Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights by Anonymous

8 reviews

midwifereading's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I hate rating classics...but if I stick to how it made me feel, then, it's two stars. Squarely in the "It was okay" space for me. 

This version is apparently considered the closest to the original Syrian manuscript, and doesn't have Aladdin, Ali-Baba, or Sindbad. Go figure I would pick the version without anything I had previously heard of!

That's okay though. It's quite weird enough for my 21st century eyes. 

Weird. 

Women are either sex objects or sorceresses (and always property). Men are all the "most handsomest." Throw in a few magic demons (djinn, really), lots of swooning and pining and you've got the idea.

Still, the poetic, lyrical style is beautiful. Just because it's out of my depth, culturally, doesn't mean it doesn't have value. Another classic that was worth my time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Sexual content and Violence

lindseyhall44's review

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Torture, Abandonment, Death, Racial slurs, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Child death, Classism, Animal death, Infidelity, Blood, Violence, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

4.0

The Annotated Arabian Nights represents a of selection of folktales from what is (without the orientalist moniker) properly titled the One Thousand and One Nights, giving a sample of a newer contemporary translation by Yasmine Seale alongside analysis. 

Although this book does not quite reflect Seale’s thinking on the Nights, her translation is engaging and clear in attention to cadence, rhyme, especially verse, and the voice of Shahrazad. While, like her visual poem “Sleepless” of Shahrazad’s waking eye, illuminating texts for modern audiences and up out of previous liberties taken by many. A labor sure to produce something glorious when that edition arrives in full. In the time being, the Annotated Arabian Nights is an immense book more suited to coffee tables and academic interest.

See an in-depth review on my blog. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Death, Violence, Sexual content, Infidelity, Alcohol, Racism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Murder, and Torture

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Incest, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Miscarriage, Infertility, Animal death, and Antisemitism

Dalila the Crafty includes drugging men and stealing their clothes.

kcbatts's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Violence

cialu's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Perhaps it was this particular translation, but the writing felt bland and full of unnecessary plot. It’s definitely not a book I would pick up and read for an engaging story because it was slow with many anti-climatic moments. (I read it for school.) Nevertheless, knowing the book's roots and ancient history makes it ann impressive and creative story that teaches of morals and culture.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Misogyny, and Slavery

carefulfearanddeaddevotion's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 some of the stories were repetitive or dragged on for too long, but mostly captivating and oftentimes funny

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Torture, Racism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Slavery, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty

paintedgiraffe's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Slavery, Animal death, Murder, and Violence

ne0juns's review

adventurous dark relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Gore, Kidnapping, Racism, Violence, Animal death, Cannibalism, Death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Misogyny