A call to action, Hammad is a writer who urges fiction to be utilised as a way to shine a light on our limitations of perception. The Israel-Palestine conflict is not a new one. Hammad writes from a British-Palestinian perspective, as the point of 'Theatre is Political' is thrust centre-stage as a production of the politically charged 'Hamlet' arises. Words struggle to convey the heart and the pain you will feel as you read. A necessary work.

This is a multi-faceted book that not only brilliantly explores art as a form of resistance but also focuses on the casual drama that occurs within a theatre production as well as more personal relationship dynamics, both familial and romantic. This is all tied together with themes of identity, belonging and perseverance, particularly with regards to the lived experiences of Palestinians under occupation. Not only do we get perspectives from the West Bank but also that of Palestinians on the “inside” who have grown up post 1948 and currently live in those areas that were sieged during the Nakba. There is never a preachy tone to how any of this is addressed but the underlying messages cannot be more clear-cut than when the exact events that are being immortalised via fictional text are being recorded on social media for the world to witness in real time. Hammad’s prose is brilliant though I actually struggled with getting into the story initially as the writing is very much attuned to the personality and emotions of our protagonist. Sonia isn’t the most vibrant of characters and her mannerisms at times make her a little unlikeable. I was more drawn to her strained relationship with her family members than I was to her romantic life but it was the use and performance of Hamlet within the story which stood out most to me. Hamlet is one of the Shakespeare plays that I didn’t study in school and never got around to reading but let me tell you when you read this book your understanding of the classic will be altered whether or not you’re familiar with the original. The narrative does jump to a script format every now and again when the theatre group are assembled, rehearsing and speculating about the play which I feel at times worked and at others disrupted the flow of the overall story which was another minor grievance I had with the book. However, the portrayal of how culture and the arts are a source of hope in the face of repression by apartheid and occupation was beautifully done. Go read it!

Hammad really beautifully conveyed the contrasts and similarities between art/theatre/Hamlet on one side and the experience of living in different times and places in Palestine on the other. Fiction is such a powerful way to share and learn about the world! Would highly recommend to everyone.

Yet another book that I had not heard of until it hit the longlist of the Women's fiction prize, this list manages to surprise me so much each year. Before reading this book I really wanted it to be one of my favourites from the list, it just really appealed to me. The book is very good, an excellent read that will certainly make you consider life there and of course with the current situation in that part of the world it is very important to consider life there. The book is part play which was both good and different in style . I really loved her style of writing. The story and the characters will easily find a place in your heart. A recommended read for sure.