palestians do not cry. They lead their life, and they lead it with courage, dignity and hope" - John Horner
"No use to appealing to Israeli soldiers as a car swerves towards us menacingly. The soldiers are girls and boys with bigger,heavier guns than any child ought to carry and an attitude too merciless to be challenged. O Israel what are you doing to your children?Do you not see what they become?"
A difficult yet informative read which I would recommend as a must read
Most of the contributors were American and British and gave their accounts of their experiences and reflections of their trip. At this point any descriptions they gave may be deemed an unsuitable place for a book club review- instead I would like to highlight two quore from a British and American participant in the festival so that anyone reading this review can draw their own conclusions and possibly get a copy of the book to read.
"When I returned home after just one week I am emotionnally drained.When I try to describe the situation and what I heard I cry. The Palestians do not cry. They lead their life, and they lead it with courage, dignity and hope" - John Horner
"No use to appealing to Israeli soldiers as a car swerves towards us menacingly. The soldiers are girls and boys with bigger,heavier guns than any child ought to carry and an attitude too merciless to be challenged. O Israel what are you doing to your children?Do you not see what they become?"
A difficult yet informative read which I would recommend as a must read
July 31, 2017
If you want to understand the situation in Palestine and why the cycle of violence and aggression seems never ending you should visit Palestine and travel on public transport with the Palestinians. If you cannot do that but still want to know about the lot of the Palestinians and their relationship with the Israelis then you should read this book. It is an anthology of creative writing, poetry and reportage from writers who have particpated in the Palestinian Literary Festival (PALFEST) over the first ten years of its existence. Founded by Booker Prize nominated author and activist Adhaf Soueif the festval is now run by her son Omar Robert Hamilton (whose first novel The City Always Wins is released in the Uk on 3rd August). His final essay in the collection (which he and his Mother co-edited) is visceral and powerfully emotive in its simplicity.
January 2, 2024
『I apologise to the girl who thought her father had abandoned her when her mother couldn’t tell her they didn’t find the body.
I apologise to Gaza, my love. I apologise that it must carry such a burden.』
🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉/5
This book is a collection of reportages, essays, poems and thoughts about Palestine from authors, novelists and people included in Palestine Festival of Literature.
Book is a raw nerve, so much pain and realization are in it. We are reading stories from both sides: people who organized the event and who are living at occupied territories and people who were invited to travel and participate in festival. The struggle to show the hidden world and not to place people in danger and painful understanding what exactly is not shown or what realities are minimized in media is masterfully demonstrated in this book.
Every part of this collection is a reminder of the importance of the words and truth, that even if something is not so cruel in a time being everything can and will change in couple of years when oppressors are given free reign and they are facing no consequences for their actions.
If i needed to select only one essay from this book, i would recommend to read “The end of art in peace” by Omar Robert Hamilton.
Also this collection would be an easy start if you haven’t read anything about Palestine and oppression they are facing for last 70+ years.
I apologise to Gaza, my love. I apologise that it must carry such a burden.』
🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉/5
This book is a collection of reportages, essays, poems and thoughts about Palestine from authors, novelists and people included in Palestine Festival of Literature.
Book is a raw nerve, so much pain and realization are in it. We are reading stories from both sides: people who organized the event and who are living at occupied territories and people who were invited to travel and participate in festival. The struggle to show the hidden world and not to place people in danger and painful understanding what exactly is not shown or what realities are minimized in media is masterfully demonstrated in this book.
Every part of this collection is a reminder of the importance of the words and truth, that even if something is not so cruel in a time being everything can and will change in couple of years when oppressors are given free reign and they are facing no consequences for their actions.
If i needed to select only one essay from this book, i would recommend to read “The end of art in peace” by Omar Robert Hamilton.
Also this collection would be an easy start if you haven’t read anything about Palestine and oppression they are facing for last 70+ years.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews