Political fiction is one of my favourite genres, the books that make me feel most passionate about writing a review, but I never know if I’m doing the book, or author any justice. However, like many self-doubt obstacles, this doesn’t stop me from doing it. If anything it forces me to concentrate on every single word written so I understand it fully, or as much as I can.
Nahr is a Palestinian refugee whose family immigrated to Kuwait from Palestine. Nahr marries young however a few months later her husband abandons her. She is forced to return to her family home and bear the struggles of a young divorced woman.
Long after her divorce, Nahr attends a wedding celebration, this is where she meets Um Buraq. Um Buraq is a complex character, there are many times in the book where she empowers Nahr, despite being the very person who tricked her into prostitution. I can’t make my mind up on whether I hate her for taking Nahr down the dark path, or if I see her as a stronger, older female who takes care of Nahr.
Against a Loveless World is a novel full of traumas. Nahr’s trauma of her husband leaving her, making her believe she’s unloveable, her encounters of prostitution, being belittled by disgusting men who accuse women like her for tempting them and following the devil.
These are two very powerful examples of how women suffer in a patriarchal society. Paying the consequences of an unloved ex-husband and being humiliated, treated like dirt by men who pray to God, follow their religion yet dismiss women for “tempting them”.
Shortly into the novel, we witness Sadam’s invasion of Kuwait. Despite the general response of Kuwait’s reaction to the invasion, Nahr is in favour as she believes this will stop the West from invading.
As a Kurd, I am inclined to bear hatred towards Sadam Hussein and his murderous regime. The Halabja chemical attack took place in 1988, the massacre killed between 3000-5000 people living 10 000 people injured. This was an act of murder committed by Sadam towards the Kurdish people living in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The invasion of Sadam is unsuccessful in Kuwait as the US get involved and take control of the country. This forces Nahr and her family to flee to Jordan as the treatment of Palestinians in Kuwait worsens, despite the Palestinians embracing Kuwait as their own.
After a while in Jordan Nahr goes to Palestine to divorce her husband. While in Palestine she stays with her ex-husband’s mother and brother. The brother Bilal, is a revolutionary in Palestine. He is the one who involves Nahr in the revolutionary movement in Palestine against the Israeli army. This is the reason Nahr endes up in The Cube.
I want to end my summary of the book here to go on to talk about the truth that lies behind this book, as best as I can. This book is a glimpse of the terror the Israeli government causes in Palestine. From the month on end curfews to attacks on the people of Palestine, even it’s children- in attempts to assimilate the Palestinian culture and identity.
Living in the comfort of London, it’s authors like Abdulhawa who remind me of the reality people are living. The reality of foreigners coming into your country and your house, forcing you to relocate and live under constant surveillance and fear. For us, it’s simple to go out to the shops, we don’t think about rationing food or if a solider will stop and interrogate us.
Books like Against The Loveless World are a reminder to readers that we can raise awareness and support people who have suffered injustices. We can create a movement that starts with the author and continues with us. Readers spread the word to friends and family, talk about it online and more and more people hear about the matter. There is so much power in literature, Susan Abdulhawa is proof of this, readers like you and I are proof of this.
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