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oxnard_montalvo's review
3.0
I was drawn in by the subject- something I had never heard about before and i was deeply intrigued. Dones has a very light touch, uncluttered language and measured strokes. Events tick along without a sense of urgency.
A few moments jarred- I won't go into too much detail, for fear of spoilers, but they seemed out of place with the rest of the narrative.
I zipped through this book, managing to read it all on a train journey from Edinburgh to London. I finished it some time ago now, and trying to think back to what left the greatest impression on me as I read it, I'd say Dones sense of place and developing a setting is far more accomplished than the psychology of her characters. I never really had a great sense of who they were. They were more like distant actors than people I really got to know.
Still a worthwhile read. Even lending out to a friend this afternoon. See if she comes away with a different impression.
(Albania)
A few moments jarred- I won't go into too much detail, for fear of spoilers, but they seemed out of place with the rest of the narrative.
I zipped through this book, managing to read it all on a train journey from Edinburgh to London. I finished it some time ago now, and trying to think back to what left the greatest impression on me as I read it, I'd say Dones sense of place and developing a setting is far more accomplished than the psychology of her characters. I never really had a great sense of who they were. They were more like distant actors than people I really got to know.
Still a worthwhile read. Even lending out to a friend this afternoon. See if she comes away with a different impression.
(Albania)
readwithlee_'s review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
renmeksi's review against another edition
2.0
Hana survived levels of grief that would kill most people. Her relationships with her family were touching and beautiful. Her struggle adjusting to living as a woman and to America was raw and well written.
All for it to be fucking ruined by the ending.
I’ve never seen someone so effectively flatten a multifaceted character into a cheap human cosmo article.
Sex, really? Now she’s comfortable being a woman? That’s all it took? You overrode Hana’s character development for dick?????
I can’t believe trees were cut down for this shit, someone get the Lorax to go haunt the author for her crimes.
All for it to be fucking ruined by the ending.
I’ve never seen someone so effectively flatten a multifaceted character into a cheap human cosmo article.
Sex, really? Now she’s comfortable being a woman? That’s all it took? You overrode Hana’s character development for dick?????
I can’t believe trees were cut down for this shit, someone get the Lorax to go haunt the author for her crimes.
katy_bee's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
A really interesting read about a culture I knew nothing about. The characters are sparsely drawn but I found them compelling and wanted to learn more about them and their stories.
I found the portrayal of caring, loss and grief particularly moving
I found the portrayal of caring, loss and grief particularly moving
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Violence
tessyoung's review
4.0
Loved this book! I was looking for contemporary Albanian fiction to read on holiday - In Albania. My searches led me to this novel set in the northern mountains of Albania and the US. It follows the journey of a young woman from childhood and university to sworn bride and to the US. It's not a linear narrative but unfolds in a nicely structured way. A great insight into Albanian history, of which I knew only the headlines, but lightly done. The characters were engaging and enjoyable to spend time with. I wish more of this authors work was available in English translation.
ladypalma's review against another edition
3.0
Splendido come testimonianza di tradizioni culturali sconosciute e cariche di significato dell'Albania settentrionale. Scritto davvero molto bene.
Peccato per il finale che non mi ha soddisfatta come speravo e anzi, secondo me tradisce un pochino il senso del percorso di indipendenza della protagonista. La tematica della verginità viene trattata proprio sul finale in un modo che mi ha fatto storcere il naso (rispetto al senso complessivo della storia).
Peccato per il finale che non mi ha soddisfatta come speravo e anzi, secondo me tradisce un pochino il senso del percorso di indipendenza della protagonista. La tematica della verginità viene trattata proprio sul finale in un modo che mi ha fatto storcere il naso (rispetto al senso complessivo della storia).
jdintr's review
4.0
Forced to return to her traditional, small-town home in northern Albania by the poor health of her guardians, Hana, a vivacious student at Tirana University, transforms into Mark, a man who looks after the family home once his uncle dies.
Years later, after traveling to the United States to begin a new life with relatives there, Mark must determine if he will remain as a man in his new life or return to being a woman. Weaving an age-old mountain tradition into a modern context, Elvira Dones delves into the challenges of identity and memory and hope in Sworn Virgin. It is a book about migration and finding one's true self.
