A Gripping and Powerful Look into The Protagonist’s Struggle with Her Palestinianism
Sonia Naser has spent all her life in London. Growing up, she, her sister, mother, and father would visit their extended family in Palestine, something Sonia reflects a lot about. But for the past several years, Sonia has not been back to Palestine, although her sister, Haneen, resides there.
The book begins as Sonia, an actress, is struggling at passport control, entering the Palestinian territory. From there, Sonia makes a pit stop in Akka, before heading to her sister’s house in Haifa. It’s later revealed that Sonia’s visit to her sister didn’t come without a purpose, as Sonia had recently come out of a messy love affair. While a break from the chaos back in London may have been her initial reason, Sonia soon discovers that she’s attracted to a land she has little ties to anymore, which fuels her search for belonging. As she navigates her way through Haifa, Sonia is soon introduced to her sister’s friend, Mariam, who is a theatre director. After several encounters with Mariam, Sonia agrees to fill in as Gertrude in Mariam’s reproduction of Hamlet. Eventually, Sonia becomes attached to the role, the country and the people and goes through with the play alongside a cast who later become like family.
Mariam casts a diverse range of actors, each from across the West Bank. They’re all acquainted before Sonia’s arrival as a stand-in, and in early rehearsals, debate the play’s significance and meaning. Some actors are older and more experienced, not only in acting, but in activism and life in Palestine, than others. The debates about the play continue throughout, reflecting on the character’s significance and symbolism in relation to the country.
Hammad has done exceptional work in transporting the audience from the book onto the ground through vivid imagery and strong, well-written characters. Readers are instantly taken on a journey of exploration into life in Palestine throughout all its hurdles: check points, random searches, occupation of houses and fear, among much more. Her relationship with her sister touches on key differences experienced in many Middle Eastern households, where siblings often drift apart due to conflicts in lifestyle and opinions. But their relationship survives. The absence of the father in the country also offers commentary on the situation itself for locals, many of whom find it hard to come back for legal and emotional reasons. Mariam’s very vocal and outgoing character becomes a star, alongside Sonia, in the book, as Mariam becomes a symbol of resistance and perseverance.
As Sonia extends her stay in Palestine to take part in the play, she discovers a lot about her family, her sister, the country, Mariam and herself through different events that happen all while she, the cast and Mariam prepare for the play. After some scrutiny and a lot of issues, all of which the team was able to surpass, the play comes to life and with it, Sonia’s life is given back to her. Hammad’s emotional writing style and her exploration of loss, identity, displacement and belonging make the book a roller-coaster of emotions to read, but one not to be missed.
The relevance of the book, which was published in 2023, is prominent throughout. From portraying the border struggles, to random check points, protests and the scuffle with the family that occupied their old house, Enter Ghost does an incredible job at portraying to the world the daily struggles of Palestinian life, especially as experienced by a non-resident.
