No Place Strange

by Diana Fitzgerald Bryden

The lives of four individuals from different walks of life converge in the wake of terrorist activities, from Lydia, a Jewish Canadian who falls in love with a Lebanese man while struggling with her father's terrorist connections; to Mariam, a former professor who would reclaim a normal life in the face of Beruit's civil war. A first novel.

327 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 2009

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had potential. It revolved around people affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the civil war in Lebanon in the 1980s. This was a major event that was on the news every night. The characters cover both sides of the drama: a young Jewish Canadian woman, a young Lebanese man, a female professor in Beirut, and a female political activist. Connecting them is a famous Lebanese female freedom fighter, which the book jacket describes as a terrorist. That should have warned me before I even read the book. Titles are important; we bring our biases and perceptions to them. Calling Rafa a terrorist labels her before the reader has even met her in the pages of the book. I was interested in seeing what Bryden would do with this interesting mix of characters. Instead of a novel which creates tension because of politics, we get a novel which is a love story gone wrong because of miscommunications and personal insecurity. I found this very disappointing. The author wasted an excellent opportunity to take the reader into the conflicted world of the Middle East. I had the impression that she has never even been to the Middle East - Israel, Lebanon, refugee camps. The novel lacked colour and real heart.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little lost at the beginning of the book. The chapters jump from place to place, and there are a few characters to get to know. But about one-third of the way through, it all came together in my head, and then I couldn't put the book down. The story interweaves the lives of several people, and unfolds in short poetic chapters in Canada, Greece and Lebanon. Life in war-torn Beirut of the 1970s is heartbreakingly chaotic. A sweet love story unfolds slowly and seductively. Bryden has a style that grows on you. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

[Karen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this take on politics and family...