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The Happiness of Blond People: A Personal Meditation on the Dangers of Identity by Elif Shafak
pippad's review
5.0
These short books are designed to be read in a lunchbreak or on a commute and this one... well this one is designed to make you think about identity.
I found it really useful after having read Clever Lands, to realise it isn't just about where you live, it isn't just about how other perceive you but it is about how you see yourself.
It's interesting that blond people are thought to have more fun. To be happier. To complain less. As a depressed blonde, I don't think that's true... nor is the fact that I'm English or married or middle-aged (well they are true, but I don't think come into it!
But that is kinda the point.
It's about knowing that not all Aussie's throw shrimps on the barbie. Not all American's love guns. Not all Brit's drink tea (okay maybe that is true). We need to get to know people. We need to know them individually not judge on culture or national identity.... although that shouldn't be forgotten as it makes us all richer!
I found it really useful after having read Clever Lands, to realise it isn't just about where you live, it isn't just about how other perceive you but it is about how you see yourself.
It's interesting that blond people are thought to have more fun. To be happier. To complain less. As a depressed blonde, I don't think that's true... nor is the fact that I'm English or married or middle-aged (well they are true, but I don't think come into it!
But that is kinda the point.
It's about knowing that not all Aussie's throw shrimps on the barbie. Not all American's love guns. Not all Brit's drink tea (okay maybe that is true). We need to get to know people. We need to know them individually not judge on culture or national identity.... although that shouldn't be forgotten as it makes us all richer!
geesammy's review against another edition
challenging
informative
2.75
This essay had some intriguing points about a cosmopolitan perspective and cultivating liquid roots, but didn’t really expand on the title concept. Not bad, but not the direction/topic I was expecting.
menniemenace's review
3.0
This is the first book I read in English written by Elif Shafak. I've read almost everything she's written, was fascinated by Black Milk and Disappointed by The Three Daughters of Eve.
The woman herself is quite the character, her life is so interesting she could be a great protagonist in a novel. Reading about her life is a reminder of how dull mine is.
I couldn't figure out where she stands in the debate about Muslims in Europe. She does acknowledge the existence of the problem but doesn't say much about her experience with it.
As a middle eastern Arabic person I know Turkey isn't 100% Arabic, and Arabs don't see Turks as related to them. But I guess from a further view Turkey is an Islamic country and Turks are middle eastern people. They get the same heat Arabs do.
I traveled only once so far in my life, spent 10 years in Saudi Arabia where I was a subject to Xenophobia as a child until I went to an all-Egyptian school and cut my ties with Saudis. I didn't get why girls at school hated me, we spoke -almost- the same language, had the same religion, and looked similar to each other. I remember once when a girl told my teacher that Egypt is the one attacking Palestine and that I got so angry and started crying after no one believed me when I said it wasn't true. I had a terrible experience in my school and still carry no warmth to Saudi Arabia now, but I'm hoping this taught me to accept anyone no matter our differences.
I still live in a very not-so-diverse country, but whenever I see someone get treated badly I try to speak up, and try to act like a good person would. I do hope that I get treated better if I ever traveled somewhere again. And I hope the wold becomes a slightly better place before I die.
The woman herself is quite the character, her life is so interesting she could be a great protagonist in a novel. Reading about her life is a reminder of how dull mine is.
I couldn't figure out where she stands in the debate about Muslims in Europe. She does acknowledge the existence of the problem but doesn't say much about her experience with it.
As a middle eastern Arabic person I know Turkey isn't 100% Arabic, and Arabs don't see Turks as related to them. But I guess from a further view Turkey is an Islamic country and Turks are middle eastern people. They get the same heat Arabs do.
I traveled only once so far in my life, spent 10 years in Saudi Arabia where I was a subject to Xenophobia as a child until I went to an all-Egyptian school and cut my ties with Saudis. I didn't get why girls at school hated me, we spoke -almost- the same language, had the same religion, and looked similar to each other. I remember once when a girl told my teacher that Egypt is the one attacking Palestine and that I got so angry and started crying after no one believed me when I said it wasn't true. I had a terrible experience in my school and still carry no warmth to Saudi Arabia now, but I'm hoping this taught me to accept anyone no matter our differences.
I still live in a very not-so-diverse country, but whenever I see someone get treated badly I try to speak up, and try to act like a good person would. I do hope that I get treated better if I ever traveled somewhere again. And I hope the wold becomes a slightly better place before I die.
dianaj23's review
4.0
I would recommend this to anyone thinking of changing countries or already living in a country different from the one he was born in. It's a heartfelt, but well-documented essay on identity and our roots and how having more than one home enriches our lives despite the anxiety that brings with it.
"The one who leaves his or her homeland for good is often stalked by mixed emotions of guilt, longing, confusion, anticipation and insecurity, some or all of which can spring up from out of nowhere, for no reason at all."
"Both daring and timid, both actor and audience in a theater of dizzying change, the immigrant is a fragmented being who carries ghosts of his past wherever he goes."
"The one who leaves his or her homeland for good is often stalked by mixed emotions of guilt, longing, confusion, anticipation and insecurity, some or all of which can spring up from out of nowhere, for no reason at all."
"Both daring and timid, both actor and audience in a theater of dizzying change, the immigrant is a fragmented being who carries ghosts of his past wherever he goes."
ilovepastaandpizza's review against another edition
3.0
elif shafak is a genius and i love her writing. the way she ties personal experiences to this overarching theme of western/non-western identities and mulitculturalism.
maybe it's because we went over this what feels like a few hundred times in school, but i felt like there weren't many new thoughts or groundbreaking things brought up. which, admittedly, is hard to do in such a short format. i kind of expected more of this. nevertheless, this was a great and quick read.
maybe it's because we went over this what feels like a few hundred times in school, but i felt like there weren't many new thoughts or groundbreaking things brought up. which, admittedly, is hard to do in such a short format. i kind of expected more of this. nevertheless, this was a great and quick read.
rosa44's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
"Today the dialogue between Europe and Islam cannot be left to politicians or diplomats alone.(...)
After all, the happiness of blond people and the happiness of darkhaired people are intertwined, not separate."
After all, the happiness of blond people and the happiness of darkhaired people are intertwined, not separate."
mayarelmahdy's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first book I read in English written by Elif Shafak. I've read almost everything she's written, was fascinated by Black Milk and Disappointed by The Three Daughters of Eve.
The woman herself is quite the character, her life is so interesting she could be a great protagonist in a novel. Reading about her life is a reminder of how dull mine is.
I couldn't figure out where she stands in the debate about Muslims in Europe. She does acknowledge the existence of the problem but doesn't say much about her experience with it.
As a middle eastern Arabic person I know Turkey isn't 100% Arabic, and Arabs don't see Turks as related to them. But I guess from a further view Turkey is an Islamic country and Turks are middle eastern people. They get the same heat Arabs do.
I traveled only once so far in my life, spent 10 years in Saudi Arabia where I was a subject to Xenophobia as a child until I went to an all-Egyptian school and cut my ties with Saudis. I didn't get why girls at school hated me, we spoke -almost- the same language, had the same religion, and looked similar to each other. I remember once when a girl told my teacher that Egypt is the one attacking Palestine and that I got so angry and started crying after no one believed me when I said it wasn't true. I had a terrible experience in my school and still carry no warmth to Saudi Arabia now, but I'm hoping this taught me to accept anyone no matter our differences.
I still live in a very not-so-diverse country, but whenever I see someone get treated badly I try to speak up, and try to act like a good person would. I do hope that I get treated better if I ever traveled somewhere again. And I hope the wold becomes a slightly better place before I die.
The woman herself is quite the character, her life is so interesting she could be a great protagonist in a novel. Reading about her life is a reminder of how dull mine is.
I couldn't figure out where she stands in the debate about Muslims in Europe. She does acknowledge the existence of the problem but doesn't say much about her experience with it.
As a middle eastern Arabic person I know Turkey isn't 100% Arabic, and Arabs don't see Turks as related to them. But I guess from a further view Turkey is an Islamic country and Turks are middle eastern people. They get the same heat Arabs do.
I traveled only once so far in my life, spent 10 years in Saudi Arabia where I was a subject to Xenophobia as a child until I went to an all-Egyptian school and cut my ties with Saudis. I didn't get why girls at school hated me, we spoke -almost- the same language, had the same religion, and looked similar to each other. I remember once when a girl told my teacher that Egypt is the one attacking Palestine and that I got so angry and started crying after no one believed me when I said it wasn't true. I had a terrible experience in my school and still carry no warmth to Saudi Arabia now, but I'm hoping this taught me to accept anyone no matter our differences.
I still live in a very not-so-diverse country, but whenever I see someone get treated badly I try to speak up, and try to act like a good person would. I do hope that I get treated better if I ever traveled somewhere again. And I hope the wold becomes a slightly better place before I die.