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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
It was a slog for me to get through this, possibly due to the audiobook narrator. Might have enjoyed it more if I’d read it instead of listened to it.
3 stars. I was in absolutely the wrong headspace for this book, but I can't deny that it was fairly well-written. I liked the lyricism that really takes you back to oral storytelling traditions (that Joukhadar acknowledged was purposefully done in the afterword). The biggest downside for me was that Nour's voice kept taking me out of the story because her words conflicted with her age that the book was telling me. It didn't feel as real as it could have. Because of this - unlike most people here - I actually preferred Rawiya's story in comparison.
I started the book because it was compared to The Kite Runner which I loved. The author’s writing style was descriptive and enjoyable but I couldn’t really connect with the characters. The book was supposed to be a story of Syrian refugees but the main character was barely in Syria before her family had to flee. There wasn’t any perspective put to the conflict and how it impacted the character (the house did get hit during some shelling so there is that i guess). Even though i wasn’t enjoying it, I probably would have finished it anyway but my audiobook accidentally kept playing when i wasn’t listening and i realized i didn’t care enough to go back.
I also could have done without the historical part of the story
I also could have done without the historical part of the story
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“Don't forget,' he says, and Abu Sayeed looks up while he translates, holding the words back a little, 'stories ease the pain of living, not dying. People always think dying is going to hurt. But it does not. It's living that hurts us.”
I LOVED this book and her ability to weave a story and her ability to articulate internal experiences of trauma and make it accessible.
I LOVED this book and her ability to weave a story and her ability to articulate internal experiences of trauma and make it accessible.
A story of a refugee family trying to make their way from war torn Syria into safety. Intermingled with the (phantasy/legend?) of a troupe of explorers mapping out the South Mediterranean / North-East African region in the 11th(?) Century. Raw, heartbreaking and at the same time encouraging and optimistic.
Rate 8/10. I really enjoyed this book. It was gripping and heartbreaking. I had a hard time putting it down.
"I wonder if there is anybody out there who loves the smuggler man. If anyone loves the mean unlovable people in the world. I wonder if bad men are good sometimes when no one is looking."
"I wonder if there is anybody out there who loves the smuggler man. If anyone loves the mean unlovable people in the world. I wonder if bad men are good sometimes when no one is looking."
Like most reviewers I did not like the storyline involving Rawiya. Slow story.