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intute's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
remigves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
ofloveandlayovers's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
saniiaaaaa's review
4.0
Beautiful and wonderful. I really loved the inner monologue of the main character, and I also loved the journal entries from the father. I want to and need to know more about the liberation war. It is such an important yet dismissed part of history.
deeisabibliophile_'s review against another edition
4.0
Burning with the fire of liberation, violence and struggle, this novella is an account of innocence and a love that was etched forever in memories. Told by the perspective of a toddler marrow, you see the war from your own eyes, the helplessness, the quest to sustain identity and pride. This is a tale that has the power to rip your heart apart because you find how the cruelty of war engulfs a bond of affinity.
This book tells the cruel reality behind the facade of glory. Loved every bit of it except the fact that I was expecting certain phrases in their native essence since translation is unable to do the poetic justice with them. Though illustrations turned out to be an unexpected surprise carrying the gloom and innocent together while trying to balance both in the pictorial representation.
This book tells the cruel reality behind the facade of glory. Loved every bit of it except the fact that I was expecting certain phrases in their native essence since translation is unable to do the poetic justice with them. Though illustrations turned out to be an unexpected surprise carrying the gloom and innocent together while trying to balance both in the pictorial representation.
oharps_'s review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookgirllife's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was such a special read. Maybe because of the hints of Bangla in the language of the translation. Maybe because I know Dhaka. Whatever the reason, it really touched me beyond the story.
I grew up in the diaspora, but my parents made sure we visited Bangladesh at least once a year. They made sure my brother and I had a connection to our homeland. However, this little personal detail is to say that I never read this book in my childhood. I think reading it in adulthood gives an entirely different meaning to it.
‘I Remember Abbu’ is a short novel told from the perspective of a child that grows up through the Bangladesh Liberation War. I think this is a really interesting and unique perspective. It shows a loss of innocence alongside the losses of War.
While the writing is simplistic, Azad uses the simplicity to his strength. He doesn’t try too hard to be deep. Rather the depth comes from the way the main character gets distracted by little things like Village life in the midst of the wider setting of fleeing from War.
I think one of my favourite aspects of this book was the way fear and confusion were conveyed. The child doesn’t understand the greed for power of governments. All she knows is that people around her are dying. It’s very sad and vulnerable.
I grew up in the diaspora, but my parents made sure we visited Bangladesh at least once a year. They made sure my brother and I had a connection to our homeland. However, this little personal detail is to say that I never read this book in my childhood. I think reading it in adulthood gives an entirely different meaning to it.
‘I Remember Abbu’ is a short novel told from the perspective of a child that grows up through the Bangladesh Liberation War. I think this is a really interesting and unique perspective. It shows a loss of innocence alongside the losses of War.
While the writing is simplistic, Azad uses the simplicity to his strength. He doesn’t try too hard to be deep. Rather the depth comes from the way the main character gets distracted by little things like Village life in the midst of the wider setting of fleeing from War.
I think one of my favourite aspects of this book was the way fear and confusion were conveyed. The child doesn’t understand the greed for power of governments. All she knows is that people around her are dying. It’s very sad and vulnerable.
rosielazar1's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sydneyjn's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What a beautiful book. I didn't expect to tear up over a story of Bangladesh's independence, but here we are. I loved the contrast of the narrator as a baby/toddler/child with the diary entries from her dad.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War, and Violence