Jo Glanville

I think that the true test of a short story collection rarely lies in its overall quality (especially in anthologies of various authors), but rather in the moments, or stories, that take your breath away. This book simply didn't have any. There were definitely some interesting writers in here, but none that I will be rushing off to read more of. The subject matter varies between suicide bombers and armed fighters, to more domestic stories in which the intifada serves as a backdrop, or is barely mentioned at all. It was these latter that I liked the most, providing more subtle insights into what the authors see as contemporary Palestinian life, but this was, ultimately, a fairly average and instantly forgettable collection of stories.… (mer)