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We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria Paperback – August 7, 2018
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LONG-LISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL
Reminiscent of the work of Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich, an astonishing collection of intimate wartime testimonies and poetic fragments from a cross-section of Syrians whose lives have been transformed by revolution, war, and flight.
Against the backdrop of the wave of demonstrations known as the Arab Spring, in 2011 hundreds of thousands of Syrians took to the streets demanding freedom, democracy and human rights. The government’s ferocious response, and the refusal of the demonstrators to back down, sparked a brutal civil war that over the past five years has escalated into the worst humanitarian catastrophe of our times.
Yet despite all the reporting, the video, and the wrenching photography, the stories of ordinary Syrians remain unheard, while the stories told about them have been distorted by broad brush dread and political expediency. This fierce and poignant collection changes that. Based on interviews with hundreds of displaced Syrians conducted over four years across the Middle East and Europe, We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled is a breathtaking mosaic of first-hand testimonials from the frontlines. Some of the testimonies are several pages long, eloquent narratives that could stand alone as short stories; others are only a few sentences, poetic and aphoristic. Together, they cohere into an unforgettable chronicle that is not only a testament to the power of storytelling but to the strength of those who face darkness with hope, courage, and moral conviction.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMariner Books
- Publication dateAugust 7, 2018
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.79 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100062654446
- ISBN-13978-0062654441
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Many of these voices are unforgettable...Pearlman shapes her subjects’ narratives, winnowing interviews down to stirring examples of human adaptation...essential reading.”
— New York Times Book Review
“Heart-stopping…Syrians, Pearlman writes, are too often cast as ‘victims to be pitied, bodies to be sheltered, radicals to be denounced or threats to be feared ... it can be difficult to find chances to listen to actual Syrians as human beings’. But she has listened.” — The Guardian
“Pearlman spoke with hundreds of displaced Syrians…. Common among the spare and haunting testimonies of these mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters are the loss and reappearance of hope, humanity, and dreams of new freedom. This powerfully edifying work of witness is essential reading.” — Booklist (starred review)
“A heartbreaking, human, and necessary book. Recommended for anyone who wishes to better understand the Syrian conflict.” — Library Journal
“It’s unsurprising to see the anger not just toward Syrian president Bashar al-Assad but also toward the international community...Nonetheless, the book is filled with hope, informed by an understanding of the unity possible in spite of the discord sowed by Assad.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A timely and useful exploration into the events leading up to and following the Syrian uprising and ongoing refugee crisis.” — VICE
“A gut-wrenching collection of true experiences of Syrians whose lives have been transformed, often torn apart, by the ongoing conflict. A breathtaking yet haunting work of nonfiction, this necessary book could not have come at a better time.” — Bustle
“Profoundly important…Pearlman, an accomplished political scientist, has chosen to let her Syrian interlocutors speak for themselves. What emerges is a complex, engaging and difficult oral history, which deserves a wide readership.” — Mark Lynch, Professor of Political Science at George Washington University and author of The New Arab Wars: Anarchy and Uprising in the Middle East and The Arab Uprising: The Unfinished Revolutions of the New Middle East
“An important book for anyone who wants to understand the root causes of the Syrian tragedy…There are many different competing “realities” of the Syrian conflict and the many voices recorded in this book capture this perfectly.” — Andreas Krüger, Ambassador for the Negotiations on Syria, Federal Foreign Office of Germany
“Incendiary—this heart-wrenching testament could not be more timely. Beyond headlines or breaking news or political posturing, this work of witness allows real people to expose Syria’s terrifying heart.” — Luis Alberto Urrea, author of The Devil’s Highway and Into The Beautiful North
“The West has been repeatedly numbed to the human rights travesty of the authoritarian Assad regime—or worse, encouraged to think of its victims as outsiders—but these accounts fly in the face of that selfish idea.” — Elle.com
“An important work -- vivid, moving, and unforgettable.” — Omnivoracious
“A moving collection of personal accounts from Syrians covering the time before the conflict with Bashar Al-Assad to now.” — Rebellious Magazine
“Profoundly important…Pearlman, an accomplished political scientist, has chosen to let her Syrian interlocutors speak for themselves. What emerges is a complex, engaging and difficult oral history, which deserves a wide readership.” — Mark Lynch, Professor of Political Science at George Washington University and author of The New Arab Wars: Anarchy and Uprising in the Middle East and The Arab Uprising: The Unfinished Revolutions of the New Middle East
“Pearlman’s book is not only important because it puts names to suffering, but also because it reminds readers—especially in the final segment, “Reflections”—that in the Syrian conflict, “there is no right or wrong,” only problematic “shades of gray.” A poignant and humane collection.” — Kirkus Reviews
