This is a novel set mostly in 2017, recreating the impact that anti-immigration laws had on innocent lives in excruciating detail.
Zgheib's talent for crafting characters makes the novel all the more painful, the reader is forced to face a fraction of the reality that thousands of refugees are trapped by. The injustice of the situation is infuriating, the lack of help and the tendency of those more privileged to just look away when reality gets too uncomfortable for them.
This is such an important narrative to have out there, and I would recommend it to any reader. I wouldn't call it an enjoyable read, it is never going to be pleasurable to read about innocent people suffering at the hands of ignorance that still thrives today, but Sama and Hadi's story has been lived by thousands of others and this novel is owed to them.
I appreciate the open ended-ness of this novel. Nothing was magically solved, allowing for the realism to remain, but there is still a glimmer of hope for the new family.
Overall, definitely a five star read.
Zgheib's talent for crafting characters makes the novel all the more painful, the reader is forced to face a fraction of the reality that thousands of refugees are trapped by. The injustice of the situation is infuriating, the lack of help and the tendency of those more privileged to just look away when reality gets too uncomfortable for them.
This is such an important narrative to have out there, and I would recommend it to any reader. I wouldn't call it an enjoyable read, it is never going to be pleasurable to read about innocent people suffering at the hands of ignorance that still thrives today, but Sama and Hadi's story has been lived by thousands of others and this novel is owed to them.
I appreciate the open ended-ness of this novel. Nothing was magically solved, allowing for the realism to remain, but there is still a glimmer of hope for the new family.
Overall, definitely a five star read.