Mornings in Jenin
A Novel
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4.2 • 9 Ratings
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- $20.99
Publisher Description
With more than a million copies sold worldwide, a modern classic of Palestinian literature from "a major writer of our time" (Alice Walker).
"Timeless in its truth."-Fattima Bhutto
"Powerful and passionate."-Michael Palin
"A novel to savor."-Maureen Corrigan
"Relevant, powerful, emotional and vivid."-Bidisha Mamat
Mornings in Jenin is a heart-wrenching multi-generational account of one family's struggle and survival through the decades before and after Zionist colonization and theft of Palestine. Carrying us from Ein Hod to Jenin to Jerusalem, to Lebanon, then to the anonymity of America and finally back to Occupied Palestine, it is a novel of vital importance, "affirming all that is enduring and valuable in the undefeated human spirit" (Hanan Ashrawi).
"Affects me emotionally in a way only great novels can."-Henning Mankell
"Achingly beautiful."-Saleem Haddad
"When we grow numb to horror, when our minds slam shut in shock and denial, sometimes a story can slip to reawaken our humanity. This is that story, never more relevant."-Laline Paull
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this richly detailed, beautiful and resonant novel examining the Palestinian and Jewish conflicts from the mid-20th century to 2002, (originally published as The Scar of David in 2006, and now republished after a new edit), Abulhawa gives the terrible conflict a human face. The tale opens with Amal staring down the barrel of a soldier's gun and moves backward to present the history that preceded that moment. In 1941 Palestine, Amal's grandparents are living on an olive farm in the village of Ein Hod. Their oldest son, Hasan, is best friends with a refugee Jewish boy, Ari Perlstein as WWII rages elsewhere. But in May 1948, the Jewish state of Israel is proclaimed, and Ein Hod, founded in 1189 C.E., "was cleared of its Palestinian children..." and the residents moved to Jenin refugee camp, where Amal is born. Through her eyes we experience the indignities and sufferings of the Palestinian refugees and also friendship and love. Abulhawa makes a great effort to empathize with all sides and tells an affecting and important story that succeeds as both literature and social commentary.
Customer Reviews
A book everyone should read
I spent time in Israel in 1958 as the member of a visiting ballet company. The atmosphere was very tense, and I personally saw some of the places mentioned in the book such as eine hod which was by then an artist village. I experienced the prejudice held by the Israelis. It is sad. They couldn’t just live with the Resident Palestinians, but seem driven by paranoia. This is by no means anti jewish, but is perhaps sceptical of Zionism. This book is definitely accurate and portrays the tragedy of this country. I do hope people read it and perhaps understand the present problems in Israel. It is also beautifully written and tugged at my heartstrings.