Blog Archives
From the River to the Sea: Humanizing Freedom
Reem Borrows’ From the River to the Sea: Humanizing Freedom is part memoir, part historical reckoning, and part call to action. The book weaves her personal story as a Palestinian Christian born in Haifa with broader reflections on leadership, justice, and interconnectedness. Split into two sections, it first unpacks history and politics of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, and then moves into a more philosophical appeal for compassion, unity, and change. From the haunting memories of the Nakba to the powerful imagery of doctors in Haifa declaring, “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies,” Borrows grounds her arguments in lived experience, historical accounts, and spiritual lessons.
What I appreciated most was her ability to keep the writing deeply human. For example, in the introduction she recalls her family’s immigration to Australia, where for the first time they were treated simply as people and not as second-class citizens. That scene with the customs officer in Sydney, who greeted them warmly, stayed with me. It made me feel the sharp contrast she was drawing freedom in one place, prejudice in another. The writing in those moments felt both tender and powerful.
At the same time, there were parts that hit me with a gut-punch. Her retelling of tragedies like the bombing of an eleven-story building in Gaza, or the story of Muhammad al-Durrah and his father shot while seeking cover, is raw and unsettling. She doesn’t let the reader turn away or hide behind easy narratives. I’ll admit, those pages made me angry, not just at the events themselves but at how easily such stories get brushed aside in mainstream discourse. And when she connects this to other historical injustices, slavery, apartheid, colonization of Indigenous peoples, it made me reflect on how recurring patterns of fear and dehumanization shape so much of human history.
The most thought-provoking sections, though, were where Borrows shifts from history to mindset. She leans on her background in leadership and personal development, blending in lessons from Buddhism, Christianity, and even corporate leadership training. At first it felt almost strange reading about Gaza alongside references to Ernest Hemingway or global business programs but over time I saw her point. She’s trying to show that leadership, love, and fearlessness are not just for politics but for how we live and act daily. Her metaphor of “finding the other tigers and lions” instead of arguing with “donkeys” who refuse truth made me laugh, but it also stuck with me as a reminder not to waste energy on futile battles.
In the end, the book is equal parts lament and hope. It’s not just about Palestine and Israel; it’s about humanity’s tendency to repeat its worst mistakes and our stubborn hope that we can learn to do better. I’d recommend From the River to the Sea to anyone who wants to step outside the usual headlines and feel the human dimension of the conflict. It’s also for readers who enjoy books that mix personal story with big, sometimes uncomfortable questions about justice, love, and what it really means to be free. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s one that leaves you with both a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility.
Pages: 198 | ASIN : B0CN42975V
Secrets of the Kashmir Valley
Secrets of the Kashmir Valley is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the untold truths of the Kashmir Valley. Farhana Qazi does an excellent job of bringing to light the true stories of women in this region who have suffered immense pain, loss, and terror. The stories are not only filled with sadness but also with hope for a better future.
The author effectively conveys the reality of life in one of the most militarized zones in the world, where the Indian government has imposed strict control, making it difficult for the voices of the Kashmiris to be heard. Despite the constant fear of detention, curfew, and violent raids, the women of Kashmir continue to celebrate happy occasions, but always with the underlying fear of what might happen next.
This emotional book highlights the atrocities committed by the Indian army, including mass graves, restrictions on basic human rights, and the countless incidents of rape, even of women as young as 17 and as old as 80. The writing style is simple yet powerful, making the reader feel the pain and suffering of the women in the region.
Secrets of the Kasmir Valley is a moving and eye-opening account of the struggles faced by the people of Kashmir. These powerful stories bring awareness to this country and what the people endure. For those that want to learn more about this region and understand what it is like to live there as a woman, this informative and passionate look at life in the Kasmir Valley will shed light on the decades of suffering and the unstoppable desire for survival.
Pages: 186 | ASIN : B08D68Y5FL
Felicity: Art, War and Peace
Felicity: Love, War, and Peace by Piers R. Blackett and Annah Otis is a lovely memoir about the artist Felicity Blackett, her life, and her art. Born right before the first World War and living through World War Two as a grown woman with a new family, she experienced many hardships and losses, and yet she thrived with the help of her friends, family, and her art. She moved all around Europe at first before finally settling in South Africa, where she passed away in 2011, surrounded by friends, family, and a community that loved her.
This inspirational book also includes passages from Felicity’s own diary, which are her first-hand reflections on her circumstances and the world around her, making this memoir partly autobiographical, which immerses readers into Felicity’s world. Included in this touching book are photographs of Felicity, her family, and especially the art that she created during the period the book touches upon. This allows the reader to connect with this biography much more personally than just reading a dry description of a person’s life. Readers are shown how Felicity lived and the emotions she felt at the time, and they can also have a glimpse into what her mindset was at the moment.
This well-written book is dedicated to mothers and artists. The contents reflect this, as Felicity’s view of the world was heavily influenced by her role as a mother (like having to send her daughter away to America during the war as the enemy sunk ships of refugees), as well as her unique interpretation of the sights around her as an artist. I would, however, also recommend this book to anyone interested in a perhaps more different view of that period in history between the First World War and modern times. I highly recommend this historical account with beautiful illustrations.
Pages: 132 | ASIN : B0BSSL469F
Clouded Thoughts
The hassle of a daily commute, the often delayed appreciation for our parents, the danger of defining yourself by others’ standards- all of these subjects and more are tackled by author Michael Froilan in his poetry collection Clouded Thoughts. Froilan hits the ground running from the first page, jumping headfirst into poems that display a refreshing honesty, not to mention more than their fair share of vulnerability. While some of the poems read quickly and then float away with the breeze, some stay with you well after you’ve turned the page.
Clouded Thoughts has its pages filled with almost as many styles as it does subjects. Froilan writes poems that read like a paragraph, ones with a rhyming pattern, and some as short as a single thought. His shortest ones are, in fact, some of the strongest and are reminiscent of daily affirmations, words to be spoken in the mornings as intentions for the day. Likewise, the tone of the poems is all over the spectrum. There is no shortage of “chip on the shoulder” cynicism to be found here, but in equal turns are the many that are uplifting and inspiring.
Froilan manages to find the balance between social commentary and political statements, a precarious line that not many can navigate. Many of his poems bring current events and societal issues to light but never once does he beat you over the head with them, preferring, it would seem, to make his points with a degree of subtlety.
Although many of the poems in this collection are written with a sense of level-headed realism, a few employ imagery and analogy to elevate them to an another level. Lines such as “My pillows are covered in dreams and anxiety, What a surprise, I can’t fall asleep” paint such a vivid picture of the writer’s struggles at that moment and does so in an artfully entertaining way. These moments shine and show Froilan’s writing at its best.
Clouded Thoughts is a thought-provoking and engaging collection of poetry. Even through the cynicism and the angst, the resounding message is to love yourself, trust yourself, and define yourself on your terms only. The urging for self-confidence shines through even in the poems that don’t address it, making the book an unexpected comfort.
Pages: 102 | ASIN : B08WP8N2GN
LITERARY TITAN 