In the Country of Men
Registered by 
SqueakyChu
of Rockville, Maryland USA on 1/30/2018
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
SqueakyChu of Rockville, Maryland USA on 1/30/2018 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I selected this book at the recently re-opened The Book Thing of Baltimore. Thank you! After selecting about 100 books, I went for lunch with my two friends to the nearby Papermoon Diner, a Baltimore icon. What fun!
Thank you so much!
I read this book over ten years ago. This is what I wrote after I read it...
Nine-year-old Suleiman who lives in Tripoli, Libya, under the regime of General Moammar El- Qadaffi, tries to make sense of his environment. Suleiman loves his mom very much, but she always seems ill when his dad is away. His dad goes abroad to bring back commodities to sell in Tripoli. Once, Suleiman see his father on the street, realizes his dad is not abroad, and does not understand why his dad refuses to recognize or greet him. Later a neighbor’s father is taken away by the men of the Revolution.
It must be hard to be a kid, not understand the intricacies of relationships or politics and to feel secure at the same time. Suleiman watches. He wants to learn. He needs to know what is going on. Told in beautiful spare prose, the author lingers on the thoughts of a child on the cusp of growing up. Through first person narrative, the reader is taken into Suleiman’s uncertain world and feels the same love, fear, and anguish as this young man.
As I started this book, I became a bit confused by the characters so I made myself a list. That helped a lot. Once I got the characters straight, I flew through this book. It was heartbreaking but beautiful. I felt so sorry for Suleiman. What a tough situation for a kid. :-(
Later, reading the author's biography, I can see that Hisham Matar put many of his own feelings in the book. I especially found this book interesting because I've never before read any novel about the political situation of Libya. Reading this story has left me very grateful to know that I live in a country in which I can express my dislike its government policies freely and without fear for my life or limb.
I liked the way this book ended. I found it very touching. After finishing this book, I felt I'd like to know more about Suleiman's life as an adult in Egypt. Perhaps Matar will make that into another book?
Nine-year-old Suleiman who lives in Tripoli, Libya, under the regime of General Moammar El- Qadaffi, tries to make sense of his environment. Suleiman loves his mom very much, but she always seems ill when his dad is away. His dad goes abroad to bring back commodities to sell in Tripoli. Once, Suleiman see his father on the street, realizes his dad is not abroad, and does not understand why his dad refuses to recognize or greet him. Later a neighbor’s father is taken away by the men of the Revolution.
It must be hard to be a kid, not understand the intricacies of relationships or politics and to feel secure at the same time. Suleiman watches. He wants to learn. He needs to know what is going on. Told in beautiful spare prose, the author lingers on the thoughts of a child on the cusp of growing up. Through first person narrative, the reader is taken into Suleiman’s uncertain world and feels the same love, fear, and anguish as this young man.
As I started this book, I became a bit confused by the characters so I made myself a list. That helped a lot. Once I got the characters straight, I flew through this book. It was heartbreaking but beautiful. I felt so sorry for Suleiman. What a tough situation for a kid. :-(
Later, reading the author's biography, I can see that Hisham Matar put many of his own feelings in the book. I especially found this book interesting because I've never before read any novel about the political situation of Libya. Reading this story has left me very grateful to know that I live in a country in which I can express my dislike its government policies freely and without fear for my life or limb.
I liked the way this book ended. I found it very touching. After finishing this book, I felt I'd like to know more about Suleiman's life as an adult in Egypt. Perhaps Matar will make that into another book?
Journal Entry 3 by SqueakyChu at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA on Friday, March 2, 2018
SqueakyChu at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA on Friday, March 2, 2018
Released 6 yrs ago (3/7/2018 UTC) at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I'm releasing this book for...
*** The 2018 4 Elements Release Challenge hosted by Firegirl. The book title contains the word COUNTRY.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy the book!
*** The 2018 4 Elements Release Challenge hosted by Firegirl. The book title contains the word COUNTRY.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy the book!
I selected this book from the Little Free Library of Twinbrook (#7720) to travel elsewhere...
Journal Entry 5 by SqueakyChu at Starbucks - Frontier Drive in Springfield, Virginia USA on Friday, March 16, 2018
SqueakyChu at Starbucks - Frontier Drive in Springfield, Virginia USA on Friday, March 16, 2018
Released 6 yrs ago (3/17/2018 UTC) at Starbucks - Frontier Drive in Springfield, Virginia USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I'm releasing this book in conjunction with a BCinDC (my local BookCrossing group) meetup today. This Starbucks has an OBCZ (Official BookCrossing Zone) so it's a great meet-up place...except that I dislike Starbucks coffee intensely and would prefer green beer today instead. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello and welcome to BookCrossing ... where we make the whole world a library!
Now that you've "caught" this book, it is yours to do with as you like. Read it, keep it, or give it away. It's your choice!
I'd love if you'd enter a note here on BookCrossing about this book -- where you found it, how you like it, and/or where you release it. If you join BookCrossing (free and fun), kindly list me, SqueakyChu , or any other journaler on this thread as your referring person. Thank you so much.
Enjoy the book!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello and welcome to BookCrossing ... where we make the whole world a library!
Now that you've "caught" this book, it is yours to do with as you like. Read it, keep it, or give it away. It's your choice!
I'd love if you'd enter a note here on BookCrossing about this book -- where you found it, how you like it, and/or where you release it. If you join BookCrossing (free and fun), kindly list me, SqueakyChu , or any other journaler on this thread as your referring person. Thank you so much.
Enjoy the book!
