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Once in a Promised Land
A BookSense Notable Title for February 2007
Once in a Promised Land is the story of a couple, Jassim and Salwa, who left the deserts of their native Jordan for those of Arizona, each chasing their own dreams of opportunity and freedom. Although the two live far from Ground Zero, they cannot escape the nationwide fallout from 9/11. Jassim, a hydrologist, believes passionately in his mission to keep the water tables from dropping and make water accessible to all people, but his work is threatened by an FBI witch hunt for domestic terrorists. Salwa, a Palestinian now twice displaced, grappling to put down roots in an inhospitable climate, becomes pregnant against her husband's wishes and then loses the baby. When Jassim kills a teenage boy in a terrible accident and Salwa becomes hopelessly entangled with a shady young American, their tenuous lives in exile and their fragile marriage begin to unravel . This intimate account of two parallel lives is an achingly honest look at what it means to straddle cultures, to be viewed with suspicion, and to struggle to find save haven.
Once in a Promised Land is the story of a couple, Jassim and Salwa, who left the deserts of their native Jordan for those of Arizona, each chasing their own dreams of opportunity and freedom. Although the two live far from Ground Zero, they cannot escape the nationwide fallout from 9/11. Jassim, a hydrologist, believes passionately in his mission to keep the water tables from dropping and make water accessible to all people, but his work is threatened by an FBI witch hunt for domestic terrorists. Salwa, a Palestinian now twice displaced, grappling to put down roots in an inhospitable climate, becomes pregnant against her husband's wishes and then loses the baby. When Jassim kills a teenage boy in a terrible accident and Salwa becomes hopelessly entangled with a shady young American, their tenuous lives in exile and their fragile marriage begin to unravel . This intimate account of two parallel lives is an achingly honest look at what it means to straddle cultures, to be viewed with suspicion, and to struggle to find save haven.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
8 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Laila Halaby
7 books18 followersLaila Halaby was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to a Jordanian father and an American mother. She speaks four languages, won a Fulbright scholarship to study folklore in Jordan, and holds a master's degree in Arabic literature.
Halaby is the author of two (Beacon Press) novels, Once in a Promised Land (voted one of the top 100 works of fiction in 2007 by the Washington Post, also a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection) and West of the Jordan (winner of a PEN Beyond Margins award), a memoir, The Weight of Ghosts (Red Hen Press), and two collections of poetry, why an author writes to a guy holding a fish (2leaf Press) and my name on his tongue (Syracuse University Press). Laila was the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship and holds two master’s degrees, in Near Eastern Languages and Culture from UCLA and in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. She works as a counselor in psychosocial oncology at the University of Arizona and also collaborates with communities and organizations to implement creative writing classes and other programming.
Halaby is the author of two (Beacon Press) novels, Once in a Promised Land (voted one of the top 100 works of fiction in 2007 by the Washington Post, also a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection) and West of the Jordan (winner of a PEN Beyond Margins award), a memoir, The Weight of Ghosts (Red Hen Press), and two collections of poetry, why an author writes to a guy holding a fish (2leaf Press) and my name on his tongue (Syracuse University Press). Laila was the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship and holds two master’s degrees, in Near Eastern Languages and Culture from UCLA and in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. She works as a counselor in psychosocial oncology at the University of Arizona and also collaborates with communities and organizations to implement creative writing classes and other programming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 20, 2013
This story was "real"--not a read for someone looking for a cheery pick-me up. Very captivating and talks about real life problems that people have when living between two worlds and not finding a
"home" in either--nor within themselves.
The End?
The End.
Wait a sec.
What is it?
There's no "they lived happily ever after"?
"Happily ever after" only happens in American fairy tales.
Wasn't this an American fairy tale?
It was and it wasn't.
"home" in either--nor within themselves.
The End?
The End.
Wait a sec.
What is it?
There's no "they lived happily ever after"?
"Happily ever after" only happens in American fairy tales.
Wasn't this an American fairy tale?
It was and it wasn't.
