Maps of israel, palestine, the wall, and settlements. In those two pages the author thanked more than fifty individuals, but what got my attention was recognizing her ninth grade teacher for forcing her to write a journal every day. Mar 12, 20 fast times in palestine is olsons powerful, deeply moving account of life in palestineboth the daily events that are universal to us all house parties, concerts, barbecues, and weddings as well as the violence, trauma, and political tensions that are particular to the country. In barghoutis poetic, hearty depiction of his longdenied hometown, on his first visit after years of cruel estrangement, i could feel the beating heart. From ancient times to the modern era is an empty book by assaf voll purporting to cover the history of the palestinian people from the dawn of humanity to present day. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Pamela will do a short reading and presentation, followed by a book signing, informal discussion, and general celebration. In warmhearted, evocative prose, she recounts her numerous adventures, from the everyday harvesting. Come out and party with the author of fast times in palestine. Following the publication of fast times in palestine, pamela has done over 150 book events in twenty states and nine countries. It is an emotional story of olsons experiences while living in ramallah as a journalist and foreign press coordinator for a palestinian presidential candidate. She lives in new york now, and her book was published in may 2011. Fast times in palestine is olsons powerful, deeply moving account of life in palestineboth the daily events that are universal to us all house parties, concerts, barbecues, and weddings as well as the violence, trauma, and political tensions that are particular to the country. Olson lived in palestine for more than two years, quickly adapting to and assimilating the shifting reality on both sides of the green line. Fast times in palestine by pamela olson 11oct october 11, 20. Funny, gorgeous, shocking, and galvanizing, fast times in palestine challenges the way we think not only about the middle east but about human nature and our place in the world. Find out why publishers weekly named fast times in palestine a top ten travel book of 20. May 20, 2011 its seamless blend of travelogue, memoir, and narrative journalism ramps the average american up to a sophisticated, multifaceted understanding of the israel palestine conflict.
Review of pamela olsons fast times in palestine, mason hill press, new york, 2011. I definitely recommend it to others who are curious about world politics. Click to view the table of contents with links to excerpts. Oct, 2009 for a more thorough historical and political context as well as many colorful, suspenseful, funny, tragic, and even a few romantic stories about life behind the wall, check out my book fast times in palestine, published in march 20. Fast times in palestine is a groundbreaking new book about the modern palestinian reality, told through the eyes of a young woman from smalltown oklahoma whose political innocence was shattered when she wandered into the west bank in late 2003.
Author pamela olson gave a talk in the commonwealth honors college events hall on tuesday night to discuss her book, fast times in palestine. What can i say about such a well written book that has not already been said. It is an emotional story of olsonsexperiences while living in ramallah as a journalist and foreign press coordinator for a palestinian presidential candidate. Part adventure story, part searing reportage, part love story, and wholly absorbing. It is a fascinating read, at times hilarious, at times heartbreaking but mostly it informs the reader of what is really going on in the land once known as palestine. A charming book brimming with tension and tragedy, but also with the humor, warmth, everyday foibles. The event was hosted by students for justice in palestine and coordinated by umass leila aruri.
She eventually became disillusioned with the prospect of changing washington from the inside, and in 2007, she left dc and started writing fast times in palestine. Feb 12, 20 i have read much of the writing on this conflict, and no other book has conveyed such an authentic, penetrating, and enchanting sense of the palestinian people and their long struggle for rights. Pamela olson gives talk on fast times in palestine umass daily collegian 10516 raposa posted on 10052016 7. For a few years now i have been struggling with the urge to write an account of life in my community that would attract readers not because of its subject matter or. A love affair with a homeless homeland, i had to start from the end of the book. Fast times in palestine global researchglobal research. Transforming fear into compassion olsons masterful storytelling, imagery, and wit take the reader on a transformative journey through palestine. To talk about it at all, one has to issue a litany of disclaimers and clarifications before broaching the subject.
For much of her lifelike many westernersmost of what pamela olson knew of the middle east was informed by headlines and stereotypes. You can learn more about the book on its website, which features a synopsis, news. Very effective marie newman tv ad campaign launched. Fast times in palestine offers a glimpse of what has been. Fast times in palestine pamela olson 9781580054829. Pamela olson gives talk on fast times in palestine. Olson is a gutwrenching, intimate true recounting of the almost accidental arrival of pamela in palestine with eyeopening accounts of daily life for her and the friends she makes. The following is an excerpt from fast times in palestine. May 10, 2011 she eventually became disillusioned with the prospect of changing washington from the inside, and in 2007, she left dc and started writing fast times in palestine. Funny, gorgeous, shocking, and galvanizing, fast times in palestine challenges the way we think not only about the middle east but albout human nature and our place in. For a more thorough historical and political context as well as many colorful, suspenseful, funny, tragic, and even a few romantic stories about life behind the wall, check out my book fast times in palestine, published in march 20.
