Monday Musings: Mornings In Jenin...

Over the weekend I finished reading "Mornings In Jenin" by Susan Abulhawa. It is a novel set against the background of the Palestine-Israel conflict - a conflict that I have been aware of and that has been going on since before I was born but one I have never really known too much about. Susan herself was born to refugees of the Six Day War of 1967, when her family's land was seized and Israel captured what remained of Palestine, including Jerusalem. It is very much a story which gives voice to the experience of Palestinians, a voice which hasn't been expressed a lot, if at all, in literature. Rather than encouraging the reader to takes sides, however, Susan's writing brings to the forefront the commonality of the human experience. I can honestly say that it has been a long time since I have read a novel that is so beautifully written that you can feel every ounce of emotion from every character. Susan's phrasing and use of language literally transports you so that you feel as though you understand the culture and the time and relationships, even though you have no experience of any of it. 


It is undoubtedly a tragic story - there were points in it where I literally had to stop reading because the level of tragedy, pain and sorrow seemed unbearable. What kept me reading though, was the thought that the story of these people needed to be honoured by me reading and acknowledging it. (Yes it is a novel, but it is written about events and experiences that occurred for thousands and thousands of people). I think what got me the most too, was the thought that all over the world, atrocities, destruction and violence is the norm and is the experience of life for so many people - simply as a result of where they are born and the decisions of others. The human spirit continues to amaze me in regards to the things that people can live through and yet they still carry on. 


Despite the tragedy, devastation, war and oppression, there is an overwhelming sense of family, hope and love that pervades the story. It is well worth the read, not only for the insights that it provides into the Palestine-Israel conflict but also for the effect that such a beautifully written novel has on the reader emotionally. A really unforgettable novel......