Review by REIGN GODDESS -- Divided World

Huini Hellen · Post by **Huini Hellen** » 10 Oct 2020, 08:16

[Following is a volunteer review of "Divided World" by Kenneth Pickering.]

4 out of 4 stars

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"War" and "colonialism" are words that we may have only interacted with in our History and Government classes, watched them on television or maybe read about them on the Internet. Rarely do we meet authors like Kenneth Pickering, who through his book - Divided World - have uniquely brought us an experience of wartime. I was further intrigued by the author's creative assembly of his imaginations, thoughts and ideas, which led him to write plays that factored in the ills of war, desire for vengeance and the ultimate quest for peace.

The playwright's book deserves a rating of four out of four stars for his outstanding writing skills. Since most of the scenes were acted out in the Middle East, the author's inclusion of Islamic and Arabic vocabulary gave the book an authentic feeling and as a reader, I felt bonded to the characters' thoughts, ideas, emotions and even feelings. Pickering must have hired professional editors to edit this book because I only found two typographical errors, which involved misspelling of a character's name.

The greatest aspect that I admired about this book is its unique characterization. The author's cast included characters from diverse religions and races, who either directly or indirectly, were involved in the Middle East war. For instance, this diversity allowed me to distinguish between the French and British systems of administration. It further gave me a glimpse of each nation's motivations and what led them to occupy a certain region. Pickering also had some monologues, where an individual character would engage in soliloquy for the entire play. The effect of this was that I comprehended an individual's reaction to the state of their countries. My judgement towards their conduct was better informed as I had a better understanding of their mental states, which had been negatively affected by the war.

My favourite play was A Negotiation , which was a monologue, with Woman as the character. She had been drafted into the war but chose to study up to university level instead. She then came back to work for Americans, much to the disdain of her parents and other kin. Through her, the debate between religion and spirituality was ignited in me. I managed to question the motives of an atheist in contrast to a religious individual matters war and patriotism.

There is nothing that I liked least about this book. I recommend it to victims of war and students of history. Patriotic citizens may also enjoy the prospect of reclaiming their nation's freedom even if blood has to be shed. The book is a simple read with language that is conversant for all. However, it contains some expletives, which may not go down well with conservative readers.

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Divided World
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Sou Hi · Post by **Sou Hi** » 27 Oct 2020, 23:09

Thank you for your detailed review. Looks like there are many interesting aspects in this book aside from its Middle East theme.

khaulah · Post by **khaulah** » 28 Oct 2020, 00:52

I infer from your review that this book is worth giving a read. It would help me understand the complex situation in the Middle East a little better. I'm absolutely intrigued. I loved your review. Looking forward to reading your other reviews as well.

Huini Hellen · Post by **Huini Hellen** » 08 Nov 2020, 02:04

Sou Hi wrote: ↑27 Oct 2020, 23:09 Thank you for your detailed review. Looks like there are many interesting aspects in this book aside from its Middle East theme.

You would definitely be guaranteed of a fulfilling reading experience. Thank you for the comment.

Huini Hellen · Post by **Huini Hellen** » 08 Nov 2020, 02:05

khaulah wrote: ↑28 Oct 2020, 00:52 I infer from your review that this book is worth giving a read. It would help me understand the complex situation in the Middle East a little better. I'm absolutely intrigued. I loved your review. Looking forward to reading your other reviews as well.

Your kind words are so encouraging. I'm really grateful for them.