Definitely one of the best books I have read and a must for everyone. It serves two very important purposes. First, it gives an exhaustive introduction to Palestine’s literature, from established greats to teenagers posting stories on Facebook.
The second way in which the book is astoundingly meaningful is that Di Cintio gives an unbiased view on the issues in Palestine from his position. I read and listen to a lot of material on the Palestinian struggle from radical standpoints, but what always lingers in my mind is the question: how does one live with it? I’ve been to Palestine, briefly, and try to ask people, but the essence still eludes me. By telling stories of so many people who are close to literature, Di Cintio reveals what happens in Palestine, in Palestinian Jerusalem and in the occupied territories. He paints portraits of people living between the intifadas and the Israeli attacks, between Hamas and Fatah, between wars, between homes, between hell and worse. From grumpy older men who think women should serve at the table to fiery feminists, from privileged people to the poor, Di Cintio reveals a beautiful humane mundanity that is at the core of why we need to care about Palestine and its people.
Pay No Heed to the Rockets: Palestine in the Present Tense by Marcello di Cintio
Published by Counterpoint Press in 2018