“To read these pages, to meet these men and women, is to cross a bridge ourselves, and to tremble: at the fragility of social order…but also at the love, anger, terror, trauma, compassion, endurance, awe, and determination a single human voice can convey.” — Larry Siems, author of The Torture Report and editor of Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s Guantanamo Diary
“Pearlman masterfully stitches together a collective journey, stories moving seamlessly from one to the next...The disparate voices, ranging from defiant, funny, mournful, wistful, and tragic, form a complex narrative of the Syrian tragedy—my story, my family’s stories, the stories of the people and lives that we lost.” — Lina Sergie Attar, cofounder and chief executive of the Karam Foundation
“A powerful must read book for anyone wanting to understand what’s happening in Syria and why it matters.” — Chicago Review of Books
“A stunning mosaic of narratives told in vignettes of varying lengths. It’s hard to fathom the humanitarian disaster of the Syrian war. These testimonies—wrenching but also deeply hopeful—help us wrap our minds around it.”— — Fusion
“Heartbreaking and horrifying...As a vital and powerful document of suppressed perspectives, We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled should be required reading for not just all Americans, but everyone.” — The Riveter
“Pearlman’s collection is a chance to remind ourselves of the humanity behind the UNHRC’s ticking number of displaced people and what’s reported in the daily news.” — WBUR
“[This] is a book to be read and reread…[Pearlman] has succeeded in the challenge of offering a humanistic account that does not dissolve Syrians into lofty or abstract rhetoric…their diverse voices remain clearly and unequivocally allied in their arduous struggle.” — Yassin al-Haj Saleh, Syrian dissident, winner of the 2012 Prince Claus Award, and author of several books, including The Impossible Revolution, Syria in the Shadow, and Salvation O Boys: 16 Years in Syrian Prisons
“I was quickly hooked by Pearlman’s simple and often captivating human narratives… the book does well to explain the challenges of the future, not only in ending the war but in healing a traumatized and shell-shocked society.” — The New Yorker
From the Back Cover
In 2011, millions of Syrians took to the streets demanding freedom and dignity. The government’s ferocious response, and the demonstrators’ refusal to back down, sparked a brutal war that escalated into one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our time.
We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled is an astonishing collection of intimate testimonies and poetic fragments that chronicle the conflict from its origins to its present horror, solely through the words of ordinary people transformed by its unfolding. Based on interviews with hundreds of Syrians conducted across five years and three continents, this breathtaking mosaic forms a testament not only to the power of storytelling but also to the resilience of those who face darkness with hope, courage, and moral conviction.
About the Author
Wendy Pearlman is a professor and award-winning teacher at Northwestern University, specializing in Middle East politics. Educated at Harvard, Georgetown, and Brown, Pearlman speaks fluent Arabic and has spent more than twenty years studying and living in the Arab World. She is the author of numerous articles and two books, Occupied Voices: Stories of Everyday Life from the Second Intifada (Nation Books, 2003) and Violence, Nonviolence, and the Palestinian National Movement (Cambridge University Press, 2011). She lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Product details
- Publisher : Mariner Books; Reprint edition (August 7, 2018)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062654446
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062654441
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.79 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #139,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Syria History
- #66 in Historical Middle East Biographies
- #4,506 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Wendy Pearlman is a professor and award-winning teacher at Northwestern University, specializing in Middle East politics. Educated at Harvard, Georgetown, and Brown, Pearlman speaks Arabic and has spent more than twenty years studying and living in the Arab World. She is the author of numerous articles and four books, including Occupied Voices: Stories of Everyday Life from the Second Intifada (Nation Books, 2003), Violence, Nonviolence, and the Palestinian National Movement (Cambridge University Press, 2011), and Triadic Coercion: Israel’s Targeting of States that Host Nonstate Actors (with Boaz Atzili, Columbia University Press, 2018). Her book We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria (Custom House, June 2017) has been called “essential reading” by the New York Times, and been recommended in reviews in the New Yorker, Times Literary Supplement, and Chicago Review of Books, among other outlets. A review in The Guardian calls the book, “heart-stopping,” adding: “Syrians, Pearlman writes, are too often cast as ‘victims to be pitied, bodies to be sheltered, radicals to be denounced or threats to be feared ... it can be difficult to find chances to listen to actual Syrians as human beings’. But she has listened.” Pearlman lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book compelling and informative. They appreciate the storytelling that humanizes the story and makes it relatable. The book provides a unique account of the political and social history of Syria from the voices of Syrians. Readers describe the book as authentic, honest, and well-crafted. They appreciate the powerful way the book allows Syrian voices to be heard.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book's storytelling engaging and relatable. They appreciate the author's ability to humanize the displacement crisis through stories. The raw experiences and emotional journey help readers imagine what it would be like to experience such a situation. Overall, customers describe the writing as moving, eye-opening, and enjoyable to read.
