Ru Freeman is a Sri Lankan born author and activist. She is the author of the novels A Disobedient Girl and On Sal Mal Lane, a New York Times Notable Book.
"It is both the artist's burden and duty to witness what is going
on in the world. Sometimes it is easier to remain silent, but as
the incredible poet and activist Audre Lorde reminded us, our
silence won't protect us. In Extraordinary Rendition: (American)
Writers on Palestine, silences are broken, poignant and powerful
narratives and testimonials are offered on Palestine that make it
impossible for the reader to remain unmoved, unshaken, and
unaffected. I hope this book will not only stir emotions and
reflections, but will also lead to urgent and necessary
change."--Edwidge Danticat
This is a book to be read slowly, deliberately. Though the writing
is rich, varied, hard, and lyrical, some of it breathtaking, a
treasure house of the sort you want to read out loud just to feel
it in the mouth, the prose and poetry found here shape a portrait
of the tragedy of two peoples, the Palestinians, whose lives, held
so unimportant by the world, daily become more intolerable, and the
Israelis, who, through their government's monstrous policies, are
responsible.
Extraordinary Rendition reminds us of the power of art and the
necessity of literature. In stories, essays and poems that are as
varied and diverse, contradictory and complicated as we are, the
writers in this deeply humane anthology shed light and bear witness
to the one of the complex conflicts of our time. Ru Freeman has
made a book unlike anything I've ever read. It's a great
contribution to not only to the conversation about Palestine, but
to the larger one about peace and justice.--Cheryl Strayed, author
of Wild
Extraordinary Rendition stands in the tradition of engaged artists,
speaking in defense of liberty and justice- values that ought to be
universal but just as often are used as fig leaves by history's
victors. Here, renowned writers turn their words to battered,
defiant and beautiful Palestine (a place whose oppressors receive
the backing of America, a country whose passport many of these
writers hold). It's a risky stance, but the best art takes risks.
Inside find nuance, challenge, empathy deep into the bone.--Molly
Crabapple
In Extraordinary Rendition, an eclectic range of American writers
break through the stereotypes and distortions of our media and
provide a far more nuanced, penetrating and three-dimensional
portrait of Palestinians, their history and the political realities
they face daily. The range of genres and approaches make this a
necessary and timely anthology, and it should be read by as large
and wide-ranging an audience as possible.--David Mura
The question of Palestine can sometimes feel like a long night of
despair. But not with this new collection in sight! Here are
witnesses, shining like stars.--Amitava Kumar
These varied writings- passionate, anguished, wry, intelligent-
combine to produce a uniquely complex and powerful testimony. This
is an extraordinary political-literary intervention.--Joseph
O'Neill, author of Netherland
This is a book that Americans who believe they're interested in a
'just peace' between Palestinians and Israelis should read. It's a
wide and diverse and eloquent book of witness. And it's a
revelation, and it's shocking. And it's tragic.--Richard Ford
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