Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Oranges: A Graphic Memoir Of Family, Hope, And Palestine" by Ahmad Qatato. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)
"A heartfelt graphic memoir that peels back layers of personal history, trauma, and resillience through generations of Palestine diaspora.
In this poignant narrative, acclaimed graphic designer Ahmad Qatato explores three generations of family his grandparents who were uprooted from their Palestinian homeland and forced to live as refugees; his parents who grew up influenced by Western media and sought to transcend a refugee mentality; and Ahmad and his friends, the third generation scattered across different countries, striving to reconnect with their heritage and foster their own identities amidst the heightened conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.
Growing up, Ahmad would hear stories of his grandfather's cherished orange trees in Palestine, evoking a sense of nostalgia and loss for a mythical place of a past that can never be revisited. As Ahmad got older, these childhood tales became coloured with new meaning and the fruit came to represent both his family's protected unity and the segmented lives they have been forced to live. Stunningly illustrated, Oranges is a powerful exploration of identity, memory, and the enduring bonds of family."
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.
So the reason I wanted to read this is genuinely because I saw it on Netgalley, and I always want to read stories from minority voices, especially ones that are relevant to what's happening in this time period so I requested it. Friends, this story was a beautiful bittersweet memoir on not only what it is like to be a refugee from a country going through decades of genocide, but also of generational trauma and how the stories and fear are truly passed down from one generation to the next. There were so many things I didn't expect from this story, including our main character struggling with his own identity in so many different ways. I also feel like I learned a lot about the history of what has been and is happening in Palestine compared to what is shown through the news. I genuinely feel like this book can educate you more, whilst also giving human account of how this effects generations of families from Palestine. I would 100% recommend reading this, and I will be getting a physical copy of this once it is out.
I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads!
This book comes out on the 13th April 2027!
What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!
Have a wonderful day!
Love, Doe!
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