February 17, 2024
This is my quickest read and random pick as well (for I had to prepare an academic paper on this book). The theme is quite simple and so is the plot. If you have read contemporary Arabic literature post 9/11 then you will find it repetitive. Multiple themes are there and a dilemma of choices and desires. We find a Jordanian couple struggling to settle in the American environment at the expense of their personal life.
Characters are complex, but the strange thing is despite being a couple, Jassim & Salwa never share their fears and thoughts with each other and that eventually leads to a distance between them. Overall, this book presents a fine narrative of the immigrant life where the immigrant has to walk on a fine blade aiming to balance both the personal and professional duties. I especially liked the influence of the homeland and of course the recollections of the homeland.
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The Palestinian heritage of Salwa was also beautifully explained. The imagery of the homeland is strong and thought provoking. 10/10 for the beautiful imagery and the folklores which are a part of the narrative. Author has worked quite hard in reviving the heritage through her storytelling power.
Characters are complex, but the strange thing is despite being a couple, Jassim & Salwa never share their fears and thoughts with each other and that eventually leads to a distance between them. Overall, this book presents a fine narrative of the immigrant life where the immigrant has to walk on a fine blade aiming to balance both the personal and professional duties. I especially liked the influence of the homeland and of course the recollections of the homeland.
🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
The Palestinian heritage of Salwa was also beautifully explained. The imagery of the homeland is strong and thought provoking. 10/10 for the beautiful imagery and the folklores which are a part of the narrative. Author has worked quite hard in reviving the heritage through her storytelling power.
February 8, 2009
This book was intriguing at first. Halaby creates two rich characters, Jassim and Salwa Haddad, whose personal lives become much more complicated post-9/11. Jassim, comfortably encapsulated in his routine, accidentally hits a boy with his car, killing the boy and pushing Jassim's life off course. He grows distant from his wife. Salwa, meanwhile, suffers a miscarriage after intentionally "accidentally" getting pregnant and conducts a brief, confused affair with a much younger coworker. As their lives spiral out of control, their odd behaviour fuels the mounting suspicions of misguided patriots.
I enjoyed my stay in Jassim's and Salwa's minds, exploring their reactions to the tragedies that befall them and how they deal with the consequences of their own decisions. Jassim craves order and clings to the familiar. Salwa, on the other hand, has an unfulfilled need for passion that leads her astray at the nadir of her marriage. Both struggle with how much they have adapted to American culture, how much of their heritage they have sublimated in favour of buying into the American dreams of "freedom" and "peace."
The first two thirds of this book drew me in and didn't let me go. The unfolding family drama was compelling; Halaby takes her two characters, already at odds with their environment, and destroys any hope of finding a safe zone in which they can live happy lives. I was utterly enthralled and wanted to see how it would turn out.
Unfortunately, what began as a five-star book soon became more ponderous and less enjoyable. The portions involving Salwa's affair took on an American Beauty-like atmosphere. They felt inexorable and far too dark for my taste. Halaby describes Salwa's mixed reluctance and eagerness perfectly; I understand what she was trying to communicate in these scenes. But I just couldn't enjoy it. It felt wrong. The beginning of the affair may have been natural, but thereafter it felt artificial, plot-driven. The same goes for the relationship Jassim begins to develop with another woman (who feels entirely like a redundant character, much like the dark shadow cast by Salwa's ineffective ex-boyfriend).
Parts of Once in a Promised Land were wonderful and enchanting. At times, I do feel immersed in another culture, and Halaby shows me the lonelier aspects of living in a country that can seem foreign and familiar at the same time. Ultimately, the book couldn't sustain that sense of wonder.
I enjoyed my stay in Jassim's and Salwa's minds, exploring their reactions to the tragedies that befall them and how they deal with the consequences of their own decisions. Jassim craves order and clings to the familiar. Salwa, on the other hand, has an unfulfilled need for passion that leads her astray at the nadir of her marriage. Both struggle with how much they have adapted to American culture, how much of their heritage they have sublimated in favour of buying into the American dreams of "freedom" and "peace."