This book gets a lot of attention for its subplot of transsexuality, but I don't think that is a major theme of the book. A "sworn virgin" is an accepted status in the Balkans, but society makes it irreversible, and it never feels like Hana became Mark out of non-binary reasons but for more practical, economic ones.
Still, this is a powerful insight into the fascinating culture of northern Albania, and into the challenges faced by all kinds of migrants to the United States.
Years later, after traveling to the United States to begin a new life with relatives there, Mark must determine if he will remain as a man in his new life or return to being a woman. Weaving an age-old mountain tradition into a modern context, Elvira Dones delves into the challenges of identity and memory and hope in Sworn Virgin. It is a book about migration and finding one's true self.
This book gets a lot of attention for its subplot of transsexuality, but I don't think that is a major theme of the book. A "sworn virgin" is an accepted status in the Balkans, but society makes it irreversible, and it never feels like Hana became Mark out of non-binary reasons but for more practical, economic ones.
Still, this is a powerful insight into the fascinating culture of northern Albania, and into the challenges faced by all kinds of migrants to the United States.
sylviaisme's review against another edition
3.0
Fino a prima di ascoltare questo audiolibro non conoscevo la realtà delle vergini giurate né chi fossero queste donne che ancora oggi nel nord dell'Albania hanno il diritto di proclamarsi uomini ed assumerne tutti i diritti ad essi riconosciuti.
La protagonista di questo romanzo è Hana, una ragazza rimasta orfana che viene affidata agli zii e che per evitare un matrimonio combinato che l'avrebbe resa infelice decide appunto di diventare una vergine giurata. Poco più che diciottenne Hana abbandona l'università ed inizia così la sua vita da uomo, vestendosi come tale, assumendone gli stessi vizi e abitudini, e vivendo in solitudine nelle Montagne Maledette badando alla terra e agli animali che possiede. La cugina di Hana, Lila, non riesce a spiegarsi perché lei abbia scelto di diventare uomo, di essere Mark, e dopo essere rientrata negli Stati Uniti dove vive con il marito scrive spesso ad Hana (che nel frattempo è rimasta sola dopo la morte dello zio), per convincerla a raggiungerli ed iniziare una nuova vita. Lila
A fine romanzo soprattutto, ma anche durante la lettura ho avuto l'impressione che l'autrice volesse far passare il messaggio che senza qualcuno -nello specifico un uomo- una donna non riesca a farcela davvero da sola (la cugina Lila grazie al marito, Hana grazie a Patrick), ma nonostante questo l'ho trovato una lettura abbastanza interessante soprattutto per il tema su cui è incentrata e per l'ottima narratrice di questa edizione.
La protagonista di questo romanzo è Hana, una ragazza rimasta orfana che viene affidata agli zii e che per evitare un matrimonio combinato che l'avrebbe resa infelice decide appunto di diventare una vergine giurata. Poco più che diciottenne Hana abbandona l'università ed inizia così la sua vita da uomo, vestendosi come tale, assumendone gli stessi vizi e abitudini, e vivendo in solitudine nelle Montagne Maledette badando alla terra e agli animali che possiede. La cugina di Hana, Lila, non riesce a spiegarsi perché lei abbia scelto di diventare uomo, di essere Mark, e dopo essere rientrata negli Stati Uniti dove vive con il marito scrive spesso ad Hana (che nel frattempo è rimasta sola dopo la morte dello zio), per convincerla a raggiungerli ed iniziare una nuova vita. Lila
Spoiler
riuscirà nel suo intento e grazie al suo aiuto Hana potrà abbandonare il ruolo di Mark e ricostruirsi una nuova esistenza da donna, nonostante le non poche difficoltà iniziali.A fine romanzo soprattutto, ma anche durante la lettura ho avuto l'impressione che l'autrice volesse far passare il messaggio che senza qualcuno -nello specifico un uomo- una donna non riesca a farcela davvero da sola (la cugina Lila grazie al marito, Hana grazie a Patrick), ma nonostante questo l'ho trovato una lettura abbastanza interessante soprattutto per il tema su cui è incentrata e per l'ottima narratrice di questa edizione.