Ali Smith's latest novel, Glyph, is a searing exploration of the war in Gaza that dares to confront the most uncomfortable truths with unflinching honesty. The book follows sisters Petra and Patch as they grapple with the loss of their mother and the finality of death, but it soon expands its scope to tackle the Israeli government's apartheid and genocide in Palestine.
At its core, Glyph is a novel about language - not just the words we use, but the way they resonate with each other, and how they can be used to manipulate and control. Smith's etymological resonance and inference are as powerful as ever, drawing attention to the ways in which names can reveal character and context. Petra, meaning "stone" from Greek, is a potent symbol of solidity and authority, while Patch, meaning "to repair", conveys care, survival, and persistence.
The novel's central images - including a haunting story about a young soldier flattened by a tank - draw their power from the everyday horror of expansionist slaughter. Smith is not just playing with the question of what makes a character "flat" versus three-dimensional; she is also raising vital questions about representation and silence. When Patch's teenage daughter watches a distressing video of a horse trapped under rubble, she notes that it was probably Gaza - leaving no doubt in the reader's mind.
Smith's tonal skill as a writer is on full display when dealing with the bureaucratic absurdity of the British state. The arrest of Patch's daughter for waving a scarf "aggressively" serves as a scathing critique of the government's attempts to justify its inaction in the face of Israeli war crimes.
Glyph is a bold and unflinching novel that challenges the perceived aesthetic orthodoxy of distance and irony. Smith's relentless focus on language makes her particularly well-suited to this task, and she proves herself to be a master of grappling with the avalanche of passive-voice headlines, asymmetric categorisations, and semantic absurdities that have accompanied the justifications of the unjustifiable.
Ultimately, Glyph is not just a novel - it's an act of bearing witness. As Smith so eloquently puts it, "we can never say we did not see" when faced with the atrocities committed in Gaza. This is a book that demands to be read, and reckoned with, in all its unflinching honesty.
At its core, Glyph is a novel about language - not just the words we use, but the way they resonate with each other, and how they can be used to manipulate and control. Smith's etymological resonance and inference are as powerful as ever, drawing attention to the ways in which names can reveal character and context. Petra, meaning "stone" from Greek, is a potent symbol of solidity and authority, while Patch, meaning "to repair", conveys care, survival, and persistence.
The novel's central images - including a haunting story about a young soldier flattened by a tank - draw their power from the everyday horror of expansionist slaughter. Smith is not just playing with the question of what makes a character "flat" versus three-dimensional; she is also raising vital questions about representation and silence. When Patch's teenage daughter watches a distressing video of a horse trapped under rubble, she notes that it was probably Gaza - leaving no doubt in the reader's mind.
Smith's tonal skill as a writer is on full display when dealing with the bureaucratic absurdity of the British state. The arrest of Patch's daughter for waving a scarf "aggressively" serves as a scathing critique of the government's attempts to justify its inaction in the face of Israeli war crimes.
Glyph is a bold and unflinching novel that challenges the perceived aesthetic orthodoxy of distance and irony. Smith's relentless focus on language makes her particularly well-suited to this task, and she proves herself to be a master of grappling with the avalanche of passive-voice headlines, asymmetric categorisations, and semantic absurdities that have accompanied the justifications of the unjustifiable.
Ultimately, Glyph is not just a novel - it's an act of bearing witness. As Smith so eloquently puts it, "we can never say we did not see" when faced with the atrocities committed in Gaza. This is a book that demands to be read, and reckoned with, in all its unflinching honesty.
it's like she ripped open the scab on our collective conscience and forced us to confront the horrors of war and oppression 
the way she weaves together language, history, and personal narrative is nothing short of genius 
her writing is so evocative, i felt like i was right there with patch and petra, feeling their pain and anger 
the way smith takes on the apartheid and genocide in palestine without flinching is a testament to her bravery and skill as a writer 
glyph is not just a novel, it's an act of resistance – we need more books like this one that demand us to reckon with our complicity and silence 
I'm so here for the critique of the british government's handling of palestine issues - it's about time someone called them out on their hypocrisy 
the way smith weaves together themes of family, identity, and power is just masterful - can't wait to dive in and explore all the layers 
I've got my hands on some behind-the-scenes info and let me tell you, this book is not holding back 
It tackles the Israeli government's apartheid and genocide in Palestine with unflinching honesty and puts you right in the thick of it. The way Smith uses language to manipulate and control is like a punch to the gut - you won't see it coming 
The tonal skill is on point, especially when she tackles the bureaucratic absurdity of the British state. This book isn't just about representation and silence, it's an act of bearing witness - we can never say we didn't see what's happening in Gaza 
and I saw these crazy-delicious falafel from this little stall in Camden. I mean, the guy was serving them in these tiny pita things that were literally bursting with flavor... anyway, it made me think about how much food brings people together, you know? Like, in Gaza, there are these amazing food trucks and markets where people come to share meals and stories 
The way she weaves together language and reality is so mind-blowing. I mean, I've been following the news on Gaza for a while now, but this book gives you a whole new perspective on it. The way Smith uses etymology to expose the truth about names and character development is like nothing I've ever seen before 
. The way she critiques the British government's response to Israeli war crimes is not only scathing but also so cleverly written. It's like, you can't help but feel like you're reading a script for a satirical comedy show 
! It's like she's taken all the broken words and silence around the Israeli-Palestine conflict and turned them into a scathing critique of our governments' handling of it 
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. We need to be holding our governments accountable for their actions, not just turning a blind eye 
. This book is an act of bearing witness - let's all take heed and make some noise 
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i love how she tackles the tough topics like apartheid and genocide in palestine, it's not always easy reading but it's so necessary 
it really drives home the horrors of war.
. This book isn't just a novel, it's an act of bearing witness to all these atrocities that are happening in Gaza. We need more writers like Ali Smith who aren't afraid to confront the uncomfortable truths 
. I'm definitely adding this to my read list ASAP 
. I'm really impressed by her writing skills, especially when it comes to tackling sensitive topics like apartheid and genocide. 
, it's like she's calling out all the BS. Overall, this book is a must-read... it's not just a story, it's an act of bearing witness to what's happening in Gaza 
smith's writing is like a punch to the gut it's raw and honest and dont even get me started on the symbolism 
it's like she's saying we can't just sit back and watch the atrocities happen without speaking out 
. The author's writing is like a masterclass in non-verbal communication... have you ever seen anyone just nod at each other and go "yeah, we know" when they're talking about something really deep? That's what Ali Smith does here 
️ And yeah, I can already imagine how scathing her critique of the government's response will be 
i mean who wouldn't want to read about a character named Patch who's all about care and survival? 
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. The scene with Patch's daughter getting arrested for waving a scarf "aggressively" is just 
. We gotta reckon with these atrocities and demand more from our leaders 