The first two thirds of this book drew me in and didn't let me go. The unfolding family drama was compelling; Halaby takes her two characters, already at odds with their environment, and destroys any hope of finding a safe zone in which they can live happy lives. I was utterly enthralled and wanted to see how it would turn out.
Unfortunately, what began as a five-star book soon became more ponderous and less enjoyable. The portions involving Salwa's affair took on an American Beauty-like atmosphere. They felt inexorable and far too dark for my taste. Halaby describes Salwa's mixed reluctance and eagerness perfectly; I understand what she was trying to communicate in these scenes. But I just couldn't enjoy it. It felt wrong. The beginning of the affair may have been natural, but thereafter it felt artificial, plot-driven. The same goes for the relationship Jassim begins to develop with another woman (who feels entirely like a redundant character, much like the dark shadow cast by Salwa's ineffective ex-boyfriend).
Parts of Once in a Promised Land were wonderful and enchanting. At times, I do feel immersed in another culture, and Halaby shows me the lonelier aspects of living in a country that can seem foreign and familiar at the same time. Ultimately, the book couldn't sustain that sense of wonder.
March 1, 2024
usually i look at books i read for school very differently than books i read for fun but i actually found myself getting really into this outside of thinking about my essay which was a fun surprise
June 26, 2018
The appetiser was fine but the main course was under cooked.
The story of a Jordanian doctor in water harvesting and his Palestinian wife (born in the USA but raised in Jordan) in the period just after 9/11 living in Arizona. They both have secrets, they are under scrutiny as Arabs but I just did not care what happened as everything seemed a bit contrived.
The story of a Jordanian doctor in water harvesting and his Palestinian wife (born in the USA but raised in Jordan) in the period just after 9/11 living in Arizona. They both have secrets, they are under scrutiny as Arabs but I just did not care what happened as everything seemed a bit contrived.
February 28, 2016
If I ever got around to doing my own writing, I hope my style would be reminiscent of Laila Halaby's. This was so beautifully written, so heartbreaking, so powerful, and so real.
May 23, 2025
This is the story of a married Palestinian couple living in Arizona. Their relationship has grown stale, and they are drifting apart. Both are keeping secrets from the other, which only serves to widen the gulf between them. Jassim is an engineer who has made it his life's work to preserve and protect valuable water resources. Salwa, his wife, is a bank teller and part-time realtor. But in the aftermath of the attacks on 11 September 2001, their lives slowly begin to fall apart. Salwa finds herself irresistibly drawn to a younger man, a co-worker, who flirts with her. Jassim kills a teenage skateboarder in a tragic accident. And the changes in their behaviors arouses suspicions and soon the FBI is looking into their history to determine if they might be terrorists.
This story is a mostly a character study that delves into their relationships. Both Jassim and Salwa have admirable traits, but they are both deeply flawed, and both are sufficiently self-absorbed to be blinded to what is going on with the other, with predictably tragic consequences. In its way, this is a cautionary tale about taking our partners for granted and about how relationships can founder without good communications. And, like life, this story doesn't finish with a neat and clean conclusion, but leaves us wondering what the future might hold for this couple.
This story is a mostly a character study that delves into their relationships. Both Jassim and Salwa have admirable traits, but they are both deeply flawed, and both are sufficiently self-absorbed to be blinded to what is going on with the other, with predictably tragic consequences. In its way, this is a cautionary tale about taking our partners for granted and about how relationships can founder without good communications. And, like life, this story doesn't finish with a neat and clean conclusion, but leaves us wondering what the future might hold for this couple.
February 12, 2017
Read for book discussion and will call my "passionately recommend" title for winter book bingo 2017.
August 8, 2007
Something about the cover made me pick up this book. You see the man swimming in the water, but the shadow is of an airplane. At first I didn't notice the plane, but the book slowly incorporates the two - water and the attacks of September 11th - to shadow the story of Jassim and his wife Salwa.
Salwa and Jassim suffer in many ways after the events that unfold in their lives. Salwa suffers after a miscarriage, Jassim is involved in a deadly car accident and both turn inside themselves instead of to one another, causing their relationship and marriage to weaken.
