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marvizu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A combo of magical realism with historical fiction as the book gives us a glance into people’s lives in Bagdad after the violent U.S. invasion. Some settle social commentary throughout using characters dialogue or actions. Engaging read overall that has you invested towards the middle and end of the book
halee926's review against another edition
3.0
TBR Prompt: read a book published in 2018
This was an interesting and introspective book. I think I’ll need to reread this one day to fully grasp the story
This was an interesting and introspective book. I think I’ll need to reread this one day to fully grasp the story
fl0ralaura's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars. I enjoyed the story. The author does a great job showing the way grief and loss was pervasive during this time in Iraq and blending the mystical with the realistic.
I also thought the different perspectives sharing their opinions on justice, criminality, and guilt was so well done. The author clearly understands the Gothic genre and was able to use its tropes to tell his story.
I also thought the different perspectives sharing their opinions on justice, criminality, and guilt was so well done. The author clearly understands the Gothic genre and was able to use its tropes to tell his story.
labinsky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i desperately want to love this book but it suffers from over-explanation. while “show not tell” is a helpful guideline and not a rule, it’s as if saadawi avoids it like the plague. everything that happens, every plot point, is told as-is in the plainest language and structure possible. each time something symbolic happens or there might be any kind of deeper meaning gleaned by the events described, saadawi immediately explains it. despite the deep mystery felt by the characters, there is no mystery or interpretation for the reader. the book’s premise is so compelling but instead falls flat. it truly reads like an unedited first draft as has been confiscated by the authorities in the book, in the most disappointing way possible.
it still gets 3 stars for an incredible premise, which honestly seems to have carried it to the acclaim it’s received, certainly not the writing.
it still gets 3 stars for an incredible premise, which honestly seems to have carried it to the acclaim it’s received, certainly not the writing.
mercedes3295's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“He was a composite of victims seeking to avenge their deaths so they could rest in peace. He was created to obtain revenge on their behalf.”
Frankenstein if it wasn’t boring.
strawbizzy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
zara93's review against another edition
4.0
One of my goals in 2018 was to read a book by an Iraqi author, this was the one.
I loved it. A fictional story told within real life events that I actually remembered some of them. The plot is unpredictable at all, the characters, their different personalities and their relationships are so interesting. Although it took quite a while for me to finish this book (because I decided to binge Gilmore Girls) I really enjoyed it.
My only complains are, I kinda wanted it to be darker and grittier, because it really had the potential to be taken to the next level. And also there were some typos and grammatical mistakes in this translated version. But all in all, It's very well written and I would defiantly recommend it.
I loved it. A fictional story told within real life events that I actually remembered some of them. The plot is unpredictable at all, the characters, their different personalities and their relationships are so interesting. Although it took quite a while for me to finish this book (because I decided to binge Gilmore Girls) I really enjoyed it.
My only complains are, I kinda wanted it to be darker and grittier, because it really had the potential to be taken to the next level. And also there were some typos and grammatical mistakes in this translated version. But all in all, It's very well written and I would defiantly recommend it.
iscalynch's review against another edition
the thought of a frankenstein’s monster called whatsitsname using a digital tape recorder to justify his revenge killings in mid-2000s iraq would be enough to make mary shelley’s brain explode… but i think she’d be proud
notesofacrocodile's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
a group of characters whom we follow and just so much happening. i thought the premise itself was very interesting and the book did not disappoint. i do however think that i will reread this book in the future because i want to absorb even more, about the plot and the questions it poses. i enjoyed following the threads of all the characters; none of them made me feel bored or made me want to skim through. there's also a lot of contemporary relevance to be found in the happenings and trajectories of this book.