Sitt Marie Rose

Poetic, but deeply disturbing account of attrocities of a war, in this case the civil war raging in Beirut, created through various ich form positions by its protagonists.

This is actually the first book I have read by a Lebanese author. I have read Kahlil Gibran's works, but I guess they are not comparable to this modern prose. The content itself is interesting. Sitt Marie Rose, the titular character, is a courageous Christian Lebanese who empathizes with and aids the Muslim Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Sitt Marie is then caught and interrogated by none other than her childhood friend. The psychological aspect of each character is illustrated wonderfully, and reading this book makes me want to be more active for the causes in which I believe. I am looking forward to reading more world literature after this enlightening book.

Reading this book was akin to that lurching moment you grip a hot pan on the stove and when the pain reaches your brain causing you to cry out and snatch your hand away. Its language is naked and sharp, nauseatingly visceral. Its message unashamed and clear: humanity is ugly, ravenous in its cannibalism, foul in its "love" and "mercy". Adnan wrote a work that pains and purifies, yet leaves one as hopeless as a blade of grass before a bulldozer.

One of the best short novels I've read that presents a profound and deeply felt understanding of the current Lebanon situation.

Well I had to read this for a class and surprisingly it turned out to be a good read. If you want a light read you can pick this book up and enjoy. If you're a nerd like me than you can enjoy breaking down the book in themes.

It was a good book. Hard to follow with all the different narratives.

Etel Adnan's small novel SITT MARIE ROSE is an amazing hundred pages set during the (last) Lebanese Civil War. An ethnically Christian woman lives with Palestinians, loves a Palestinian man, and works for their cause. An old boyfriend in the Christian militia is part of a small group who captures, interrogates, and murders her in the school where she woks with deaf children. The brief story is told in many voices: the children speak as a group, the militia men have their turn. There is hunting imagery, there is Sitt Marie Rose's feminist sensibility. The only real Christian, she says, is one who stands up for the Stranger. It is a poet's novel, searing and beautiful. Worth seeking out-- I found it as a used book on the Internet.

I read this novella for a Middle Eastern Humanities course sixteen years ago in college and, through my instructor, had the good fortune of meeting Etel Adnan. The book was powerful and moving, granting me insight into a world so foreign from mine and yet similar in strange ways. I relished the discussions with Ms. Adnan after reading it. Her experiences, skill with language and unique vision make anything she writes worth reading. This novella is easy reading, but will definitely leave a lasting impression. After ten years in education, I still loan my copy to students for summer reading and have had each student I've loaned it to thank me for the experience.

Bought this after the radio 4 book review... Read till the end, but that narrative is rather flat. I found this book rather tedious I'm afraid

Perfect.

Heart breaking. Toxic masculinity. Those who pay the price of demonstrated power and superiority are the weak and handicapped!