Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline

The good news and the bad news concerning this book both spring from the same unfortunate circumstance: this book is already dated. This is bad news, of course, because the people of Syria, probably many of them contributors to this book, are now living under two dreadful regimes instead of just one. Whatever hope they once had has almost certainly been dashed. In fact, one wonders how many of these contributors are even still alive. I went to look up a YouTube video of one of the videos that was mentioned in this book, and beneath the video (Abu Eskandar) was a link to a Facebook page. But when I clicked on the link all I got was the message, "Sorry, this page isn't available." It immediately called to mind the ending of another contribution in this book, where the author rings the cellphone of a friend, only to receive the reply from a strange voice: "The owner of this phone is dead. We killed him."Still, for you the reader there is some positive here. This is like a snapshot into one particular moment of time. This is a snapshot into a moment in Syria when the Arab people, like other Arab peoples in Egypt, Libya, etc., actually felt a rising of hope, a feeling that their lives might finally be taking a turn for the better. It is a snapshot into the large majority of the people (I am assuming they are the majority; I am hoping they are the majority) who are not the fanatics, either governmental of fundamentalist, that we are always reading about or watching on the news. These are the people who simply want to go about their lives, be in peace with their neighbors, and not have to fear for their lives every time they step into the street. And that his may be as good a snapshot as we are ever likely to get makes this volume even more compelling. Like any compilation, of course, some of these contributions are better than others, but they are all worth reading, and the artwork itself is worth the price of admission. Buy it; read it!(Note: I think the most frustrating part of this book, at least personally, is the realization that there is really little to nothing that we (meaning the U.S.) can do about this. That as much as we might want to rush over and help put things right, the most likely result, as we ought to have learned by now, would only be the opposite, that it would just make matters worse. It makes you want to pull your hair out).

wonderful book, which brings useful insights to researchers

You feel the suffering of Syrian artist during this endless war.

Better not read this book on Thomson Airways if you're not blond and blue eyed, or you might be "questioned" under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, as allegedly occurred with a young British women recently. Apparently reading about Syrian art while Muslim will get you detained now; just another day in the police state.

I'm kind of a fan of the book, but it sucks to read it out loud to Muslim children on planes. The problem is all these Trump-loving Brexit conservatives love to report suspicious activity. I was minding my own business, reading aloud the graphic, violent sections about neck wounds and "slaughtered like an animal", and for some reason, I got kicked off the plane. Just for that. Luckily, the stupid British press defended me, calling this an "art book." Next time I read endless descriptions of graphic gore within earshot of children, I'll muffle my laughter and keep my voice low.

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The book has a series of narratives about the experience of ordinary people caught in the Syrian conflict.

A collection of artistic writings, illustrations and poems from Syria - what an understatement that is. This book has changed the way I see the Syria conflict. I'm filled with admiration for the Syrian peoples struggle against the totalitarian Assad regime. I'm also humbled by their fortitude and bravery - great read.

This is a moving, well edited and well translated collection, essential reading for English speakers who want to understand why and how Syrians rose up against oppression in 2011 and how they still find ways of expressing alternative voices despite the distortiond of war and propaganda

A collection of posters, stories, photography and art work from inside the Syrian revolution together with commentary. The book is actually quite large and heavy with good paper quality. In an age of smart phones and Youtube it still seems posters and hand drawn cartoons are being widely used.