I Saw Ramallah

This is an amazing novel that has a touch of an autobiography. The writing style is great and easy to read. The journey we go through in this book is overwhelming and endearing.

The poet Mourid Barghouti writes on his return to his hometown Palestine and his childhood city of Ramallah after thirty years of exile. The author has been forced to temporarily reside in different places across the world and is prohibited from returning to his native country since the 1967 conflict and Israel's apartheid-era occupation of Palestinian land. being away from his family and not knowing if he was a citizen, a refugee, a guest, or a visitor. The memoir reflects about love, loss, and what it means to have a home. His writing style is empathetic filled with captivating details. He gives the reader an extraordinary insight on the Palestinian people and the destiny they have been forced to endure. We learn about their beautiful history, their love for their heritage, their struggle after displacement, and their longing for their land. Although nonfiction is not my cup of tea, this book literally changed my perspective. Throughout the entire book, I had the impression that I was traveling alongside the author. Moreover, I highlighted each and every line. This book was an easy read, however you have to be in the right state of mind since it has a back-and-forth timeline.