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Death Is Hard Work
Death Is Hard Work: A Novel | Khaled Khalifa
15 posts | 14 read | 21 to read
A dogged, absurd quest through the nightmare of the Syrian civil war Khaled Khalifas Death Is Hard Work is the new novel from the greatest chronicler of Syrias ongoing and catastrophic civil war: a tale of three ordinary people facing down the stuff of nightmares armed with little more than simple determination. Abdel Latif, an old man from the Aleppo region, dies peacefully in a hospital bed in Damascus. His final wish, conveyed to his youngest son, Bolbol, is to be buried in the family plot in their ancestral village of Anabiya. Though Abdel was hardly an ideal father, and though Bolbol is estranged from his siblings, this conscientious son persuades his older brother Hussein and his sister Fatima to accompany him and the body to Anabiya, which isafter allonly a two-hour drive from Damascus. Theres only one problem: Their country is a war zone. With the landscape of their childhood now a labyrinth of competing armies whose actions are at once arbitrary and lethal, the siblings decision to set aside their differences and honor their fathers request quickly balloons from a minor commitment into an epic and life-threatening quest. Syria, however, is no longer a place for heroes, and the decisions the family must make along the wayas they find themselves captured and recaptured, interrogated, imprisoned, and bombedwill prove to have enormous consequences for all of them.
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review
Bookworm54
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Mehso-so

While this did give some insight into the Syrian war, it was quite meandering and didn‘t really have much of a point, or conclusion.
It was okay, but the chapters were long (only 3) and the characters weren‘t very likeable or have any character development.
It did have some nice metaphors though… 😂

#FoodAndLit #Syria

SamAnne Thanks for the review. Got this from the library but I think I have better reads to choose from. 2y
Texreader Sounds like reading this one was “hard work” 2y
Catsandbooks That's too bad 2y
55 likes3 comments
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Bookworm54
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blurb
sharmeen_sifar
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... the living had to keep telling hypocritical stories about the dead...
Pg 178, 2020 paperback edition
#Deathishardwork
#syria
#war

review
BarbaraBB
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Mehso-so

Abdel Latif‘s last wish is to be buried next to his sister in another village. His three adult children take him through the ruins of war torn #Syria. The siblings reminisce about their lost hopes and lost dreams. So many lives lost. Former friends turned opponents.

Unfortunately the book didn‘t touch me as I thought it would. I‘ve read better books about current Syria.

#ReadingAsia2021 🇸🇾

TrishB Skating on the canal though 😁 4y
BarbaraBB @TrishB That‘s true. At least it was. 12° now as well ? 4y
squirrelbrain Lovely picture! 4y
See All 11 Comments
TrishB Yes, we had a nice 12 degrees walk today too! 4y
Librarybelle Awesome picture! 😁 4y
Megabooks Ah! Amsterdam is so beautiful! 💜💜 4y
Liz_M What Syria book would you recommend, then? 4y
BarbaraBB @Librarybelle @Megabooks Thanks! Ice skating on the canals doesn‘t happen too often! 4y
71 likes1 stack add11 comments
review
sarahlandis
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Mehso-so

This book was ok. I didn't love it, but I liked it. It takes place in war riddled Syria, a group of estranged siblings go on a quest to bury their father in his home town, next to his sister. It tells a history of each family member, including the dead sister from decades before. It's a beautiful tale of struggle, war, love, and dealing with death, literally, as well as mentally and emotionally.

BarbaraBB I am reading this one at the moment too. I also like it but don't love it. I do love the part about the father marrying again though!
4y
sarahlandis @BarbaraBB ooh I do too! I really love the story of the sisters wedding. 4y
13 likes2 comments
review
thereflectiveflaneur
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Pickpick

Stunning! Stunning! Stunning! I feel ashamed that all I know about Syria is from the news! The absurdity of war and the horrific blend here with the tender and poignant! The characters are richly drawn. The prose is utterly brilliant ! Audiobook is great!!!!

