We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria
We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled is a comprehensive, sobering look at several decades of oppression and conflict in Syria. Beginning with an introduction that gives a thorough overview of recent Syrian history, Wendy Pearlman then compiles the stories of Syrian citizens — doctors, students, lawyers, and other ordinary citizens whose lives have been irreparably and destructively changed by the cruelty of their government and the chaos of war.
By allowing Syrians to speak for themselves, Pearlman creates a rich portrait of a country and people who have been thrust onto the world's stage, and are still waiting for justice.
For a similar reading experience — an extraordinary collection of voices illuminating a tragic event — pick up Voices from Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich.
Quote:
“When you meet somebody coming out of Syria for the first time, you start to hear the same sentences. That Syria is a great country, the economy is doing great ... It’ll take him like six months, up to a year, to become a normal human being. To say what he thinks, what he feels ... Then they might start whispering. They won’t speak loudly. That is too scary. After all that time, even outside Syria, you feel that someone is recording.”
Author:
Wendy Pearlman is professor, journalist, and author. Her books include We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled; Occupied Voices: Stories of Everyday Life from the Second Intifada; and Violence, Nonviolence, and the Palestinian National Movement. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Published: 2017
Length: 352 pages
Set in: Syria