Sharon and My Mother-in-Law: Ramallah Diaries

Please read this book. It’s so wonderful. And be sure to watch her TED TALK from 2011. You will fall in love with her humor, her intellect and her cleverly chosen words.

I read this book within a day, I just couldn't put it down, it was so beautifully written, and so easy to read. Suad Amiry has a remarkable ability to say in one sentence what other writers take three pages over. A single sentence can be so thought-provoking, you consider all the many implications that follow from just one statement. Despite the misery of her situation, Suad's defiance of her occupiers is hilarious - what a courageous and spunky woman! Her frankness and honesty of her own feelings, including her failings, are also very impressive. Well done to Suad Amiry, I eagerly look forward to her next book - I hope she will write one!

Suad Amiry's book is very witty and easy to read. The book is based on a compilation of emails, letters and Amiry's recollection of the various events. Amiry offers a portrayal of life of a relatively well off Palestinian family under Israeli occupation. The Israeli occupation and the siege of their city feature prominently in the book but almost as natural disasters or "Act of God" ..so they are there thrown into the mix making ordinary complex life even more complicated. The politics of the occupation are touched upon but clearly what is central is just the day to day life. The title of the book is very much a reflection of the light hearted style of the book but also of the very menacing undertones. In the United States Sharon largely has(d) the reputation of being a tough minded and determined leader and with the Gaza withdrawal in 2005 as a peacemaker; whereas in most of the world outside of the US Sharon is seen as a ruthless cruel man responsible for the death and destruction of many who was sanctioned by his own country and was even wanted for trial on war crime charges in Europe. For the Palestinians I imagine Sharon had simply been a brutal merciless monster; the title Sharon & My Mother in Law with that background is therefore very ironic! A daughter - mother in law relationship in a middle eastern environment is never straight forward ..the very words mother in law carry a whole world of conations. The very title of the book comes across funny to any Middle Eastern; equating or even putting Sharon & mother in law in the same sentence carries with the wit and the determination that comes across in Amiry's words. Many reviewers of this book talked about the book illustrating the humanity of the Palestinians, I doubt if that has been on Amiry's mind; for those who doubt the humanity of the Palestinians better read John Grisham or watch Pirates of the Caribbean; this book celebrates the humanity of the Palestinians and the triumph of their spirit.

I wish I could give this book to everyone who denies the horrors of the Israeli occupation. A wonderful book, funny and moving, that shows the humanity of the too-often dehumanized Palestinian people.

It is amazing when one can read a book and feel as if one is living it. I almost wanted to be imprisoned in my house for 14 consecutive days to know how it feels to be living under curfew and military occupation. Just didn't want the mother in law to be part of this deal! The book very casually shows that Palestinians will never go away. They are here to stay no matter how many walls, checkpoints, raids, and dehumanizing Palestinians suffer under the Israeli military occupation and the world's deaf ear and blind eyes. So grow up Sharon, get a life, and make real peace.

In this wonderfully witty narrative, Amiry reveals herself to be a gifted storyteller. I alternated between laughing and crying as I read the vignettes surrounding her daily life in Ramallah. These range from suffering under curfew alone with her mother-in-law, to rattling Israeli soldiers with a disarming stare, to attending a fundraiser featuring campy Palestinian items in order to bail out a friend who had been thrown in jail on false charges. Amiry brings to life the day-to-day human experience of living under occupation. In doing so, she makes a significant contribution to both literature and to our understanding of the Palestinian condition.