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the_literarylinguist's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
standardbearer's review
emotional
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
4.75
rocio_voncina's review against another edition
5.0
Titulo: Ultima noche en el Guapa
Autor: Saleem Haddad
Año publicado: 2016
Motivo de lectura: #MarzoAsiatico
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Fisico / Electronico: Electronico
Mi edicion: -
Idioma: Español
Puntuacion: 5/5
Sin lugar a dudas de esos libros que te roban el corazon por la profundidad emocional. Saleem Haddad tiene una enorme habilidad en la construccion de atmosferas sumamente emocionales, cuando los personajes interactuan, la experiencia como lector es ser testigo mudo de una conversacion en extremo intima, sincera, con el corazon en la mano.
Saleem Haddad hace un trabajo fantastico retratando lo que es la orientacion sexual entrelazada con la religion, las personas en nombre de la religion no dudan en levantar el dedo y acusar/juzgar, sumado a esto la presion familiar y el aspecto politico, la combinacion de los cuatro aspectos resulta en algo desolador.
La construccion de los personajes es realmente muy destacable. Aca no hay exageraciones ni tampoco aspectos fantasiosos, son personajes absolutamente terrenales, reales, con profundidad, complejidad, miedos, vulnerabilidad, y con verdaderos motivos para intentar superar obstaculos.
El realismo de la trama, Rasa (nuestro protagonista) es un muchacho que en este momento estara caminando por alguna calle, viviendo en un pais que criminaliza su orientacion sexual, y donde la libertad solo es un sustantivo sin valor, algo que no puede aplicarse/vivirse. Miles de Rasas que dia a dia piensan que no son "normales" y que la sociedad los lleva a avergonzarse de si mismos e incluso hasta a desenlaces fatales.
El homenaje a Ayham Ahmad a traves de un personaje en la historia. Este hombre es conococido como el "pianista" del campamento de refugiados sirios de Yarmouk. Por favor, dediquen un tiempo a buscar un video en youtube, la capacidad de Ahmad para crear una absoltua belleza a traves del arte en un lugar como un campamento de refugiados es de esas cosas que se graban en el alma.
Al final del libro se encuentra un glosario de palabras arabes, lo cual ayuda mucho en la lectura para las personas que no esten familiarizadas con la cultura/idioma.
Autor: Saleem Haddad
Año publicado: 2016
Motivo de lectura: #MarzoAsiatico
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Fisico / Electronico: Electronico
Mi edicion: -
Idioma: Español
Puntuacion: 5/5
Por dentro habia empezado a construir una jaula secreta en mi cabeza donde ir metiendo todos esos pensamientos oscuros. Como si fueran pajaros, los cazaba cuando cruzaban volando y los metia en esa jaula por si algun dia llegaban a hacerme falta. Almacene en esa jaula secretos que no podia ni siquiera susurrarme a mi mismo por miedo a que consiguieran escapar y salir volando..
Sin lugar a dudas de esos libros que te roban el corazon por la profundidad emocional. Saleem Haddad tiene una enorme habilidad en la construccion de atmosferas sumamente emocionales, cuando los personajes interactuan, la experiencia como lector es ser testigo mudo de una conversacion en extremo intima, sincera, con el corazon en la mano.
Saleem Haddad hace un trabajo fantastico retratando lo que es la orientacion sexual entrelazada con la religion, las personas en nombre de la religion no dudan en levantar el dedo y acusar/juzgar, sumado a esto la presion familiar y el aspecto politico, la combinacion de los cuatro aspectos resulta en algo desolador.
La construccion de los personajes es realmente muy destacable. Aca no hay exageraciones ni tampoco aspectos fantasiosos, son personajes absolutamente terrenales, reales, con profundidad, complejidad, miedos, vulnerabilidad, y con verdaderos motivos para intentar superar obstaculos.
El realismo de la trama, Rasa (nuestro protagonista) es un muchacho que en este momento estara caminando por alguna calle, viviendo en un pais que criminaliza su orientacion sexual, y donde la libertad solo es un sustantivo sin valor, algo que no puede aplicarse/vivirse. Miles de Rasas que dia a dia piensan que no son "normales" y que la sociedad los lleva a avergonzarse de si mismos e incluso hasta a desenlaces fatales.
El homenaje a Ayham Ahmad a traves de un personaje en la historia. Este hombre es conococido como el "pianista" del campamento de refugiados sirios de Yarmouk. Por favor, dediquen un tiempo a buscar un video en youtube, la capacidad de Ahmad para crear una absoltua belleza a traves del arte en un lugar como un campamento de refugiados es de esas cosas que se graban en el alma.