"...war that resulted, the horrors of war, as well as the challenges and opportunities of refugees...." Read more
"There is something powerful about hearing people tell their stories and Wendy Pearlman did an excellent job in how she helped many Syrians share..." Read more
"...As a work of artistic literature though, it was an extremely moving piece of writing." Read more
"...In somewhat chronological order, the book shares stories from Syrians detailing the era before the conflict, the protests, the regime's response,..." Read more
Customers find the book compelling, informative, and thought-provoking. They describe it as a unique narrative that tells the chronological story of the Syrian people. Readers appreciate the author's well-done research and the way it brings the voices of the experience back to life.
"This is a brilliant book that is must reading for all who want to understand the tragedy that is the Syrian civil war...." Read more
"...Pearl man does a beautiful job of allowing these voices a platform and nothing else...." Read more
"...about hearing people tell their stories and Wendy Pearlman did an excellent job in how she helped many Syrians share their powerful accounts...." Read more
"It’s a must read. I felt every bit of this book. I cried and laughed. Wendy Pearlman deserves all the flowers for such a great read." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's history. They find it moving and thoughtful, providing a unique account of the political and social history of Syria from the voices of Syrians. The geopolitical orientation provided is valuable for understanding the events that led to the conflict. Overall, readers consider the book important for understanding the Syrian conflict.
""We Crossed a Bridge" is of paramount importance for understanding the Syrian conflict, and for learning to be compassionate humans living..." Read more
"...and it Trembled” is a masterpiece – moving, thoughtful, and historically rich...." Read more
"...This is a unique book since it tells the chronological story of Syrians fight for Democracy and the right to control their own destiny from the..." Read more
"...In the introduction of the book, Dr. Pearlman provides a valuable geo-political orientation to the events that led to where Syria is today, and why...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's authenticity. They find it inspirational, well-crafted, and honest.
"...The book's style reminds me of Humans of New York. It is so raw and authentic that I found myself feeling all of the emotions along with the Syrians..." Read more
"...Pearlman's powerful, inspirational, and authentic book can teach us all about the way storytelling molds us and makes us better." Read more
"I'd give this finely crafted book 10 stars if I were able too...." Read more
"...Rather than a simply historical account, this honest, emotional journey helps to reveal years of oppression that led to the current situation...." Read more
Customers find the book a remarkable collection of voices that need to be heard. They say it's a powerful way to enable Syrian voices to be heard and that the book does an outstanding job organizing those voices into a broad narrative.
"...It is full authentic voices speaking from the heart about the excitement of a revolution, the terrible civil war that resulted, the horrors of war,..." Read more
"This book is filled with voice of those who have been silenced for too long. Voices that have been afraid to speak...." Read more
"What a powerful way to enable Syrian voices be heard!..." Read more
"This remarkable collection of Syrian voices is a must-read...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2017This is a brilliant book that is must reading for all who want to understand the tragedy that is the Syrian civil war. It is full authentic voices speaking from the heart about the excitement of a revolution, the terrible civil war that resulted, the horrors of war, as well as the challenges and opportunities of refugees. The book does an outstanding job of organizing those voices into a broad narrative and letting them speak for themselves. One challenge of the book is that is only telling one side of the civil war and you really do not hear the voices of those who support the Assad regimne not those that have turned to violent extremism. That said, this is a book that is easily the best I have read on the Syrian civil war and is brilliant cautionary tale that I strongly recommend for all those interested in the middle east.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2022This book is filled with voice of those who have been silenced for too long. Voices that have been afraid to speak. The voices started as a whisper and grew into a beautiful roar. Pearl man does a beautiful job of allowing these voices a platform and nothing else.
We should not think there are only two sides to the atrocities that have ravaged Syria and her people. This account shows just how conflicting many Syrians are and how not black and white war ever is. This war in-particular has stripes of red, black, white and stars of green.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2017There is something powerful about hearing people tell their stories and Wendy Pearlman did an excellent job in how she helped many Syrians share their powerful accounts. Like Studs Terkel, she got out of the way and lets the reader and the story teller connect directly. I would have given five stars, but I wanted to hear more and found the book a bit short. Maybe, for some, this is an advantage.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023It’s a must read. I felt every bit of this book. I cried and laughed. Wendy Pearlman deserves all the flowers for such a great read.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2023I purchased the book as a way of qualitative research on protestor motivations in order to find variables for use some graduate research. In that dry sense, it was quite useful for some core understandings of what drives a person to participate in something very very dangerous.
