Tasting The Sky

In my lit circle, we are reading:

I didn't expect to enjoy this book. I didn't think that I would be able to connect with the characters or their situation simply because I was raised as a Christian, in America. I didn't account for the fascination that would draw me into the story or how much I would love all the characters.

I have also never really had any knowledge of the Israeli Palestinian conflict and now, I find myself googling things like the 6 day war.

I find comfort in how easily this family adapts to their new environments. Obviously this was probably not the case, but just how Ibtisam (our main character) perceived it because of her young age. Having such a young and fairly reliable main character is interesting. One would think that, with her being so young at the start of this book, she would be unaware of almost everything of importance - and maybe she was, but as an adult,Ibtisam is trying to fill in the gaps and make sense of her memories. That being said, I feel that the narration is definitely an adult trying to relive her childhood memories through her words. For instance, I got lost in London when I was six. All I remember is that we were listening to a tour guide and then he stopped talking and let us wander a little and I saw some stuffed peacocks so I went to look at them, but then the group moved on without me. Remembering things like how big the police officer's glasses were and how I liked his funny hat seem like the most clear memories in my mind when they might not have really been very important. They young mind grasps onto the smallest details regardless of their significance. Ibtisam's storytelling is very similar to how I remember my own memories - in fractured parts with very detailed moments that can hold any amount of actual significance to the narrative which I REALLY like. it feels very natural and honest.