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celtic_oracle's review against another edition
4.0
Once I realized this is more a series of vignettes than a truly linear story I was captivated by this book. A view of a changing Iraq from one who grew up there. The only thing I would have wanted was additional context around some of the events (why was Hatra levelled, for example?). The timeline at the back helps some, but I’ll still need to do some additional research.
Recommended.
Recommended.
amandae129's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting but a bit scattered. I would have liked more depth and not so much jumping around.
kjurewicz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
4.25
First of all, the illustrations are adorable and make the text easy to understand. I learned a lot from reading this book - both about the author’s personal experiences and about the political history and current cultural climate of Iraq. The book was a mix of humor, sadness, and information. I just wish that the order of events was more organized and more clearly labeled - the author just jumped right in without context and sometimes the chronology was unclear/confusing. It also would have been helpful if the family photos were labeled, since they didn’t always seem to match the chapter proceedings or after. But a good YA read for anyone who wants to know more about Iraq and Iraqi culture.
jwinchell's review against another edition
3.0
The content is 5 stars- so intimate and historically detailed at the same time. Findakly is a great storyteller. I especially liked the one page segments called “In Iraq,” where, very simply, she would describe uniquely Iraqi customs like men doing the shopping and her French mother never doing tarrof. But the continuity of these stories was so chopped up and there were no transitions between them. Loosely chronological, she jumped around in time and there was no warning or indication of a switch in time. The whole book felt like a bunch of loosely connected stories that needed some serious story boarding. I found the art to be quirkily charming- so small and tidy. The lack of hands and feet on women was disturbing; was this intentional?
lizaroo71's review against another edition
3.0
A graphic novel that tells the history of a woman’s family in Iraq. Her family is Christian in a region that is largely Muslim. Findakly tracies the history of Iraq and her family’s place in it.
The drawings are simply, but contain good details.
I enjoyed the story, but found myself confused by the non-linear timeline.
The drawings are simply, but contain good details.
I enjoyed the story, but found myself confused by the non-linear timeline.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
Another wonderful graphic memoir. I picked this up on a whim at my local college library. I have to say that the drawings are what attracted me to the book and then into the story.
This is very episodic. Findakly appears to be telling her story as it occurs to her. This is fine, but I struggled to figure out if there was a particular place that Findakly was trying to take her readers. I believe she just wants us to understand her native country as a place not as a war zone. I think she succeeded admirably at this.
I am very glad I picked this up.
This is very episodic. Findakly appears to be telling her story as it occurs to her. This is fine, but I struggled to figure out if there was a particular place that Findakly was trying to take her readers. I believe she just wants us to understand her native country as a place not as a war zone. I think she succeeded admirably at this.
I am very glad I picked this up.
sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't follow the story, didn't get to know the characters, and felt really removed from everything happening.