July 2007
Thinking About History
Here are some books that intrigued me while this Canadian- American celebrated both Canada Day and Fourth of July.
Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood
Written by Ibtisam Barakat
In Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood, the author Ibtisam Barakat writes of her life during the Six-Day War and its aftermath. This book serves to tell one of the many stories about life during that turbulent time in the Middle East. The author writes mostly about her life from 3 1/2 to 6 years old. As such, there are many happy stories of the author playing games with her older brothers. But the reader is never allowed to stray too far from the war and is reminded with details of hunger—relief organizations did not have enough food for everyone; and fear—Israeli soldiers knocking on the door. There are evidences of war sprinkled throughout the book. The book is a quick read, but allows the reader to look into what life was like for family trying to survive in the middle of a war zone.
Order Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood from Bookshop Santa Cruz