6 likes1 stack add
review
ReadingEnvy
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Pickpick

I never would have known this were it not for the fact of the Faulkner class I'm taking, but this book takes the idea of As I Lay Dying and adapts it to 2013 Syria, as three siblings try to take their father's body to where he wanted to be buried. Shenanigans ensue and things get pretty bleak. There are a few other random Faulkner tributes like a corncob metaphor but I think you can know nothing at all about Faulkner and still enjoy the book.

DreesReads I read this because it was an NBA for translation finalist last year. I read As I Lay Dying about 30 years ago. Totally missed the connection! 5y
ReadingEnvy @DreesReads I don't think I would have made it had I not read AILD two weeks ago. But some reviewers do mention it! 5y
Ruthiella I read AILD last year. I‘m gonna put this on my list. I love it when books build on other books! 😀 5y
keithmalek If death is such hard work, then maybe he should work smart instead. Like this guy (or maybe not): https://medium.com/the-haven/i-dont-work-hard-i-work-smart-says-man-about-to-pla... 4y
70 likes2 stack adds5 comments
review
ImperfectCJ
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Pickpick

A little Faulkner, a little Kafka, a little Camus, this National Book Award finalist for translated literature follows three siblings as they drive their father's body from Damascus to the town near Aleppo where he was born and where he wished to be buried. There may be heroes here, but none are main characters. A good choice for fans of existentialism.

@StayCurious @Clwojick @Bookworm54 #WinterGames #TeamNutcracker #TBRRead

ljuliel That‘s a neat cover. 5y
ImperfectCJ @ljuliel I do like the cover a lot. The book is good, too, but after my last two books, I'm ready for something not sent in a war-torn country. The National Book Award finalists this year are unrelentingly grim. 5y
Crazeedi @ImperfectCJ I thought the same about the books nominated. 5y
Bookworm54 16 points :) 5y
32 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
ImperfectCJ
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Reading the tagged book while my cat does his part to help me fight this head cold before festivities begin tomorrow. From the book: "He didn't dare acknowledge that his life was a collection of trivial acts that would sooner or later have to come to an end."

?

If that doesn't get me into the holiday spirit, I don't know what will.

Lreads I hope you feel better soon! 5y
Crazeedi Sending a get well hug!💞💞 5y
ImperfectCJ @QuietlyLaura @Crazeedi Thank you! I still feel pretty rough this morning, but I'm going to medicate myself and try to soldier on. 🤧 5y
35 likes3 comments
review
DreesReads
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Pickpick

In Syria, and elderly man has died. One of his sons promised to bury him in their hometown. And he and his estranged brother and sister head off with the body. Only Syria is in the midst of Civil War. They cross territories occupied by three different groups, they bribe, they wait, they are constantly under suspicion and held. They also talk and remember and think about their childhoods. #nationalbookaward #intranslation

review
Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

This was harrowing and difficult to read, it didn‘t pull its punches in showing you how painful life can be in today‘s Syria. I can see why people found it too meandering and depressing but unfortunately it matched my mood well rn post election. Bleak but beautiful in places, fantastic characters and an important topic.
#wintergames #merryreaders #impulseread @Clwojick @StayCurious

Clwojick 11 pt 5y
38 likes1 comment
review
Corar
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Pickpick

It was not an easy read, but it helped me understand what the Syrian people are going through during the war there.

review
Redwritinghood
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Bailedbailed

I wanted to read this because it is set in present day Syria. It relates to three siblings trying to get their father‘s body back to his hometown for burial. Unfortunately, the story is a little too meandering and unfocused for my tastes.

Trashcanman How are you Jerrie? Hugs 6y
Redwritinghood @Trashcanman Hi, George! How are you? 🤗🤗 6y
76 likes2 comments
review
Well-ReadNeck
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Mehso-so

Three siblings promise a dying father to bury his body in his hometown in Syria. The fulfillment of that promise in the Syrian civil war is difficult and dangerous. This novel follows the siblings on their journey with flashbacks that describe them and their father and their relationships. Parts were great, but overall it was a pit slow and felt a bit rudderless. #netgalley

105 likes1 stack add
blurb
Liberty
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Today‘s 📚 mail is 🔥🔥🔥!

124 likes3 stack adds