There are parts of the story that seem unnecessary, like Salwa's ex-boyfriend's point of view thrown in here and there, but overall, it is interesting to see the way Haliby chose to portray these individuals and the way they handle their own personal tragedies.
What is most interesting in the psychology of the characters is the way that the situations they experience are truly unique in that not even their partner can understand what they could possibly be going through. It made me think twice about perspective and trying to sympathize when others experience any sort of loss or go through a life-altering event.
Haliby does a wonderful job stepping inside both the male and female mind with this couple as they struggle to understand themselves and how to deal with their own guilt and grief after the decisions they make.
The ending fails to deliver any resolution - no happy ending or confessions that you expect.
Not my first recommendation but certainly a good book that covers a wide range of topics, from culture and stereotypes, to the complexities of marriage (or any relationship).
Salwa and Jassim suffer in many ways after the events that unfold in their lives. Salwa suffers after a miscarriage, Jassim is involved in a deadly car accident and both turn inside themselves instead of to one another, causing their relationship and marriage to weaken.
There are parts of the story that seem unnecessary, like Salwa's ex-boyfriend's point of view thrown in here and there, but overall, it is interesting to see the way Haliby chose to portray these individuals and the way they handle their own personal tragedies.
What is most interesting in the psychology of the characters is the way that the situations they experience are truly unique in that not even their partner can understand what they could possibly be going through. It made me think twice about perspective and trying to sympathize when others experience any sort of loss or go through a life-altering event.
Haliby does a wonderful job stepping inside both the male and female mind with this couple as they struggle to understand themselves and how to deal with their own guilt and grief after the decisions they make.
The ending fails to deliver any resolution - no happy ending or confessions that you expect.
Not my first recommendation but certainly a good book that covers a wide range of topics, from culture and stereotypes, to the complexities of marriage (or any relationship).
February 8, 2011
Not the best writing - up from a Harlequinn - but no magic. The plot had some problems. In a small town/big city like Tucson, the "accident" surely would have made the local papers/TV news and yet none of the main characters seemed to watch TV or read the paper as they had no idea that this event happened. Very unrealistic. It kind of ended with no ending or "you figure it out." I did finish the book as I was interested in how the story would end but....... I think the book blurbs were a little over the top compared to the book's reality.
September 24, 2012
I liked the idea of the book, but didn't connect with it. Each of the characters were so flawed that I would not have associated with them. They were lying to themselves and to each other. The book had a tendency to repeat itself by telling another person's view of the story. I didn't like the foreshadowing that often occurred.
April 1, 2014
Wow- loved it. Although the marketers decided to sell this one as a novel about one couple's journey through post-9/11 America, it really is about one couple's journey in which 9/11 is just a stop along the way. Beautifully, starkly, and powerfully written, this was a refreshing change of pace and I highly recommend it!
January 19, 2014
never got past pg 75. slow story. interesting idea to write about post-911 from a muslim american POV but it just didn't catch my attention long enough.
May 30, 2022
This novel takes a look at the lives of a Jordanian couple living in the U.S. after September 2001. As America descends into suspicion and terror, racism and bigotry overwhelms the lives of ordinary, innocent people. This book examines the lives of two such people, dealing with their own personal traumas as they navigate the harshness of a post 9/11 USA.
A 3.5 star read!
This skilfully written novel reveals the true immigrant experience while in the process exposing the darker side of society- where prejudice and discrimination can often appear where you least expect it; where friends and colleagues would betray you; and where you pay a high price for a “western lifestyle” when you have an “eastern mindset”.
Main issues with this book are the characters and the ending. Salwa and Jassim just lack main character energy. They’re often one dimensional and well… irritating. I felt as if Jassim was self absorbed and a little cold. I also felt that his wife Salwa was shallow and deceitful. I didn’t warm up to either even though they both showed growth at the end.
The ending was another reason I removed a star. It was bland and abrupt. For a plot driven novel, this was a disappointing conclusion.
Many topics are covered here- adultery, deceit, cultural differences, fear/paranoia, prejudice. So it’s still a worthwhile read. There are many twists and turns that make you want to keep turning the page.
