Minor Detail

This short novel presents the compelling story of the rape and murder of an unnamed young Palestinian woman by Israeli troops, and the search of a modern day Palestinian woman 25 years later to find her lost story. This well written and insightful book was super hard to find. No luck at local independent booksellers, and first order was cancelled by Amazon due to unavailability (a rare occurance). So, I was doubtful about this second order. Surprisingly, the book arrived promptly, brand new, and in perfect condition from this U.K. supplier. Great service. Thank you!!

A lot of people I follow on social media read this short novella and spoke about how impactful it was. I agree. I love the parallels between the past and the present. All the "minor details" that gave the second chapter and the present being depicted an eerie feel. This book is culturally significant, especially with what's happening now in 2023. I recommend this book. It's always good to read the perspectives of others.

Good

An important, haunting read I would recommend to anyone seeking to understand the history of violence in Israel/Palestine and those who appreciate the art of narration. Shibli tells the story of a massacre of a Bedouin tribe, followed by the rape and murder of its sole survivor, a young woman or girl, first through the eyes of an Israeli military commander, then through those of a Palestinian woman playing detective a generation later. The book helps readers to understand from a Palestinian perspective the fraught modern history of this region from the Palestinian perspective- the Nakba of 1948 during which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians (and Bedouins like Shibli’s family) were driven from the land they had lived on and farmed for generations, the indiscriminate violence against civilians, the conditions under which Palestinians live, and the erasure of Palestinian history and culture in Israeli settlements.

A heartbreaking look into one Palestinian reporter's reality as she delves into a horrific story of inocence lost and (almost) forgotten.

A stark, harrowing novel about the disaster that befell the Palestinians in 1947. Shibili's novel depicts the brutal capture and rape of a Palestinian woman by Israelis, and manages to re-frame this trauma through its retrospective, historical interpretation. Repetitive, occasionally, stiff, Minor Detail, nevertheless is true to the sadism of war.

In this beautifully written novella, we bear witness to how the landscape and geography of Palestine have changed over the years from the perspective of a young Palestinian woman from Gaza. The wall is in progress and the harsher occupational treatment has not been meted out, and yet you can see how the occupation of Palestine has impacted her psyche with every obstacle she overcomes to discover the truth of the crime in 1949 that she has become obsessed with.It is a story that humanises the lived experiences of a woman from Gaza, a people often seen as numbers as best, and animals as worst. It is a beautiful homage to the villages lost and lives taken or displaced since 1948. And a reminder that people who die on their land, live on in it.

This was well written and in this small book, it said all one needed to know about the crisis for the Palestinians.

I finished this book in one sitting. It’s short but impactful historical fiction. Told in two parts this book answers no questions, no breakthrough made for the larger conflict. Just the minor details of two incidents, a snippet of time 50 years apart. It’s a glimpse into life in occupied Palestine.The Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany cancelled an award ceremony and event with the author. This part of an ongoing dismissal of Palestinian voices.

Minor Details is a translated historical fiction. The story has been split into two parts. The first part speaks from the perspective of the soldier who has been appointed to look out the place in Negev. Not to be occupied by any other countries. Everyday, the protagonist goes for the duty from his tent to look after if any people of other countries are surrounded there. One day on going, he suddenly heard a noise coming from the side he was walking. Slowly, the voice was much more clear to him. He saw some camels, a girl lying in blood, and a dog barking constantly. He brought the girl to the tent. Until this, I had the hope that higher officials were having a good heart. But, there happens a twist: he literally digs a hole to make bury it there, that to be alive. Part 2 speaks of a woman from Ramallah who is a journalist. She has fear of things, especially dogs barking. Every night she hears the dark barking in a high pitch from the dessert. She was triggered by particular news. She somehow wanted to know the full details of the story. She goes in search of it. More than the title saying minor details. It was literally haunting details in the second part. Though fictional, I felt the spine chill in my bones. It’s not easy to see things that happened 25 years ago. She learned more about the place and details. It broke my heart to see such things happening even now. The author has wonderfully detailed the history of the place. Though it was only 112 pages. It was more than enough to make me feel haunted by the details. I couldn’t even imagine things. I didn’t spill many details of the story because you should read to know the truth. If you want to read a sad yet very painful story, go ahead with this book.

Un livre qu'il faut absolument lire, surtout avec ce qui« Ce n’est pas le canon qui vaincra, c’est l’homme. »TW : viol collectif, meurtre, génocide, violence policièreCe court roman est scindé en deux : un premier texte écrit à la troisième personne et la seconde partie écrit à la première personne. Dans la première partie, on suit un officier israélien anonyme, plutôt maniaque. Ce qui a été nommé comme "incident" se passe en août 1949 sous sa garde et sa demande : le viol collectif d'une jeune bédouine qui sera ensuite tuée. Dans la seconde partie, on suit une jeune palestinienne de nos jours qui est obsédée par un détail "mineur" de cet incident : le fait qu'il se soit déroulé pile vingt-cinq ans avant son anniversaire.Si les deux parties sont clairement différentes, elles restent indissociables pour comprendre l'histoire. Il faut aussi savoir que cet "incident" dont s'est emparé Adania Shibli pour écrire cette histoire est inspirée d'un véritable crime commis par l'armée israélienne. C'est justement ce moment ainsi que les quelques jours avant que l'on suit dans la première partie, du point de vue de l'instigateur. Le point de vue à la troisième personne nous pousse aussi à avoir un certain recul et à être plus spectateurice des scènes. Un homme inconnu, un homme de guerre et dont les crimes sont considérés comme un détail. Tuer les Bédouins, c'est un détail pour eux. Kidnapper une Bédouine et la violer, c'est un détail pour eux. Organiser un viol collectif, puis la tuer et l'enterrer au milieu du désert, c'est un détail pour eux.Au contraire, la deuxième partie est écrite à la première personne et déjà, nous plonge en tant qu'acteurice de la scène. On suit une jeune palestinienne, très angoissée, mais surtout si obsédée par cette histoire qu'elle va à tout prix chercher des informations. Mais comment le faire, elle, palestinienne confiné dans un endroit contrôlé par les israéliens ? Elle ne peut pas bouger comme elle le veut, ne peut pas parler comme elle veut. Ses détails à elle, ils sont réellement mineurs : son nom, ses cartes, ses repas, son paquet de chewing-gum. Pourtant, là-bas, c'est elle qui sera considérée comme criminelle.Pour avoir cherché vérité s'est passé.

Stilistisch geen woord te veel. en dat is erg zeldzaam. Herinnert me aan"Disgrace" van Coetzee of deromans van Elsschot. Zo dringt de boodschap meteen door tot de kern, en kan de lezer zelf wel de nodige details invullen.Ludo Abicht, UAntwerpen

I believe every incident in the story has happened at different times to different people, but in this book the incidents have been linked to create a story.