Review by songweilong001 -- Divided World
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songweilong001
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- Latest Review: Divided World by Kenneth Pickering
Review by songweilong001 -- Divided World
[Following is a volunteer review of "Divided World" by Kenneth Pickering.]
Divided World by Kenneth Pickering is a compilation of plays by Hannah Khalil, Kate Al Hadid, and Hassan Abdulrazzak. The book is filled with examples of how people in the Middle East are living with the effects of the war and still struggle with the aftermath. It provides insight into the social politics in the Middle East as well as the motivations behind writing and publishing the plays. You will also see examples of how refugees are discriminated against based on their religion or belief system. The first playwright featured in this collection is Hannah Khalil.
I came away with a deeper appreciation for the many sacrifices that are made by humans throughout history for the sake of creating a better world for our children and grandchildren. The plays are beautifully arranged and so are the conversations. Throughout the book, you will hear stories of past wars, oppression, and the realities of the modern world. At the end of the book, there is a question and answer session with the author to give her audience a glimpse into the thoughts of those who did not get the chance to participate in the discussions.
The plays are all written by playwrights from the Middle East, and they have Middle Eastern roots. They are all beautifully performed and bring light to the dark corners of the world. The plays are heartbreaking and yet incredibly humorous, showing how the lives of ordinary people suffering through life would be impacted by the bombings and the continued conflict in the Middle East.
There is a lack of detailing of characters and due to the lack of effective editing, the plays were a bit low quality. It was written in a hurry. Many characters were used in a short space of time. I must admit that I was very disappointed that the book didn't contain more characters or a broader plot. A lot of the plays are short and unconventional in their message and structure. I also found some of the stories confusing in terms of chronology and other issues.
I was extremely impressed with the way this anthology artistically handled very emotive issues and for that reason, I gave it a 3 out of 4 stars. I'm sure the plays would have a lot of readers who have a similar point of view and experience. But if you are not someone with even a minor degree in Theatre or Drama, I don’t think the full effect of the plays would be as effective. I would advise anyone who has an interest in World History and Politics to consider this book. The plays are organized around themes of power, dominance, exploitation, and discrimination.
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Divided World
View: on Bookshelves
Divided World by Kenneth Pickering is a compilation of plays by Hannah Khalil, Kate Al Hadid, and Hassan Abdulrazzak. The book is filled with examples of how people in the Middle East are living with the effects of the war and still struggle with the aftermath. It provides insight into the social politics in the Middle East as well as the motivations behind writing and publishing the plays. You will also see examples of how refugees are discriminated against based on their religion or belief system. The first playwright featured in this collection is Hannah Khalil.
I came away with a deeper appreciation for the many sacrifices that are made by humans throughout history for the sake of creating a better world for our children and grandchildren. The plays are beautifully arranged and so are the conversations. Throughout the book, you will hear stories of past wars, oppression, and the realities of the modern world. At the end of the book, there is a question and answer session with the author to give her audience a glimpse into the thoughts of those who did not get the chance to participate in the discussions.
The plays are all written by playwrights from the Middle East, and they have Middle Eastern roots. They are all beautifully performed and bring light to the dark corners of the world. The plays are heartbreaking and yet incredibly humorous, showing how the lives of ordinary people suffering through life would be impacted by the bombings and the continued conflict in the Middle East.
There is a lack of detailing of characters and due to the lack of effective editing, the plays were a bit low quality. It was written in a hurry. Many characters were used in a short space of time. I must admit that I was very disappointed that the book didn't contain more characters or a broader plot. A lot of the plays are short and unconventional in their message and structure. I also found some of the stories confusing in terms of chronology and other issues.
I was extremely impressed with the way this anthology artistically handled very emotive issues and for that reason, I gave it a 3 out of 4 stars. I'm sure the plays would have a lot of readers who have a similar point of view and experience. But if you are not someone with even a minor degree in Theatre or Drama, I don’t think the full effect of the plays would be as effective. I would advise anyone who has an interest in World History and Politics to consider this book. The plays are organized around themes of power, dominance, exploitation, and discrimination.
******
Divided World
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Divided World by Kenneth Pickering
