A story for the times

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As teenagers, Palestinian twins Rasheed and Rasheeda are given a lesson in love from an unlikely character. Little do they know, this singular act will impact them throughout their lives. Rasheed finds love in Natalia, a Polish Jewish/ Catholic doing missionary work in Palestine. Rasheeda is equally pared with a foreigner who happens to be Natalias ex. The twins have chosen to lead their lives very differently from what their parents intended.  This unfortunately has tragic consequences that forces the twins to flee from their home impacting those they love.

This story starts in the 1940s and follows the family through the 1070s. I loved how the story flows quickly and didn't dwell in too much detail.  Although the story has political undertones, the true theme is love. Warning, scenes of sexual encounters are common throughout the story for those who shy away from these scenes. The author's views on religion and women's rights in the Arab world are clearly stated. It's refreshing to see this take from a male perspective. I loved the story but wished the author had chosen to write in the twins point of view. Writing through a third person made the characters a bit one dimensional and less relatable. Overall, anyone looking for a good love story with a bit of mystery and danger will love this quick read.