Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this book. It just wasn’t for me I found it very slow and dragged on. The description sounded better than it was

We open the book with Akkad standing nervously in a hospital reception, remembering the brutality dealt out to him in a hospital in his homeland of Syria but desperate to help his adopted country during the pandemic. Then we go back to a conventional journey through his life in Syria from the early days with his family, when he was by his own admission a bit thuggish and not understanding of people's differences, through his awakening to activism during the protests around the time of the Arab Spring (brutally suppressed in Syria), his almost inevitable capture and then torture and despair, then his escape, the awful journey to the UK and his settlement here.

I'm so glad I read this powerful and important book, and hope my review will help it be shared more widely.

My full review here (on Mon 4 Oct) https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2021/10/04/book-review-hassan-akkad-hope-not-fear/

I found elements of this book hard to read - and rightly so I believe for what this incredible gentleman has been through. Most of us don't want to come face to face with detailed tracts of narrative about torture and abuse, I almost walked away from it, but I am so glad I didn't. It isn't gratuitous or overplayed for effect, this is an absolutely true and mind blowing story and whilst this is one man and one family, it is the same, I'm sure for many many others living in countries torn apart by war and violence and terror.
The story of his escape, his journey as a refugee/asylum seeker and how he chooses to develop his life is one of 'Hope, not Fear' and is utterly remarkable, uplifting and inspirational. The people he meets along the way show the best and worst of society and it is still such a current issue, despite the time that has elapsed since his personal journey there are still people facing these situations every day.
I'll overlook the foray into politics at the end, usually for me this is a bit of a turn off for a book/author to try and drive home a viewpoint at the very end of a book - I guess if you have been through what he has then you are entitled to have a bit of a dig at the establishment, although perhaps with an acknowledgement that at least now he lives somewhere where he can safely do so, and isn't going to end up in jail as a result.

Hope Not Fear, narrates the story of life before the war in jasmine-scented Damascus and how it changed upside down for early twenties successful English teacher Hassan when he was arrested for taking the streets to protest in 2011.

“March 2012 was freezing cold, winter still lingering over Syria, as if spring would never come.”

After surviving torture and abuse in jail, Hassan leaves Syria for neighbouring Arab countries that puts limits on its visas, making planning for a future impossible. He later takes us along his smuggling journey reaching the UK where he believed he could add value since he knew the language. Little did Hassan know when he documented his escape trip through Europe that this film will end up in a documentary that would win him a BAFTA award.

Dealing with his own trauma, Hassan recharges by volunteering and helping others around him. He reflects on his days during the pandemic where he worked as a cleaner in his local hospital and ended up putting up a public message that led to a huge U-turn in the British government policy regarding the hospital workers benefits. He also shines the light on paper borders and how much it took its toll on him, coming from a loving strongly related family.

“Covid will go, but these injustices won’t. The virus will be dealt with eventually, but refugees will carry on living separated from their loved ones because of the documents they have or they don’t have.”

Hassan’s writing is honest and brutal. I am glad he managed to find and radiate hope through his impressive positive impact. Despite his story of injustice, torture and trauma, he still manages to uplift his readers. I personally felt encouraged to do more volunteering work.

A personal memoir that reads like a novel. So profoundly moving despite discussing heavy crisis ie Syrian civil war, the outbreak of coronavirus and the situation in the wards, a refugee crisis and dealing with PTSD. Above all, his determination and vision to brave it all is so inspiring and uplifting.

Profoundly moving, shocking yet uplifting memoirs of both the war in Syria, the plight of refugees, and the covid pandemic in the UK. The parallels with authoritarian approaches, fear, humanity, isolation, and the kindness of strangers across the world between both war and a global pandemic are astutely written and also captivate and inspire. It leads as a cry for justice, acceptance, equality, safety, and love, for all.