As a work of artistic literature though, it was an extremely moving piece of writing.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2017This book is remarkable. I read the entire thing in 24 hours because it draws you in from the beginning. In somewhat chronological order, the book shares stories from Syrians detailing the era before the conflict, the protests, the regime's response, flight from Syria, etc. The book's style reminds me of Humans of New York. It is so raw and authentic that I found myself feeling all of the emotions along with the Syrians portrayed. The humanizing perspective that the author gives helps readers imagine what it would have been like to be there. It evokes empathy and understanding in a way that only the most talented writers can. I have such deep respect for Syrians, and this book honors their stories and experiences so well.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2017I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone who is interested in learning about what happened in Syria. Wendy Pearlman provides a brief background of the socio-political context of the uprising and civil war but leaves the reader to learn directly from the reflections of those who have lived it. The book is built around hundreds of interviews with Syrians woven together chronologically to transport the reader from the feelings of hope and release that the Arab Spring unleashed to the sense of betrayal at the hands of the international community to the feelings of loss and alienation of a people who have been forced to rebuild their lives countless times. Ultimately, what the reader emerges with is the conviction that no one is fully a victim nor fully a perpetrator of violence and that it is not our place to judge whether or not the revolution was "worth it" in the end. Pearlman's thoughtful tribute to Syria serves as a reminder that the only people who can speak about Syria are the Syrians themselves. It is a gentle (and much needed) rebuke for us to step away from the political image of Syria as a land of militias and sectarianism and to view it from the eyes of Syrians who believed in hope for the future and freedom.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2017"We Crossed a Bridge" is of paramount importance for understanding the Syrian conflict, and for learning to be compassionate humans living in society. You want to hear what's really happening across the world? Go straight to the source! Pearlman refrains from commenting on political realities and leaves it to the Syrians themselves to tell the narrative of what has occurred and is occurring. The chronology of the book is cohesive and easy to read, and the raw experiences show us how humanity deals with crisis. I hope many others read this book and are challenged in their thinking, and moved to speak out for Syrians. Pearlman's powerful, inspirational, and authentic book can teach us all about the way storytelling molds us and makes us better.
Top reviews from other countries
- Melissa PlantReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best (if not the best)
I've read most of the available books concerning the Syrian revolution and civil war. This is, in my opinion, one of the best (if not the best). I recommend this to anyone - it is a crucial introductory read for someone who knows little about Syria, and a vital addition to the existing literature for those who have read widely. Pearlman has done something near unprecidented in academia and journalism - removing her voice almost entirely from the work (she only appears through the introduction, which plots the basic history of the revolution and war) and allowing Syrian to tell their own stories. It is a masterwork of research - the product of years (and hundreds of hours of interviews, if not more) spent travelling the globe, talking to Syrians - and of curation. This - although it was curated by an American academic - is the closest approximation we have in English literature to a people's history of the Syrian revolution. Make no mistake, it is not an easy read - but you absolutely should not hesitate to read it.
- M AlmasriReviewed in Japan on November 30, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best!
Rather than telling Syrians what they should have done or analyzing what went wrong, like most published books about Syria, Wendy decided to tell the story of Syria through the voices of Syrians from all around the country.
A must-read indeed
- eric jespersReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars an absolute must read if you feel you are missing ...
an absolute must read if you feel you are missing a more thorough understanding of what is happening in Syria. the true is in the hearts and minds of all those people who the author have spoken with... the author's resume in the beginning is also very profound and precise analysis of the whole context in Syria and the region.
- ひかりごけReviewed in Japan on September 24, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Words of each refugees are so real.
Words of each refugees are so real.That is incredible experience.Why such a tragedy happen? I cannot understand.
This book is journalistic so much. The author's interview to refugees were successful. Their voice describes realistic what has happened in syria. Torture, massacre, protest, and revolution. People is shouting:freedom!, freedom!,freedom!
That revolution has not finished yet.We should know what is happening in syria. This is a best one of books that I have read in 2018.
- JadReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Great Book! She does a great job in humanising the conflict. I managed to finish it in two nights because of how intriguing it is. It is also very well structured. However, I would have liked to hear the perspective of those who supported the regime.