Honestly the best thing about this book is actually the writing and descriptions. It uses tales as metaphors to illustrate the closeness of the novel’s plot to a specific culture’s tale. In this novel Halaby depicts how Arab Muslims felt when they first entered America and how they had always pictured America as a great country “Promised Land” as the major characters do in the novel. She also reflects upon the disillusionment of Muslims who realized only after 9/11 how fabricated their picture of America is.
A 3.5 star read!
This skilfully written novel reveals the true immigrant experience while in the process exposing the darker side of society- where prejudice and discrimination can often appear where you least expect it; where friends and colleagues would betray you; and where you pay a high price for a “western lifestyle” when you have an “eastern mindset”.
Main issues with this book are the characters and the ending. Salwa and Jassim just lack main character energy. They’re often one dimensional and well… irritating. I felt as if Jassim was self absorbed and a little cold. I also felt that his wife Salwa was shallow and deceitful. I didn’t warm up to either even though they both showed growth at the end.
The ending was another reason I removed a star. It was bland and abrupt. For a plot driven novel, this was a disappointing conclusion.
Many topics are covered here- adultery, deceit, cultural differences, fear/paranoia, prejudice. So it’s still a worthwhile read. There are many twists and turns that make you want to keep turning the page.
Honestly the best thing about this book is actually the writing and descriptions. It uses tales as metaphors to illustrate the closeness of the novel’s plot to a specific culture’s tale. In this novel Halaby depicts how Arab Muslims felt when they first entered America and how they had always pictured America as a great country “Promised Land” as the major characters do in the novel. She also reflects upon the disillusionment of Muslims who realized only after 9/11 how fabricated their picture of America is.
November 24, 2021
(Leído para mi clase de Multicultural Literature)
He dudado sobre cómo puntuar este libro porque no sé si me ha gustado la historia o si realmente solo disfrutaba del estilo de la autora. La verdad es que no había leído ningún relato sobre el 9/11, y qué mejor forma de hacerlo que leyendo desde la perspectiva de árabes residentes en Estados Unidos, víctimas de la islamofobia e histeria colectiva que desató el atentado. Puede que haga mi ensayo final de esta asignatura sobre el elemento del lenguaje en esta novela. En este caso, me ha interesado más la parte de Literature que de Multicultural.
Death has a way of peeling the safety film from people's eyeballs, allowing in what is really there rather than the filtered view through the comfort of routine.
He dudado sobre cómo puntuar este libro porque no sé si me ha gustado la historia o si realmente solo disfrutaba del estilo de la autora. La verdad es que no había leído ningún relato sobre el 9/11, y qué mejor forma de hacerlo que leyendo desde la perspectiva de árabes residentes en Estados Unidos, víctimas de la islamofobia e histeria colectiva que desató el atentado. Puede que haga mi ensayo final de esta asignatura sobre el elemento del lenguaje en esta novela. En este caso, me ha interesado más la parte de Literature que de Multicultural.
Death has a way of peeling the safety film from people's eyeballs, allowing in what is really there rather than the filtered view through the comfort of routine.
October 30, 2020
3.75 stars.
For white people and non-Arabs, it’s a must read because it shows the discrimination Arabs and Muslims face in America (though not the full extent because the main characters are secular upper-middle class). For Muslims and Arabs, it’s triggering as hell. Yes it captures some of the struggles regarding home and anxiety really well, and a lot of the struggles faced by the characters are very realistic, but to have to relive these experiences (one could even call it trauma) and have them articulated and put on display like too much, especially considering our current political climate.
For white people and non-Arabs, it’s a must read because it shows the discrimination Arabs and Muslims face in America (though not the full extent because the main characters are secular upper-middle class). For Muslims and Arabs, it’s triggering as hell. Yes it captures some of the struggles regarding home and anxiety really well, and a lot of the struggles faced by the characters are very realistic, but to have to relive these experiences (one could even call it trauma) and have them articulated and put on display like too much, especially considering our current political climate.
