The Read Around The World Book Club discussion
April 2017 - Israel
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Chapter 21 - 28
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Melanie
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Mar 09, 2017 11:09AM
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This was heartbreaking. May 20th approaches and comes finally filled with heartbreak. In these chapters there was still such a distance between Liat and Hilmi like an unbreakable barrier. I am still very fond of Hilmi as a character. I feel so much more for him than I do Liat. I loved how sweet he was in nursing Liat back to health.
I also enjoyed how they revisited different parts of the city. It felt like it came full circle. I also loved the image of them standing on the train platform between trains going nowhere. Great image and comparison to their relationship.
Here are my thoughts about chapters 21-28:The deep expression of love by Hilmi's mother: I loved her language, 'Thirsty to breathe, to smell his smell.' She calls him her love and her soul. This really moved me.
The exposure and vulnerability of societies in conflict: this is again expressed really well in my opinion when Liat watches the video of Hilmi's home facing out towards Tel Aviv. Words such as peculiar, frightening, exposed, vulnerable. Though she speaks from her own perspective, this could very well be about any conflict in this crazy world. This created a heavy sadness in me.
Liat's description of her own behaviour when discussing politics: She hates her behaviour, is extremely self critical. She is clearly so frustrated but in the end that behaviour doesn't change, she continues to react in the same ways. I am frustrated by her here as she is with herself! Also, I felt let down by her extremely critical description of Hilmi's point of view, there is so much ingrained anger there. Or is it hopelessness? 'Hilmi with his blind binational fantasies...a bleeding heart idealist...flowery naivety....'
The inability for these two young people, who love each other to reach compromise: I feel this is a very strong message at this point in the book. If love cannot conquer the barriers, then what can?
Water: Again, the water sources are described as intertwined and interdependent. Nature has a lot to teach us if only we would listen.
Zinab: I loved how this character, despite her misgivings, reaches out with food. My heart ached in the bathrooms scene, when a possibility of female solidarity is lost before it is even realised.
Food at the restaurant: the description here made me want to drink mint tea and eat Arabic food so desperately. Wonderful!
The fight at the restaurant: Oh my goodness, I wanted to be there and intervene, put my point of view across. What a horrible situation. Liat is the only one with her point of view, so the vulnerability and anger is all the more striking. Helmi's passive behaviour is incredibly frustrating. He should have been his own person here, I expected more from him. And as for Hilmi's brother, I could have throttled him from Liat's perspective!!!
The stark contrast of passion and delight on their weekend trip with the harsh light of day: This relationship continues to be such a rollercoaster. Emotions are so often at extremes here, there is no energy left for anything else.
Liat's illness: I think this highlights so tenderly how barriers can often be broken down when a person is in need. Nurture, kindness, tenderness, softness. Yes the world needs more of this.
So near and so far: Liat writes of how close they will be distance when they return to their families yet how impossible it will be to meet. When written so plainly there is almost the air of the surreal, the bizarre. How can we as human beings create such far fetched situations?
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Does Liats sickness save their relationship? I am as horrified and hurt as Hilmi by Liats frustration of keeping him away from her while she is on the phone with her parents!
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I think it's passion vs. feasibility of a relationship. The main thing is that we don't know enough of their passion for each other but I think the author meant to aim at that, the passion of love faced by the everyday reality.
