Reviews

La philistine: un roman by Leila Marshy

mayann's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

boraborah's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars
The Philistine tells the story of Nadia, a Palestinian-Canadian who leaves Montreal, her mother and boyfriend to travel to Egypt to reconnect with her father and, in the process, reconnects with herself, her bicultural identity, and her heart.

shannon_magee's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

bilr0se's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

elizabethickey's review against another edition

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4.0

*Philistine* by Leila Marshy is a novel that requires patience, offering a slow-paced but richly rewarding exploration of identity and belonging. The story centers on Nadia Eid, a young Palestinian woman from Montreal, who travels to Cairo to reconnect with her estranged father. Instead, she finds herself in an unexpected love affair with Manal, an Egyptian artist, which profoundly reshapes her understanding of herself and her heritage. Through this relationship, Nadia rediscovers her roots, grapples with the complexities of being part of a diaspora, and confronts the fractured pieces of her family and identity. Marshy’s writing is deliberate, gradually spiraling into deeper layers of understanding about what it means to belong to a culture that is both yours and not yours. The novel subtly touches on the societal tensions leading to the 2011 Egyptian Revolution while vividly portraying a Cairo that is vibrant and full of life. Though not a quick or easy read, *Philistine* rewards those who linger with its profound insights and beautiful passages. It’s a story that stays with you, challenging your perceptions of identity, family, and the ties that connect us to our past. Marshy has crafted a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, offering a deeply moving reading experience.

cleo_reads's review against another edition

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4.5

Immersive novel about Nadia, a young Palestinian Canadian woman, who travels from Montreal to Cairo to connect with her father and unexpectedly falls for an Egyptian woman.

It was published in 2018 and it’s set in the 80s, during the first Intifada. It was pretty devastating to read it now, in 2024. 

lemonadegirl29's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

tanyousef's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

miramichijim's review against another edition

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5.0

A sensitive, artistically wrought story on several levels, The Philistine had me eager to return to it time after time. It was one of those reads that turned out better than expected, although I certainly didn’t have low expectations for it. One never knows with a first novel. Will it be interesting and well-written enough that you want to read the author’s next book? Or do you hope (or even care if) the author never writes another word? I can definitely state that The Philistine and Ms. Marshy fall into the first category. A five-star debut. Full review here: http://bit.ly/thephilistine

eestellar's review against another edition

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sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This wasn't an easy book to read and it took me awhile to get into it. It was mostly in English but also had Arabic and French that weren't always translated. Sometimes the book would change scenes without a chapter change or symbol like I am used to, but it seems like it wasn't done in a "bad writing" way but a stylistic choice. It's also not easy because it's about heavy topics - parental abandonment, lost culture, the struggles Palestinians face and queer love in the 80s. This story broke my heart and I feel raw and want to cry with Nadia and Manal.