Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Book Review: Liberty Walks Naked

Book Review: Liberty Walks Naked

Last updated on: March 11, 2024 at 1:30 am by Bader Saab

Book Review: Liberty Walks Naked 2024-02-25T22:48:59-04:00 Bader Saab

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I recently finished a book that I didn’t expect to feel so emotional with. Even though there’s been only one book that has made me cry, ever, Liberty Walks Naked: Poems, by Maram Al-Massri, translated by Theo Dorgan, made it hard to keep reading, not because it’s bad, but because of how raw, honest, and unfiltered it is. And still, it’s impossible not to love it.

Format: 60 pages, Paperback.
Published: April 24, 2018 by Southword Editions.
Genres and Tags: Poetry, social commentary, nonfiction, Syrian war.

In this new collection of poems, Maram al-Masri offers herself as witness on behalf of her suffering people, speaking for those who can no longer speak, articulating with and for them the passion for liberty that is the driving force of their struggle for justice. Here is a profound, heart-wrenching lament for all victims of that terrible war, for all the numberless maimed and dead.”Masri’s poetry vividly encapsulates the frailty of our human condition in a brutal society. It can flay you at first reading. It is fair to see Masri as a love poet whose verse spares no truth of love’s joys and mercilessness, to whose work war then came, as it tore her native Syria apart, and overwhelmed it, and her.” – Ed Vulliamy, THE GUARDIAN

Although brief, this book left me breathless. The Syrian war is something sensitive to me, and the description, along the images, Maram used made me feel all the pain, depression, and grief reflected in the pages. Even though I haven’t been there, it’s impossible not to have empathy or get affected in some way. This is just pure, raw hurt mixed with the highest devotion.

If I had to pick a favorite , it would be “The Over Made Up Presenter,” precisely for its rawness. It was one that I read several times, not out of morbidity, but amazement. It just a few lines long with very simple words, yet the power it conveys is undeniable.

I obviously wish this had been longer, with more content and more reflections, more emotions and memories. There’s a lot to say about this whole situation, and while the result is amazing, I feel that the author could have made a longer product based on her feelings even though that the book works just as it is right now.

For those who care and want to know on a personal, visceral level what the Syrian war is about, what kind of system and what kind of people are involved, what kind of feelings are provoked, Liberty Walks Naked: Poems would be my first option. I will certainly check more of Maram Al-Massri’s work, too.

About Bader Saab

I’m an Arab witch and journalist, also with a master’s degree in digital research. I have worked as a book reviewer and written about pre-Islamic folklore. You can connect with me by Private Message on Instagram: @saab.bader. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

February 24, 2024

New Year... Plans?

Next Post

March 18, 2024 Book Review: Blood Orange

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ancestors Book review Books Deities Divination Folklore History news Practice Spirits Uncategorized Wellbeing witchcraft Writing

Select a Month September 2026 July 2026 March 2026 December 2025 November 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 September 2024 July 2024 March 2024 February 2024 November 2023 September 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020

Follow Us!

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In what city was Jesus born?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jericho Nazareth Jerusalem Bethlehem

Related posts from A Modern Day Sha'ir

No More Booklists. Enter the Fake Degree!

A Modern Day Sha’ir

Book review: Syrian Folktales

A Modern Day Sha’ir

Book review: Water, by Rumi

A Modern Day Sha’ir

Losing your Prayer Corner

A Modern Day Sha’ir

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Pagan

What do the Gods Look Like?

I was recently chatting with someone on Instagram. She asked me what...

My Blogging Style

While there are many people who share their results, the end of...

On July 23, I saw Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey which is Homer’s...

Work in progress

As I write this two big events have just finished up. One...

Restoring the Watershed of Divine Love

Perhaps cooperation is not something we manufacture through legislation, ideology, or moral...

Many UUs don’t pray because of bad experiences in a previous religion,...

view all Pagan blogs

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos