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Susan Abulhawa
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The Blue Between Sky and Water Hardcover – September 1, 2015

by Susan Abulhawa (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 908 ratings
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In the small Palestinian farming village of Beit Daras, the women of the Baraka family inspire awe. Nazmiyeh is brazen and fiercely protective of her clairvoyant little sister, Mariam, with her mismatched eyes, and of their mother, Um Mahmoud, known for the fearsome djinni that sometimes possesses her. When the family is forced by the newly formed State of Israel to leave their ancestral home, only Nazmiyeh and her brother survive the long road to Gaza. Amidst the violence and fragility of the refugee camp, Nazmiyeh builds a family, navigates crises, and nurtures what remains of Beit Daras's community. But her brother continues his exile's journey to America, where, upon his death, his granddaughter Nur grows up alone, in a different kind of exile, the longing for family and roots eventually beckoning her to Gaza.

Internationally bestselling author Susan Abulhawa's powerful new novel explores the legacy of dispossession across continents and generations. With devastatingly clear-eyed vision of political and personal trauma, The Blue Between Sky and Water is the story of flawed yet profoundly courageous women, of separation and heartache, endurance and renewal.

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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bloomsbury USA
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    5.81 x 1.06 x 8.44 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781632862211
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1632862211
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The story Susan Abulhawa tells in this marvelous novel is hard to bear but impossible to ignore. Her vision is precise, courageous, and dazzling.” ―Teju Cole

“A family saga with global reach, these stories of fortune tellers, fighters, little girls and old women, jump off the page and into the soul and reach far beyond any headline or statistic, past the head, to the heart.” ―Laleh Khadivi, author of The Age of Orphans and The Walking

“Suffused with mystery, pain, and love . . . Abulhawa’s characters’ lives vividly depict resiliency in the face of adversity.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Gripping and deeply moving . . . Suffering and resilience are difficult things to witness, but this powerful, politically engaged novel does so with a transformative literary grace. Abulhawa’s prose is luminous; her control of a complex weaving of narrative voices--young and old, male and female, magical and real--is masterful . . . Hers is a voice that returns to the world the stories of Palestine that we ignore at our peril.” ―The Independent

“Abulhawa mixes magical realism, family melodrama, and politics in her storytelling about several generations of Palestinian women trying to survive in Gaza before and during the Israeli occupation.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Relevant and insightful . . . Beautiful and heartfelt, this precise, vividly written novel is an inspiring choice for discussion groups.” ―starred review, Library Journal

“Magical . . . The way the story is told is haunting. It pulls you in and you want to never emerge.” ―Asian Age

“Another legendary literary swooner by Susan Abulhawa . . . This captivating familial story weaves archetypal characters, shapeshifting through time with enviable fluidity . . . When you reach the end, the story continues in imagination through hope, possibility, rejuvenation.” ―Mondoweiss

About the Author

Susan Abulhawa was born to Palestinian refugees of the 1967 war. Currently living in Pennsylvania with her daughter, she is a human rights activist and frequent political commentator. She is the founder of Playgrounds for Palestine, an organization dedicated to upholding Palestinian children's Right to Play. Her first novel, Mornings in Jenin, was an international bestseller, with rights sold in twenty-six languages.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1632862212
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA (September 1, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781632862211
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1632862211
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.81 x 1.06 x 8.44 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 908 ratings

About the author

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Susan Abulhawa

Susan Abulhawa

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susan abulhawa is novelist, poet, essayist, scientist, human and animal rights activist, and mother. Her debut novel, Mornings in Jenin, was translated into 30 languages and is considered a classic in Palestinian literature. Her most recent, Against the Loveless World, likewise received literary acclaim and was lauded as a "masterpiece." The number of books sold and linguistic reach of her books have made abulhawa the most widely read Palestinian author of all time.

In 2001, abulhawa founded Playgrounds for Palestine, an international children's NGO upholding the Right to Play for Palestinian children. She is also the Executive Director of the 'Palestine Writes Literature Festival.'

Other works by abulhawa include The Blue Between Sky and Water (Bloomsbury, 2015), My Voice Sought the Wind (poetry, Just World Books, 2013), and several anthologies.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
908 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an engaging and heartfelt tale of a family's story. They describe it as an extraordinary reading experience that keeps their interest. Readers praise the writing quality as beautiful and passionate. The book provides insights into the Palestinian people and their beliefs.

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StorytellingReadabilityWriting qualityInsight
18 customers mention "Storytelling"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling. They find the tale heartfelt, engrossing, and powerful. The book is described as captivating, thought-provoking, and honest. Readers praise the author's gift for storytelling and appreciate the line between history and allegory.

"...Such powerful telling of a family's story, such atmosphere, emotion and context of time and place...." Read more

"This novel is beautifully written. It is imbued with magical realism to tell of the absurd reality of life in Gaza under Israeli oppression,..." Read more

"...I was totally mesmerised by this amazing tale of suffering,despair,joy and love of this Palestinian family's plight in the refugee camps of Gaza...." Read more

"I found it just stopped. While an engrossing story, well-written , it was difficult to feel a connection to the mystical characters ...." Read more

17 customers mention "Readability"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and interesting. They describe it as an outstanding novel that keeps their interest.

"...Blue Between Sky and Water, which promises to be another extraordinary reading experience. Please keep writing, Ms. Abulhawa - you have a rare gift." Read more

"Wonderful. Well written" Read more

"...The plight of Palestinians was interesting and overall the book kept my interest." Read more

"...Her first OUTSTANDING novel, "Mornings in Jenin" will always have a special place in my heart!..." Read more

16 customers mention "Writing quality"16 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it beautifully written and passionately crafted. The author's skill as a wordsmith is also appreciated. While some readers found the subject matter challenging, they were moved by the intricate lives depicted in the narrative.

"Susan Abulhawa writes like an angel and her words kept me enthralled from start to finish of this wonderful book...." Read more

"Abulhawa is not only an excellent word crafter but she also writes with passion...." Read more

"This novel is beautifully written...." Read more

"Wonderful. Well written" Read more

9 customers mention "Insight"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights into the Palestinian people and their beliefs. They find it an interesting story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the Palestinian perspective. The book is well-researched and makes readers appreciate the resilient Palestinians for their dreams and hopes.

"...This book has made me appreciate the very recilient Palestinians for their dreams and hopes of a better life even in the midst of an unsure future." Read more

"...The plight of Palestinians was interesting and overall the book kept my interest." Read more

"...novel so special for me is the fact that it is told by a gifted, intelligent, brave, and talented Palestinian author/ writer...." Read more

"...you so clearly have for this wonderful family, and for the history lesson you offer, as we learn of the joys and hardships of this extended family,..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Barbara C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Susan Abulhawa writes like an angel and her words kept me enthralled from start to finish of this wonderful book. Such powerful telling of a family's story, such atmosphere, emotion and context of time and place. I am deeply grateful to her for educating and opening our eyes to the sorrows and struggles of the Palestinian people, and the impasse between two religions and peoples is beyond frustrating. I am eager for more of her writing and just purchased The Blue Between Sky and Water, which promises to be another extraordinary reading experience. Please keep writing, Ms. Abulhawa - you have a rare gift.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Yoly Zentella
    4.0 out of 5 stars Passionately sensitive
    Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Abulhawa is not only an excellent word crafter but she also writes with passion. If you want to see the human, vulnerable yet strong Palestinian being in the environment they are forced to live in, read her novels. This is one of them.
    Luna
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, captivating, a must!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This novel is beautifully written. It is imbued with magical realism to tell of the absurd reality of life in Gaza under Israeli oppression, injustice, and occupation. The lives of characters flow seamlessly into one another, creating a bond between them that exists beyond geography, beyond time, beyond death, in a place of dreams, hope, communication, and community. The characters are so well developed, individually unique, and alive that you too feel like you are part of their community, their family. You feel with them and miss them when you put the book down, and so you avoid doing so. I read this book in two days it was so good. One of those you cannot put down, driving home one of the novel's many messages-- that there is power in storytelling.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Cecil Ronald
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Wonderful. Well written
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  • J. V. Maddalone
    3.0 out of 5 stars I was disappointed in the book
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I was disappointed in the book. It was so biased on the side of Palestinians and so based on family myths that I did not feel I learned that much about the true situation, which was what I was interested in. Though I side with the Palestinians, this was more of a mythological family saga and did not capture my interest all that much.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Ganamoorthi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love and life in a refugee camp
    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    My first book by Susan Abulhawa.I was totally mesmerised by this amazing tale of suffering,despair,joy and love of this Palestinian family's plight in the refugee camps of Gaza.Even though it''s a fictional story the background of the Israeli Palestinian conflict is entirely real.Susan Abulhawa's description of the sufferings of the women folk in general and how they the keep the family together is heart wrenching. It's truly eye opening to hear the Palestinian side of the story when all we hear most of the time is the western media view of the Israeli side.This book has made me appreciate the very recilient Palestinians for their dreams and hopes of a better life even in the midst of an unsure future.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Isabel D. Good
    4.0 out of 5 stars A different viewpoint
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I found it just stopped. While an engrossing story, well-written , it was difficult to feel a connection to the mystical characters . The plight of Palestinians was interesting and overall the book kept my interest.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful beautifully written novel about a Palestinian family expelled from their ...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A powerful beautifully written novel about a Palestinian family expelled from their ancestral village of Beit Daras. They become refugees living in Gaza. One of the reasons that makes this novel so special for me is the fact that it is told by a gifted, intelligent, brave, and talented Palestinian author/ writer. For me, it is extremely important that our narratives be told by us Palestinians and Susan continues to do so in an amazing truthful way. Her first OUTSTANDING novel, "Mornings in Jenin" will always have a special place in my heart! The "Blue Between Sky and Water" is also an extraordinary piece of work and I will be looking forward for her next novel. Susan Abulhawa is simply what I like to call a "PALESTINIAN FREEDOM WRITER." ~ Tanya
    13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jay Geerts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreakingly beautiful
    Reviewed in Canada on June 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book reaffirms everything we fight for with the Palestinian cause. I could barely put this down unless it was to cry, so heavy and so much emotion masterfully written. If you want to be angry heartbroken, uplifted, radicalized, inspired and given a unique version of hope pick this book up.
    Report
  • Helen Miladi
    5.0 out of 5 stars I don’t know where to begin……
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Wow, this book is actually the best I have ever read but I can’t put into words why that is.
    Report
  • Burooj
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on November 25, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent must read that traverses journey of courageous Palestinian women
    Report
  • Amazon Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very touching story
    Reviewed in Germany on October 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Very touching story which takes place in Gaza. Susan's way of describing events can turn the most miserable situation into a wonderful poetic moment. Absolutely fantastic writing! Highly recommend it.
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  • Lee W
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth a Read - an excellent book
    Reviewed in Australia on January 5, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Beautifully written with the story successfully weaving between time lines and realities. The author paints a heartbreaking picture of the trials the Palestinians have suffered and the love that permeates home life. There is a great understanding of muslim customs that are often the opposite of Western culture and the reader gets the sense of the great importance of family and how the family is more important than any individual member. The breadth of the story covers several generations and the subsequent devastation of Gaza and how the people survive. It is all through the eyes and thoughts of members of an extended family. Well worth reading. Thank you! It is good to have a perspective that is not the Jewish one.
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