Reviews

Astonishing the Gods by Ben Okri

aseel_reads's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I think I would have appreciated the morals and themes of this book if I read it as a physical book instead of an audiobook. Unfortunately, I just didn't really get all the tidbits of wisdom that we were obviously meant to gain with all of the allegories and metaphors. 

lottepot's review

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4.0

This is a spiritual journey in the style of 'Siddhartha' and 'The Alchemist' but with much more lush prose and vivid imagery. It has Buddhist influence in that life is not about being perceived as something within a world but rather being in a constant state of becoming to be intangible and ever changing force in order to shape the world around you. This is especially important as the protagonist is treated with disdain and possibly bigotry in the ordinary world that he starts off in. There's also a nice mix of African myth and European classical poetry which forges its distinctive prose. I didn't like the objectification of women but it is perhaps understandable in a book from this time period. I would probably prefer to read Okri's poetry than any of his other novels going forward.

alexis67's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

lofrando's review against another edition

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i don't want to give it a star rating yet, i definitely need to reread it a few times. i really liked it, but i don't know why, and it has made me feel very strange in a way i can't describe.

poojakishinani's review against another edition

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3.0

3.75/5

Magical prose.

belligerent_becky's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

slavicreader's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious slow-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was a random find - something my library app recommend for me which sounded intriguing. 

This is one of those books that leaves you wondering what you've just read. Because I'm not too sure. Some of the concepts were really good and resonated with me, others not too much. There's a LOT to unpack. Sadly I think a good chunk ended up going over my head.

It's a strange read that will give you a lot to mull over and digest. 

polygrapheyes's review against another edition

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medium-paced

2.5

sergiosc's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

coriowa's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

2.0