May 8, 2024
I was intrigued to find a book about Arab immigrants in Az of all places, and this did not disappoint. Jassim and Salwa are married and can’t communicate about anything important (which is kind of classic Arab behavior!) and instead make increasingly wrong choices independently until everything finally comes to a head. I really enjoyed the writing and even though their dysfunction was frustrating, I was still able to understand where each character was coming from and why they made the choices they did.
March 13, 2024
Interesting narrative on the Arab experience in the United States post 9/11. Jassim and Salwa’s relationship was horrible and I thoroughly disliked the way they each handled stress in this situations. The progression of each conflict was stressful but showed a realistic life experience. Overall it was a good novel but not one I would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
This book held my attention however it wasn't as interesting as I hoped it would be. I had trouble connecting with the characters and the choices that they made. It was an interesting take on and glimpse into the post 911 days giving me a new perspective.
September 28, 2020
Although it was a beautiful irony, I found that there were too many fillers narratives that are unnecessary. At first, it was intriguing to see where the plot is headed, but it jumped out too long to the main conflict and I found it really boring at some point.
January 13, 2025
Unnecessarily long. I didn't find the plot to be exactly rich in interest. While it does a good job reflecting on the post 9/11 Arab American experience, it personally didn't do it any justice for me.
February 13, 2019
my first novel of laila Halaby , i liked it the style is good , also the story is original i would read other writings of the author with enthusiasm .
June 12, 2020
It is the most boring book ever. Don’t waste you time on it.
Read
September 27, 2020good
October 11, 2021
I enjoyed the premise of this book but the execution wasn’t great after a while. I did enjoy it nonetheless but as an Arab American I expected a bit more. Still a good read!
March 5, 2024
Once in a promised Land.. a novel written by Laila Halaby.. At first sight you may think this may be a success story according to the title.. however when you get to read the work you realize many things.. in her work Laila Halaby tells us the story of a Jordanian married couple Jassim and Salwa who travels to the USA and establish a life there .. They lived peacefully until the day of the 9/11 attacks which turned their lives upside down. Now All Arabs are suspicious and untrustworthy .. Salwa and Jassim suffer of unjust treatment from American people and even from the American government.. many things happen which can make you think that Salwa and Jassim do not reflect their conservative background and their culture of origin.. things become so chaotic and the ending is even more surprising .. I personally enjoyed reading the novel with all the details that halaby has added like folklore stories .. retellings ..
Did I love the book? Well yeah I loved it so much .. I've enjoyed reading the book from start to finish .. liked the nice combination of characters ..I didn't like some wrong decision taken by Salwa .. she wasn't supposed to betray the trust of her husband... And most importantly.. to betray herself and her values ... This is something I do not respect about some body who lives in another country .. and becomes very stranger to his culture .. and to himself..
Will I recommend this novel? Yeah I recommend it to everyone who likes stories of immigration, Arab American and immigrant struggle
Will I read this book again? Well honestly yeah ..I can read this book again because I'm in love with myths and folklore .. I also liked how the author played with the language .. and switched between two cultures.. such works reflect culture which is the aim of literature.. to introduce diversity among people ..
This novel opens our eyes on many things .. and it's timeless .. it was published on 2007 .. but it is worth reading ..
Will I read more for Leila Halaby? I think yeah .. I'm kind of curious to read other works of hers ..❤️😍
Did I love the book? Well yeah I loved it so much .. I've enjoyed reading the book from start to finish .. liked the nice combination of characters ..I didn't like some wrong decision taken by Salwa .. she wasn't supposed to betray the trust of her husband... And most importantly.. to betray herself and her values ... This is something I do not respect about some body who lives in another country .. and becomes very stranger to his culture .. and to himself..
Will I recommend this novel? Yeah I recommend it to everyone who likes stories of immigration, Arab American and immigrant struggle
Will I read this book again? Well honestly yeah ..I can read this book again because I'm in love with myths and folklore .. I also liked how the author played with the language .. and switched between two cultures.. such works reflect culture which is the aim of literature.. to introduce diversity among people ..
