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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
- heavy on themes of family, stories, war
- very well written
- the main plot (taking place in the real world) was mirrored with events occurring in a different era (taking place in a fictional world)
- portrays realities of war and displacement well
- would not recommend reading this book unless you're feeling emotionally stable
- overall very compelling read, with nuanced characters and excellent use of literary themes and symbols
Loved this book. Listened to the audio book and the narrator was incredible. Will probably pick up the paper version and read it just because it was that good, didn’t want it to end.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
interwoven stories of refugees and a fathers folk tale, the prose were vivid and the story compelling.
Stellar. Loved the parallel storytelling structure of Rawiya’s adventures and Nour’s escape. Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar paints a rich picture of Syria and the lands these brave young women cross through.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Um misto de dor e poesia
Um livro lindo, sublime e poético, mesmo carregando em si tanta dor e tristeza. Nour e Rawiya atravessam séculos e desertos em suas jornadas, ligadas por um destino que ecoa na história dos povos migrantes.
A escrita é delicada, repleta de imagens sensoriais que fazem cada cena pulsar com cores, cheiros e emoções.
Apesar da perda e do deslocamento, há uma beleza na forma como o livro constrói suas personagens e seus caminhos. É uma leitura que dói, mas encanta, transformando sofrimento em resistência e memória.
Um mapa desenhado com sal e estrelas, é efêmero e eterno ao mesmo tempo ? uma história que se dissolve ao toque, mas nunca desaparece.
Um livro lindo, sublime e poético, mesmo carregando em si tanta dor e tristeza. Nour e Rawiya atravessam séculos e desertos em suas jornadas, ligadas por um destino que ecoa na história dos povos migrantes.
A escrita é delicada, repleta de imagens sensoriais que fazem cada cena pulsar com cores, cheiros e emoções.
Apesar da perda e do deslocamento, há uma beleza na forma como o livro constrói suas personagens e seus caminhos. É uma leitura que dói, mas encanta, transformando sofrimento em resistência e memória.
Um mapa desenhado com sal e estrelas, é efêmero e eterno ao mesmo tempo ? uma história que se dissolve ao toque, mas nunca desaparece.
2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt: A book by a trans or non-binary author.
I absolutely loved this book! The story, though it was fiction, was heart-wrenching. I think because the reality of it is what so many people in Syria lived through. What struck me with this book was the author is beautiful use of language. I was just captivated by the way she described things and I could just picture everything in my head and it was striking.
I highly recommend this book!
I absolutely loved this book! The story, though it was fiction, was heart-wrenching. I think because the reality of it is what so many people in Syria lived through. What struck me with this book was the author is beautiful use of language. I was just captivated by the way she described things and I could just picture everything in my head and it was striking.
I highly recommend this book!
Set in 2011 New York City, young Syrian-American Nour is struggling both with how to cope after her father’s death. Her mother's solution to ease the family/s grief is to the family back to her homeland of Syria. Now why in 2011, anyone would think it's a good idea to move from the USA to Syria is the first element of the story that confused me.
In order to keep her father's memory alive, Nour starts to relay a story her father told her of a courageous teenager who lived 800 years before them. Then suddenly we are plunged into a different story- one of historical, mystical fiction about Rawiya and a famous mapmaker.
Back and forth the book goes between these 2 stories, each one becoming more absurd. The truth is that if I wanted to read a historical novel, I would have. I didn't see the point of entwining these two stories in the same book.
Nour's story also became rather strange. From Syria to Jordan, to Egypt to Libya, the family seemed to be travelling at the speed of light in order to reach all these destinations. Not to mention that along the way they had collected some other random Syrians and somehow had resources to feed everyone despite little money and one tragedy after another.
I was so interested to learn more about Syrian and Syrian culture but I spent most of this book feeling confused. The book is long and it was a struggle to keep going.
Sounded amazing. Sometimes books are meant to be read not listened to. Writing was beautiful. Story kept my interest, but IMO, this was no Kite Runner (as mentioned in the review)
I love when a book uses another story as a parallel for the main character's own journey and that they look too as a source of strength or inspiration. Maybe it's the historian in me? I just love it when authors choose to do this.
I also love when characters undergo a physical journey in their story. Seeing Rawiya travel the world disguised as a man, so she could live, explore, and travel with a well known mapmaker was an intentional juxtaposition against Nour traveling from Homs to Ceuta because the start of the Syrian Civil War left her and her family refugees.
I had to remind myself at times that Nour was only 12 or 13 because she often felt wise beyond her years, and then she would have an outburst or yell during a situation seemingly out of nowhere, which was when I remembered how young she really is. Huda and Zahra have my love and respect as well. I loved Huda and Nour's relationship, and I love that the journey, particularly when it was just Zahra and Nour brought them closer together and to understanding each other.
I also love when characters undergo a physical journey in their story. Seeing Rawiya travel the world disguised as a man, so she could live, explore, and travel with a well known mapmaker was an intentional juxtaposition against Nour traveling from Homs to Ceuta because the start of the Syrian Civil War left her and her family refugees.
I had to remind myself at times that Nour was only 12 or 13 because she often felt wise beyond her years, and then she would have an outburst or yell during a situation seemingly out of nowhere, which was when I remembered how young she really is. Huda and Zahra have my love and respect as well. I loved Huda and Nour's relationship, and I love that the journey, particularly when it was just Zahra and Nour brought them closer together and to understanding each other.