Olson part adventure story, part searing reportage, part love story, and wholly absorbing. I have read much of the writing on this conflict, and no other book has conveyed such an authentic, penetrating, and enchanting sense of the palestinian people and their long struggle for rights. A moving, inspiring account of life in palestine thats enormously informative yet reads like a novel. Ive been reading fast times in palestine all last month along with mourid barghoutis i saw ramallah, which has been a most beneficial plan, as both books are memoirs mainly revolving around palestines social and commercial center. For much of her lifelike many westernersmost of what pam.
At last years move over aipac event, i read from my newlypublished book fast times in palestine, a memoir about my transformation from a typical uninformed american to a ramallahbased. Part adventure story, part searing reportage, part love story. Fast times in palestine is an honest and balanced account of a situation many north americans would be shocked to find they know nothing about. Reviewed by jamal kanj redress 8 october 20 as i read the book i tried to fathom what drove a young american woman from a small town in oklahoma with a degree in physics to end up spending two years traversing military checkpoints and helping farmers harvest olives in the middle east. As an israeli whose life was shaped by the israelipalestinian conflict, i found fast times in palestine moving and refreshing. Smashwords fast times in palestine a book by pamela olson. Fast times in palestine was published by seal press in march 20. Fast times in palestine offers a glimpse of what has. Its seamless blend of travelogue, memoir, and narrative journalism ramps the average american up to a sophisticated, multifaceted understanding of the israelpalestine conflict. I eventually became disillusioned with the prospect of changing washington from the inside, and in 2007, i left dc and wrote a book called fast times in palestine. Olsons recentlypublished book, fast times in palestine, is an important and welcome addition to the books written from personal experience living in. I am ashamed of how little i knew about palestine before reading this book. In the face of overwhelming power, the message that underlies this story is the very idea of palestinian existence. Fast times in palestine is a heroic and touching journey to selfawareness that will awaken the reader to a more humane perspective on the arab world.
My dear friend rania a major character in my book fast times in palestine has for years offered desperatelyneeded services in the west bank town of tulkarem, palestine, including counseling for victims of trauma and abuse, activities for children in refugee camps, programs for the disabled. A love affair with a homeless homeland by author pamela j. Interview with pamela olson june 25, 20 by nadia mughal most americans have a framework in their head that doesnt include anything about arabs or muslims other than stereotypes, said pamela olson, author of the book fast times in palestine. A love affair with a homeless homeland by pamela olson. Named a top 10 travel book of 20 by publishers weekly and a best travel book of spring by national geographic.
Olson, a stanford graduate from oklahoma who studied physics and political science, is a very good writer. Olsons authenticity pervades the book, whether it is a matter of adoring the cuisine or acknowledging her infatuation with this or that palestinian young man who. Most importantly, fast times in palestine highlights the essential humanity of palestinians and their struggle with the constant oppression of israeli society that surrounds all facets of their lives. Oct 05, 2016 author pamela olson gave a talk in the commonwealth honors college events hall on tuesday night to discuss her book, fast times in palestine. What makes her story so compelling is that she tells it in an honest and straightforward way, not by relying on hot rhetoric. Olsons recentlypublished book, fast times in palestine, is an important and welcome addition to the books written from personal experience living in the occupied palestinian territories. She lived in ramallah for two years, during which she served as head writer and editor for the palestine monitor and as foreign press coordinator for dr. Jun 27, 2011 fast times in palestine is a groundbreaking new book about the modern palestinian reality, told through the eyes of a young woman from smalltown oklahoma whose political innocence was shattered when she wandered into the west bank in late 2003. Pamela olson comes to the middle east with a blank slate and is therefore able to hold up an undistorted mirror to the reality she encounters. I remember thinking lets see what an american with no preconceived ideas or middle east. Uplifting story fuels challenge to congressman bobby rush.
Olson a moving, inspiring account of life in palestine thats enormously informative yet reads like a novel. Fast times in palestine is pamela olsons attempt to describe the indignities and brutality of palestinian daily life, and try to make sense of it all. Seal press, march 20 whenever i read a biographical book, i make it a point to start with the acknowledgement page to learn a little about the writer. It was published in paperback and digital formats in 2017, and most of its contents are blank pages. Fast times in palestine paperback a love affair with a homeless homeland. Fast times in palestine to sponsor occupyaipac mondoweiss. Fast times in palestine is olsons powerful, deeply moving account of life in palestineboth the daily events that for much of her lifelike many westernersmost of what pamela olson knew of the middle east was informed by headlines and stereotypes. Pamela olson, a small town girl from eastern oklahoma, had what she always wanted.
Here are ten others which in different ways and at different times have made a significant contribution to illuminating this unending story. Find out why publishers weekly named fast times in. A love affair with a homeless homeland by pamela j. Right after glancing at the first page, i knew i fancied this book and envied its author. From idyllic olive groves to palestinian beer gardens, from.
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