Review by Eriny Youssef -- Divided World
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Eriny Youssef
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Review by Eriny Youssef -- Divided World
[Following is a volunteer review of "Divided World" by Kenneth Pickering.]
Divided World: Plays of occupation and dispossession is mesmerizing! The book is a collection of plays that discuss problems of the Middle East, immigrants, and refugees. I have to mention that the words "occupation" and "dispossession" perfectly describe the theme of the book. The plays are short and touch upon various issues within the same subject. It is written in stage play script, which gives it a refreshing edge and a fast pace.
The playwrights all have Middle Eastern roots. Hannah Khalil, Kate Al Hadid, Hassan Abdulrazzak and Kenneth Pickering (editor with an introductory play), did a great job in covering the different aspects of the subject under discussion. Collectively, the plays provide a holistic perspective of the problematic situation. Each of the authors has a unique writing style, which makes the reading experience rich and engaging.
I enjoyed reading every single one of the plays, but two of them really stood out to me. The first one is called "Jump" and is the lengthiest of them all. It tells the story of a young man with a passion for parkour. He wants to travel to Greece to compete in the Championship but is faced with the harsh reality that leaving Gaza is nearly impossible. Other corners of his life are revealed as we are introduced to his family and friends. This play was particularly painful and profound.
The other one is "The Several Beheadings of Ashraf Fayadh." It is a repetitive dialogue between Ashraf, a youth, and a man. Ashraf is a refugee chatting with the youth, and the man is trying to arrest Ashraf. In my opinion, the author's writing in this one is something to look up to. I read it twice in a row, just out of pure admiration. He perfectly put humor to good use when handling a delicate topic.
What I liked the most about Divided World: Plays of occupation and dispossession is the intimate angle from which the stories are being told. The plays tell all the different—and normally overlooked—consequences that come with war and the occupation of countries. The intimate angle and the stage play script format provide a visceral quality. It feels like you are inside the play rather than just reading it.
There is nothing in particular that I disliked about this book. It is very enjoyable and eye-opening. It makes you want to know more about similar topics. This read should appeal to those who love history, politics and societal issues. This should be the perfect choice for those who enjoy stage plays, as well. Nevertheless, the overall theme, the use of adult language, and the presence of explicit sexual situations make it unsuitable for the young audience.
I give this book 4 out of 4. It is very well-edited with very few errors. I lost track of time reading it and finished it in on sitting. Concise, powerful, and moving are the words to describe it.
******
Divided World
View: on Bookshelves
Divided World: Plays of occupation and dispossession is mesmerizing! The book is a collection of plays that discuss problems of the Middle East, immigrants, and refugees. I have to mention that the words "occupation" and "dispossession" perfectly describe the theme of the book. The plays are short and touch upon various issues within the same subject. It is written in stage play script, which gives it a refreshing edge and a fast pace.
The playwrights all have Middle Eastern roots. Hannah Khalil, Kate Al Hadid, Hassan Abdulrazzak and Kenneth Pickering (editor with an introductory play), did a great job in covering the different aspects of the subject under discussion. Collectively, the plays provide a holistic perspective of the problematic situation. Each of the authors has a unique writing style, which makes the reading experience rich and engaging.
I enjoyed reading every single one of the plays, but two of them really stood out to me. The first one is called "Jump" and is the lengthiest of them all. It tells the story of a young man with a passion for parkour. He wants to travel to Greece to compete in the Championship but is faced with the harsh reality that leaving Gaza is nearly impossible. Other corners of his life are revealed as we are introduced to his family and friends. This play was particularly painful and profound.
The other one is "The Several Beheadings of Ashraf Fayadh." It is a repetitive dialogue between Ashraf, a youth, and a man. Ashraf is a refugee chatting with the youth, and the man is trying to arrest Ashraf. In my opinion, the author's writing in this one is something to look up to. I read it twice in a row, just out of pure admiration. He perfectly put humor to good use when handling a delicate topic.
What I liked the most about Divided World: Plays of occupation and dispossession is the intimate angle from which the stories are being told. The plays tell all the different—and normally overlooked—consequences that come with war and the occupation of countries. The intimate angle and the stage play script format provide a visceral quality. It feels like you are inside the play rather than just reading it.
There is nothing in particular that I disliked about this book. It is very enjoyable and eye-opening. It makes you want to know more about similar topics. This read should appeal to those who love history, politics and societal issues. This should be the perfect choice for those who enjoy stage plays, as well. Nevertheless, the overall theme, the use of adult language, and the presence of explicit sexual situations make it unsuitable for the young audience.
I give this book 4 out of 4. It is very well-edited with very few errors. I lost track of time reading it and finished it in on sitting. Concise, powerful, and moving are the words to describe it.
******
Divided World
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Yesterday by Samyann