Al final del libro se encuentra un glosario de palabras arabes, lo cual ayuda mucho en la lectura para las personas que no esten familiarizadas con la cultura/idioma.
muravyevaa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
4.5 only because one plot twist was too obvious
asiemsanyal's review against another edition
4.0
One Last Drink at Guapa invites us to view the world through the eyes of Rasa, a gay Arab man living in an unnamed Arab country, set against the backdrop of the Arab Spring. Over the course of 24 hours, we are privy to Rasa's struggles with the regime, his identity, and his fervent wish to bridge the two in the hope of living in a more tolerant country, where for a man to love and sleep with another man is notharam, and defying the regime is not fraught with danger.
The story begins with Rasa's grandmother peering through a keyhole, finding him in bed with another man, and screaming bloody murder. The rest of the day pans out in a series of episodes, present interspersed with past, and the reader follows Rasa as he leaves his house in a state of consternation, wondering if he will ever be able to talk with his grandmother about what she saw. In the meantime, under the directive of the current President, Guapa, the eponymous bar has been raided and sealed off to the public - this is that rare space in the city where queer folx can be themselves, where Rasa inhabits his identity without it feeling like a second skin, and where he meets the man who will change his life.
Over the course of the story, we begin to understand Rasa's complicated relationship with Teta, his grandmother, who raised him in the absence of his parents, his turmoil during his studies in the U.S. of A where he experiences the two strong forces of his sexual identity and the racism that others him as an Arab, and his insistence on substantiating the relationship he shares with Taymour, the man his grandmother caught him in bed with. At the end of the story, we are left with the idea of Rasa as a man who must make and has made difficult and bitter choices in his life, but we are hopeful that he steps into the future with a sense of positivity.
This book resonated with me because of the parallels I could draw between Rasa's country and mine. Homosexuality was decriminalised in India as late as 2018, and trans folx are still being denied their rights. How does one live out one's queerness within an oppressive nation-state? One seeks out oases such as Guapa, where for a few fleeting moments, one can truly shine through.
At the end of the book, I found myself not really able to blame any of the characters for Rasa's situation, and yet all of them were perhaps to blame in some way - we are shaped by our circumstances, after all. I would have loved to know more about Rasa's parents, especially his mother, but (and here is where the book ends and I extrapolate) I am hopeful his relationship with his mother will work out just fine. All he needs is time. All anyone needs is time, really.
I would recommend this to everyone. If you identify as queer and are at present unable to express yourself freely, here's to you - it will get better. Just give it time.
(Also, infinitely grateful to Saleem Haddad for introducing me to the mellifluous Fairuz and the orotund Umm Kalthoum)
The story begins with Rasa's grandmother peering through a keyhole, finding him in bed with another man, and screaming bloody murder. The rest of the day pans out in a series of episodes, present interspersed with past, and the reader follows Rasa as he leaves his house in a state of consternation, wondering if he will ever be able to talk with his grandmother about what she saw. In the meantime, under the directive of the current President, Guapa, the eponymous bar has been raided and sealed off to the public - this is that rare space in the city where queer folx can be themselves, where Rasa inhabits his identity without it feeling like a second skin, and where he meets the man who will change his life.
Over the course of the story, we begin to understand Rasa's complicated relationship with Teta, his grandmother, who raised him in the absence of his parents, his turmoil during his studies in the U.S. of A where he experiences the two strong forces of his sexual identity and the racism that others him as an Arab, and his insistence on substantiating the relationship he shares with Taymour, the man his grandmother caught him in bed with. At the end of the story, we are left with the idea of Rasa as a man who must make and has made difficult and bitter choices in his life, but we are hopeful that he steps into the future with a sense of positivity.
This book resonated with me because of the parallels I could draw between Rasa's country and mine. Homosexuality was decriminalised in India as late as 2018, and trans folx are still being denied their rights. How does one live out one's queerness within an oppressive nation-state? One seeks out oases such as Guapa, where for a few fleeting moments, one can truly shine through.
At the end of the book, I found myself not really able to blame any of the characters for Rasa's situation, and yet all of them were perhaps to blame in some way - we are shaped by our circumstances, after all. I would have loved to know more about Rasa's parents, especially his mother, but (and here is where the book ends and I extrapolate) I am hopeful his relationship with his mother will work out just fine. All he needs is time. All anyone needs is time, really.
