“Gaza Weddings” by Ibrahim Nasrallah is a beautiful yet devastating tale of families living in Gaza. The book is dominated by strong women — neighbors Randa, Lamis and Amna — who manage to keep life moving forward as the occupation crushes both the city and the spirit of its people.
Nasrallah is a poet, novelist and literary critic. He is the author of several collections of poetry, as well as 14 novels. This book was first published in 2004 by the Arab Institute of Research and Publishing as the third part of his Palestinian series, following “Time of the White Horses” and “The Lanterns of the King Galilee.” The book was translated by Nancy Roberts and published at the end of last year by Hoopoe, an imprint of the American University of Cairo Press.
Nearly every male figure in the lives of Nasrallah’s main characters are absent from his book, either on the run, in jail, missing or martyred, as the women dominate the scope of hope and resilience amidst the never-ending bombardment. At the forefront are neighbors Randa, an aspiring journalist, her sister Lamis, and Amna, or Umm Saleh, who looks like Egyptian actress Athar Al-Hakim and works as a supervisor at a rehabilitation center. Their lives are pieced together poetically by Nasrallah as the shattering reality of life under occupation is revealed on every page.
Nasrallah’s book is a long poem, the power of his verse and female characters palpable, as intense as the distress in their lives. The men are physically, mentally and emotionally beat, so the women are the ones who are picking them up and rallying for life.
The heartbreaking stories in Nasrallah’s book are overwhelming — of homes being destroyed, people losing their lives due to clashes with settlers and multiple women mourning at a grave of an unknown victim but assumed loved one. His every word is purposeful, to convey the conviction in survival and the grief that inevitably follows. The days and nights all blend into one when tragedy after tragedy befalls the women, but they do not allow their anguish to stop them.
Nasrallah writes of a reality that sounds like a nightmare. The conditions of life under occupation are torturously painful, but his characters are a source of strength. They are the light in a world of darkness.
Review: 'Gaza Weddings' is about finding hope in dark times
Review: 'Gaza Weddings' is about finding hope in dark times
- This novel tells the beautiful yet devastating tale of families living in Gaza
- Author Ibrahim Nasrallah is a poet, novelist and literary critic
What We Are Reading Today: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
- Murakami’s prose, understated yet richly evocative, guides readers through a narrative that oscillates between the real and the surreal
Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami’s “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” is an intricate, mesmerizing novel that weaves together the ordinary and the surreal, creating a tapestry of existential questions, hidden truths and unexpected journeys.
First published in 1994, the novel is often regarded as one of Murakami’s masterpieces, encapsulating his signature blend of magical realism, psychological depth, and cultural introspection.
At its heart is Toru Okada, an unassuming and somewhat disaffected man whose mundane life takes a sudden and dramatic turn when his wife, Kumiko, disappears. What begins as a straightforward search evolves into a labyrinthine journey, leading Toru to confront not only the mystery of Kumiko’s absence but also the darker forces of history, memory, and his own psyche.
Along the way, he encounters an eclectic cast of characters, each with their own enigmatic role to play in the unfolding story.
Murakami’s prose, understated yet richly evocative, guides readers through a narrative that oscillates between the real and the surreal. The novel’s structure mirrors this duality, as Toru navigates his increasingly strange reality while descending into dreamlike underworlds, mysterious wells, and symbolic landscapes.
These moments are imbued with Murakami’s distinctive sense of unease, where the boundaries of the tangible and intangible blur, leaving the reader questioning the nature of reality itself.
One of the novel’s great strengths is its ability to juxtapose the deeply personal with the historically and culturally significant.
While Toru’s story is intimate and introspective, it is interwoven with threads of Japanese history, particularly the atrocities of the Second World War. These historical narratives, told through the recollections of various characters, deepen the novel’s scope, turning it into a meditation on the lingering wounds of the past and their impact on the present.
“The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” also delves into themes of connection and alienation, power and vulnerability, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels inexplicable. Toru’s journey is not just a physical quest but a spiritual and emotional odyssey, forcing him to confront the unseen forces that shape his life and the lives of those around him.
