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32nd out of 51 books
—
45 voters
Miral
Soon to be a major motion picture from the award-winning director Julian Schnabel, starring Freida Pinto.
WRITTEN BY the much-admired Italo-Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal, Miral is a novel that focuses on remarkable women whose lives unfold in the turbulent political climate along the borders of Israel and Palestine. The story begins with Hind, a woman who sacrifice...more
WRITTEN BY the much-admired Italo-Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal, Miral is a novel that focuses on remarkable women whose lives unfold in the turbulent political climate along the borders of Israel and Palestine. The story begins with Hind, a woman who sacrifice...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
November 3rd 2010
by Penguin Books
(first published 2004)
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Miral tells the story of the Palestinean/Israeli conflict through the eyes of a young woman who comes of age during the violence in Jerusalem. Miral and her sister are raised in an orphanage by a Hind, an Arab woman who works hard to provide all the lost children of Jerusalem a safe place to grow up. To keep the orphanage safe and funded she walks a very careful and neutral political line. So when young Miral begins to participate in demonstrations and get involved with militant student organiza...more
This book has been getting a lot of attention because it is about to be released as a movie, so I was anxious to read it. Also, the setting is Jerusalem and the plot centers on the Israeli-Palestine conflict, a subject with which I’m not very familiar and want to know better. Miral is a young Palestinian woman growing up in occupied Jerusalem who has a passion for her people and their plight to recover their homeland. She begins her political activism by sneaking out of her boarding school to at...more
I loved this book and 100% recommend it as a must read for everyone--particularly Americans who are either living in blissful ignorance about the history and root conflict in the Palestinian/Israel region and, even more, individuals who have blindly accepted one biased side of the story (either throwing all support behind the actions of the Israeli government or agreeing, in theory, with the rage of the extremist Palestinians). It is not so simple, and while it is easy to label one side as terro...more
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At times I felt scenes were overly dramatic, with the emotion stated rather than developed through the narrative - that the emotional current was too bluntly stated, not subtly conveyed in the writing. Having said that, I have to say I was drawn into the story and appreciated a Palestinian perspective on the region's Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The story arc carries us from the background of the establishment of Dar AL-Tifel Institute for Palestinian orphans in 1948 by Hind Husseini through th...more
Novels written by news reporters are always difficult for me. There's a distinct writing style and tone and cadence to a short article (even a 20pp story/article on Salon) from that of a novel, and it kind of irritates me to read a novel written in that article speak (if you get my drift here). I find it's more telling than showing, and it gets me bogged down and taken out of the story instead of getting absorbed into it.
To be fair, once the story got rolling, and we left behind the biographical...more
To be fair, once the story got rolling, and we left behind the biographical...more
Miral by Rula Jebreal was a fascinating study in how borders can tear families and friends apart. I really enjoyed it. However, the beginning is a bit slow; while I thought it was interesting to know how Miral came to be motherless, I thought the story could have been edited. We'd still know how much sadness her mother felt at her situation, but the readers wouldn't be left wondering how long it'd take to get to the title character's POV.
Miral basically grows up to see that Palestinians are bein...more
Miral basically grows up to see that Palestinians are bein...more
This review contains spoilers.
Overall, I liked this book, however, I felt like there were a few things I would have liked to read more about. For example, the author completely left out what happened to Miral and Rania's older sibling. How did they never find out about this child, especially when visitng their aunt in Haifa? What happened to thiat child? Also, I would have liked to hear if Miral ever meets up with her biological father, bbut that's not as important.
Another problem I had was wit...more
Overall, I liked this book, however, I felt like there were a few things I would have liked to read more about. For example, the author completely left out what happened to Miral and Rania's older sibling. How did they never find out about this child, especially when visitng their aunt in Haifa? What happened to thiat child? Also, I would have liked to hear if Miral ever meets up with her biological father, bbut that's not as important.
Another problem I had was wit...more
First starting with the language that the novel was written in, it was not that good, not a story telling tone, and not flawless.
To the rhythm of the story. The main story did not start until you read one third of it. There are also parts where you can feel bored.
The story itself was somehow good, though as a Arab i would say that the writer was denying some facts. The story, I would say, was written by western way of thinking making the Jews seem lessharmful than what they really are.
The endi...more
To the rhythm of the story. The main story did not start until you read one third of it. There are also parts where you can feel bored.
The story itself was somehow good, though as a Arab i would say that the writer was denying some facts. The story, I would say, was written by western way of thinking making the Jews seem lessharmful than what they really are.
The endi...more
A great story, but the actual writing left me cold. I don't know if it was a poor translation, or if the author (a journalist) wanted this to come across like an extended, poorly composed magazine article, but stylistically the book has major flaws. I'm still terribly excited to see the movie, however, as I am downright obsessed with Julian Schnabel and I think the medium of film could really bring this story to life in a raw and powerful way.
Ultimately, Miral is worth a read. What it has to sa...more
Ultimately, Miral is worth a read. What it has to sa...more
This book wonderfully examines both the political and emotional state of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Despite the long political and historical interludes (that I felt disrupted the wonderful prose), this book gives a sad account of how women are being affected by the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. The representativeness of these experiences may seem far from overarching, but the reality is that many women are experiencing the pain and memories that are established in this novel. A definite...more
I loved the content of this story - but I feel that the fact that the writer was a journalist got in the way of her storytelling, because everything was very factual and "this happened and then this happened" I also felt like it didn't really end...I would have liked to see more of what shape Miral's life took after all the political turmoil. Maybe she's setting it up for a sequel? Also, if anyone else has read this, is this partially autibiographical? I know Rula Jebreal spent her childhood at...more
The beginning was slow due to tell, not show writing style. But at part five, the main character becomes Miral, as a teenager. Her story weaves through the Palestinian protests while strengthening her fervor for knowledge. Ultimately Miral makes the right choice, but suffers tremendous heartache along the way (trite, I know).
I met Rula Jebreal and have heard her speak three times. Phenomenal. Jebreal challenges the political structure and asserts her voice with powerful force.
Plus, she's comin...more
I met Rula Jebreal and have heard her speak three times. Phenomenal. Jebreal challenges the political structure and asserts her voice with powerful force.
Plus, she's comin...more
Η Rula Jebreal είναι μια πολλή γνωστή δημοσιογράφος. Γεννημένη στη Χάιφα του Ισραήλ και έχοντας βιώσει ως Παλαιστίνια τον τρόμο και την αγωνία του πολέμου στη χώρα της, έχει δώσει μεγάλους αγώνες για την ειρήνη στον τόπο της αλλά και για την δημιουργία ενός κράτους όπου Ισραηλινοί και Παλαιστίνιοι θα μπορούσαν να ζήσουν χωρίς τον φόβο του θανάτου, που θα μπορούσαν να είναι ελεύθεροι. Η ιστορία της Μιράλ δεν είναι απλά μια φανταστική ιστορία αλλά, μια αφήγηση της δικιάς της ζωής από τότε που στα...more
A young girl's life in a Palestinian children's home.
Ms Jebreal is a journalist and I found the first half of the book read very much like an extended newspaper article. This section covered the lives of Hind Husseini and several of Miral's relatives. However, once I reached the story of Miral herself, the whole feel of the book changed and became much more immediate; evoking more reaction from myself as a reader.
Hind Husseini, whose school Miral attended for much of her childhood, was an amazin...more
Ms Jebreal is a journalist and I found the first half of the book read very much like an extended newspaper article. This section covered the lives of Hind Husseini and several of Miral's relatives. However, once I reached the story of Miral herself, the whole feel of the book changed and became much more immediate; evoking more reaction from myself as a reader.
Hind Husseini, whose school Miral attended for much of her childhood, was an amazin...more
I could see how this book could be a compelling movie, but unfortunately it doesn't resonate as much in print. It's a feel good story (or about as feel good as any story about a stateless and ravaged nation can get) about a Palestinian girl who grows up and away from extremism. Jebreal's writing is stark and plain, but that style of writing fits the story. The author isn't worried about storytelling so much as telling a story, and she succeeds in a very average fashion. It's neither good or bad...more
Hind Husseini is a woman on a mission.
In 1948 she comes across 50 orphans in the streets of Jerusalem. They have fled a massacre in their village – Deir Yassin – and are terrified and haunted.