I would recommend this to everyone. If you identify as queer and are at present unable to express yourself freely, here's to you - it will get better. Just give it time.
(Also, infinitely grateful to Saleem Haddad for introducing me to the mellifluous Fairuz and the orotund Umm Kalthoum)
pphector's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Homophobia
independent_wombat's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
crtsjffrsn's review
4.0
Rasa's life has changed dramatically overnight. Last night, his grandmother caught him in bed with his lover, Taymour. Tonight, Taymour is getting married to a woman. And one of his best friends, Maj, is missing, likely arrested sometime during the night. None of these are things he can be open about. And even if he could, his grandmother isn't speaking to him, and she's the only family he has. Beyond his personal struggles, the political situation in his country is getting worse. As a translator for foreign journalists, he gets called out on a job that puts him face-to-face with one of the leaders of the resistance. And with everything going on in his life, he can't help reflecting more and more on who he is and who he wants to be. He spent time in the United States, a land of "freedom." He came back home, and for a while he had hope for his people. But what does it mean to be free? And who gets to dictate how another person should live? If there will always be a power majority, what hope does the minority have?
Although the premise of this story seems simple, it's a rather deep read. I found myself thinking and reflecting quite often while I was reading. Rasa is an intelligent young man, and he's engaged in the world around him. He knows that some parts of his situation are beyond his control. He also knows that he needs to find a way to live with that if he's going to stop himself from breaking. While he lacks support in some areas of his life, he does have support in others. And maybe it's those others that need his focus.
I don't want to spoil too much, but there is one specific point in the book that I need to comment on. When Rasa is thinking back to his time in the United States, he describes his thoughts on being open about his sexuality. He mentions that he could choose to live openly. He could show up places and say he's proud of who he is. He could pretend to be comfortable in his skin. But that would be a lie. He wasn't comfortable. He was still trying to come to terms with who he is. His other option would be to make it known that he experienced discomfort and shame. But that would lead to people labeling him a victim of religion and society. Neither of those felt right to him, so he chose neither option.
This point got me thinking and reflecting. I sometimes have to remind people that coming out stories are still relevant. It can be easy to dismiss them as outdated as more people are coming out at younger ages. While some parts of society are becoming more accepting and open, that doesn't mean everyone feels comfortable being out. And some people are hesitant to speak up about it because it has nothing to do with religion or society. Coming out to yourself can be a difficult process on its own. And coming to terms with that can be difficult, even without any outside influences. So it's important to remember that there are all kinds of reasons that people struggle. And it's equally important that we tell and share those stories.
I also appreciated that this story focused on a young man from the Middle East. I almost never see LGBT stories that take place in that part of the world. And we need to have stories where people can find themselves. Just as much as we need stories where people can learn about those different from themselves.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
Although the premise of this story seems simple, it's a rather deep read. I found myself thinking and reflecting quite often while I was reading. Rasa is an intelligent young man, and he's engaged in the world around him. He knows that some parts of his situation are beyond his control. He also knows that he needs to find a way to live with that if he's going to stop himself from breaking. While he lacks support in some areas of his life, he does have support in others. And maybe it's those others that need his focus.
I don't want to spoil too much, but there is one specific point in the book that I need to comment on. When Rasa is thinking back to his time in the United States, he describes his thoughts on being open about his sexuality. He mentions that he could choose to live openly. He could show up places and say he's proud of who he is. He could pretend to be comfortable in his skin. But that would be a lie. He wasn't comfortable. He was still trying to come to terms with who he is. His other option would be to make it known that he experienced discomfort and shame. But that would lead to people labeling him a victim of religion and society. Neither of those felt right to him, so he chose neither option.
This point got me thinking and reflecting. I sometimes have to remind people that coming out stories are still relevant. It can be easy to dismiss them as outdated as more people are coming out at younger ages. While some parts of society are becoming more accepting and open, that doesn't mean everyone feels comfortable being out. And some people are hesitant to speak up about it because it has nothing to do with religion or society. Coming out to yourself can be a difficult process on its own. And coming to terms with that can be difficult, even without any outside influences. So it's important to remember that there are all kinds of reasons that people struggle. And it's equally important that we tell and share those stories.
I also appreciated that this story focused on a young man from the Middle East. I almost never see LGBT stories that take place in that part of the world. And we need to have stories where people can find themselves. Just as much as we need stories where people can learn about those different from themselves.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
marie314's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0