This novel opens our eyes on many things .. and it's timeless .. it was published on 2007 .. but it is worth reading ..
Will I read more for Leila Halaby? I think yeah .. I'm kind of curious to read other works of hers ..❤️😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2016
It is unlike me to enter a review many days after finishing a book, especially one where it was the book group choice and I no longer have it, bristling with my little flags to go back to passages that I partifcularly like. I did finish Once in a Promised Land (by Laila Halaby) as part of the ongoing book group gathering at the local library under the umbrella of the Maine Council on the Humanities series "Let's Talk About It: Violence and Belonging" which has been meeting every two weeks, which all by itself has been a huge challenge given my current school load and other assorted obligations! But I have been enjoying the series and the discussions so much and wanted to stick with it. This is the fourth book, with one more to go, and then back to a once-a-month meeting which at least allows me to read something from my own huge stack of waiting books! This novel, just to give a really brief presentation, centers on a Jordanian couple living in Tucson for about 9 years when 9/11 changes the mood of the country and makes the experience of being a Muslim in America vastly different. And yet that is only one layer of a book which, although in my opinion not as cohesively and persuasively written as I would have hoped, presents two people in a marriage which has reached a point of struggles, with each person going through a big trauma which is temporarily hidden from the other, and each becomes embroiled in other relationships too. At some level I think it is largely about the experience of alienation and trying to find one's authentic needs.... The folklore tales woven in throughout, dealing with the ghula who entraps with millions of threads, was fascinating and confusing too. Although I think the couple comes together at the end, as my interpretation of the final tale, there were other ideas. A rich and unsettling read.
January 10, 2008
I have been looking forward to reading this book for a long time, since the cover designer spoke at a meeting I went to, before the book was even published. The story of a Jordanian couple living the US, and the events that transpire after September 11...right up my alley. And in true judging a book by its cover fashion, I was transfixed by the jacket design (the hardcover version, alas, not the one pictured above).
It was a good book: touching, compelling, well-structured. I mean, I was really emotionally moved and even angered by certain moments, certain passages, sometimes by the characters as though they were real people. But in the way that anticipation can sometimes build something up more than it deserves, I felt a little disappointed. It moved too slowly, it didn't suck me in the way I wanted it to. I expected to be transfixed, the way the move exquisite novels can transfix a person, and I just wasn't.
I can say, though, that this novel grew on me, and by the last few chapters I absolutely couldn't stop reading, I had to know what was going to happen. Halaby builds the plot masterfully, and my three star-disappointment probably has much more to do with my overly high expectations than any failings of the novel itself.
It was a good book: touching, compelling, well-structured. I mean, I was really emotionally moved and even angered by certain moments, certain passages, sometimes by the characters as though they were real people. But in the way that anticipation can sometimes build something up more than it deserves, I felt a little disappointed. It moved too slowly, it didn't suck me in the way I wanted it to. I expected to be transfixed, the way the move exquisite novels can transfix a person, and I just wasn't.
I can say, though, that this novel grew on me, and by the last few chapters I absolutely couldn't stop reading, I had to know what was going to happen. Halaby builds the plot masterfully, and my three star-disappointment probably has much more to do with my overly high expectations than any failings of the novel itself.
July 8, 2008
I was intrigued by the premise of this novel - how life changes for a Jordanian couple living in America post-9/11. Also, this book garnered some critical acclaim. But...it wasn't a "can't put down"; it was more like "I can't not finish" because the wife is such a train wreck. I kept asking myself why she made the choices that she made, and could find no reason. If you are interested in reading another story about the immigrant experience in America, check this out. In my opinion, it was dark like House of Sand and Fog, but didn't have some of the levity found in Middlesex, both books that I really loved about the immigrant experience.
November 15, 2007
The story about Jordan natives moving across to the United States in a post 9/11 life is really written quite frank, quite believable, and very un-fairy tale-like. But more than the cross cultural differences, Halaby writes with a frankness about a man and a wife and the relationship they must work at to keep alive and thriving. It is a realistic read, with moving moments in a scary reality that a lot of Jordanians seem to face in this day and age.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews