This historical fiction novel promised a multi-generational story from a time and place entirely different from my own. These epic family dramas are favorites of mine, but this story was a bit of a miss.
At just over 200 pages it is not the detailed story of generations of lovable yet flawed characters. Instead, this story seems to be the outline of what happened to two twins, Rasheed and Rasheeda, after Rasheed meets and falls in love with a woman who is Jewish. The story begins in Palestine in the 1940s where religion and politics can have a profound impact on daily life.
While we do get to know some characters in-depth, this story seemed to be missing the passion that could pull me in and hold my attention. Much of the story is choppy and surface-level, leaving the detailed parts for sex scenes that barely seemed necessary to the story. The dialogue was not believable and I could not distinguish one character's voice from another.
At just over 200 pages it is not the detailed story of generations of lovable yet flawed characters. Instead, this story seems to be the outline of what happened to two twins, Rasheed and Rasheeda, after Rasheed meets and falls in love with a woman who is Jewish. The story begins in Palestine in the 1940s where religion and politics can have a profound impact on daily life.
While we do get to know some characters in-depth, this story seemed to be missing the passion that could pull me in and hold my attention. Much of the story is choppy and surface-level, leaving the detailed parts for sex scenes that barely seemed necessary to the story. The dialogue was not believable and I could not distinguish one character's voice from another.