Hind decides to give them sanctuary first at her home and later at the Dal El-Tifel school and orphanage.
So starts an extraordinary true-life story of one woman’s drive and passion for the forgotten children of Jerusalem and the stories of many of the children she has a hand in raising.
This story is the ba...more
In 1948 she comes across 50 orphans in the streets of Jerusalem. They have fled a massacre in their village – Deir Yassin – and are terrified and haunted.
Hind decides to give them sanctuary first at her home and later at the Dal El-Tifel school and orphanage.
So starts an extraordinary true-life story of one woman’s drive and passion for the forgotten children of Jerusalem and the stories of many of the children she has a hand in raising.
This story is the ba...more
This was ok, but not great. Truthfully, the main thing I didn't like about this was that it was fiction and it didn't need to be. On one hand, I suppose that a fictional account of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict can be good if there are people who will only read fiction. On the other hand, why invent the violence when it's already there to be told about? Whatever. It's also a translation which has its own difficulties.
REally enjoyed this book.....gave me great insight into the struggles within the Arab/Jewish world both past and present. My only reservation was that the entire time I was reading this book I felt like it was non-fiction-like I was getting a history lesson-but this is not a criticism- I love non-fic-I just kept forgetting that it was a novel-guess this isn't a bad thing.....reading this book made me want to find out more-and more about Rula Jebreal's life too. I'd recommend you read it!
Jerusalem in 1948. An orphanage conceived to house children abandoned either because parents had been killed or parents could not raise them. Funds coming from supporters. Girls educated Struggles within--should I be a militant patriot or should I be educated. Three women's stories. A look into refugee camps and their side of the struggle. Will there ever be peace????
Although the somewhat journalistic prose style of Miral didn't always appeal to me, it got the job done of telling the story of a young Palestinian woman growing up in Jerusalem. Included are the back stories of her mother and father, as well as the woman who runs a school for Palestinian girls and orphans, plus a number of other characters. I'm very glad I read it, because I've come away feeling I have a much more nuanced view of what it must be like to live in Israel as a Palestinian - or even...more
I learned some things from this novelized memoir, but either the writer or the translator lacked the knowledge of English that would allow this book to read well or dramatically. Lots of long sentences that meandered to their ends, giving the whole thing a flat sense, devoid of drama or emphasis.
This book disappointed me. I have a deep interest in Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause. However, I had trouble with how the book was written. The novel is written more as summary than as an immediate story. Also, there were too many sub-plots that were unnecessary and distracting. This could have been a much better book.
However, I don't want to discourage anyone from reading it. Some readers have enjoyed it. It does address important themes in the Palestinan experience--for example, the compu...more
However, I don't want to discourage anyone from reading it. Some readers have enjoyed it. It does address important themes in the Palestinan experience--for example, the compu...more
This book is important for its documentation of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict from the eyes of a Palestinian girl. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and feel that it's an important read. That being said, I didn't always love the pacing and the way the story is told.
What an amazing story. If you ever wonder what difference one person can make, read this book. In a society where women are second class, for a woman to stand up and make the changes and make a difference to many Palestinian women is truly inspiring.
Contrary to popular misconceptions, this book is not anti-Israeli. While the Israeli do come across as barbarians in the book, that is their own doing. Anyone who has read the news know the truth is worse. The book focuses not on the Arab-Israeli conflict but rather how it affects the lives of threee different yet intertwined women.
A FB friend, Christelle Estrada, mentioned this book. It sounded interesting so I checked it out from the library. Great book! It gave me a greater understanding of the Israel/Palestine conflict. Am looking forward to seeing the movie.
I read this book because of the movie they produced and how much controversy there was...however the book is very poorly written. I am shocked that there is so much controversy, there is bound to be these feelings on both sides of a war.
great novel, based on real story... describing the complex relationship between palestenians and israelis ..and how pepople of palestine were struggling between the urge of revenge for their lost beloved and lost land .. and the beleive that violence takes them nowhere but to more torment..
I wish I'd liked this better. It's about a Palestinian girl deciding whether to join the intifada in the late 80s and early 90s; it culminates with the signing of the Oslo accords. It's very earnest but just not very good.
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