Murakami’s use of symbolism and recurring motifs — cats, wells, and the titular wind-up bird — adds layers of mystery and interpretive richness to the novel. These elements, coupled with the novel’s nonlinear structure and surreal interludes, create a reading experience that is both immersive and disorienting, drawing readers into a world that is as unsettling as it is beautiful.
For longtime fans of Murakami, “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” is quintessential, showcasing the author’s ability to blend the banal with the extraordinary. For new readers, it offers an expansive introduction to his universe, though its complexity may require patience and reflection.
Ultimately, “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” is a profound exploration of the human condition — its mysteries, its contradictions, and its quiet beauty. It is a novel that refuses to offer easy answers, instead inviting readers to embrace its ambiguities and immerse themselves in its layered, dreamlike world. Murakami has crafted a story that is as haunting as it is enlightening, leaving an indelible mark on those who dare to journey into its depths.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Galápagos’
Authors: John Kricher and Kevin Loughlin
Galápagos is a comprehensive, up-to-date, and profusely illustrated natural history of this spectacular archipelago.
Offering much more information than identification guides, the book provides detailed accounts and more than 650 color photographs of the islands’ habitats, marine life, reptiles, birds, mammals, and plants, making the book a virtual nature tour of Galápagos.
Galápagos experts John Kricher and Kevin Loughlin have thoroughly revised the original text, bringing all the taxonomy up to date and adding a wealth of new information.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Well-Ordered Thing’ by Michael D. Gordon
Dmitrii Mendeleev (1834–1907) is a name we recognize, but perhaps only as the creator of the periodic table of elements.
Generally, little else has been known about him. “A Well-Ordered Thing” is an authoritative biography of Mendeleev that draws a multifaceted portrait of his life for the first time.
As Michael Gordin reveals, Mendeleev was not only a luminary in the history of science, he was also an astonishingly wide-ranging political and cultural figure.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’
Author: Shirley Jackson
“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is a gothic novel by Shirley Jackson, first published in 1962.
This haunting masterpiece stands as Jackson’s final and perhaps most accomplished work, offering a mesmerizing exploration of isolation, family loyalty, and societal persecution.
The narrative follows Mary Katherine “Merricat” Blackwood, an 18-year-old girl who lives with her older sister Constance and ailing Uncle Julian in their family estate.
The Blackwoods exist in self-imposed isolation following a tragic incident six years prior, when arsenic-laced sugar claimed the lives of most family members during dinner.
Through Merricat’s unreliable narration, Jackson crafts a Gothic tale that masterfully blends psychological horror with social commentary.
The protagonist’s voice is both childlike and unsettling, marked by obsessive rituals and protective magic that she believes keeps their diminished family safe from the hostile outside world.
The story’s genius lies in its layered exploration of themes.
On the surface, it is about two sisters living in seclusion, but beneath runs a deeper current about societal persecution, female autonomy, and the price of being different.
The arrival of Cousin Charles, who threatens their carefully maintained isolation, sets in motion events that reveal the true nature of the sisters’ bond and their relationship with the outside world.
Jackson’s prose is precise and atmospheric, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that mirrors the sisters’ physical and psychological isolation.
The novel’s examination of how communities treat those they deem different remains painfully relevant.
The townspeople’s treatment of the Blackwood sisters serves as a sharp critique of mob mentality and social ostracism.
“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” offers a deep dive into the human psyche’s darker corners.
It is a short tale about survival, love, and the lengths people will go to protect their own version of happiness, no matter how twisted it might appear to others.
This enduring classic continues to captivate readers with its unique blend of horror, mystery, and psychological insight, cementing Jackson’s reputation as one of American literature’s most distinctive voices.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Theoretical Ecology’ by Ryan Chisholm
Theoretical ecology explores the mechanisms that structure ecological communities using a variety of mathematical and computational tools.
“Theoretical Ecology” shows you how to translate ecological problems into mechanistic models using both mathematics and the programming language R. The book teaches key concepts and core quantitative skills while also devoting significant attention to the reasons for building mathematical ecological models.
