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kristinana's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely, heartbreaking book. I loved the character of Miriam so much: her sensitivity, her longing, her pain, her awkwardness -- it was all so well-drawn and realistic. I was absorbed by this character and her story. Her involvement in her work, its importance to her, really spoke to me. IMO, John's only redeeming quality was that he saw how amazing she was; otherwise, he wasn't worthy of her. Which is not the point of fiction, but she felt so real to me -- I felt like her friend trying to tell her not to bother with him, even though she wouldn't have listened to me. The connections between this couple's personal life and the political situation they were in was expertly conveyed, as these were two regular people hemmed in and shaped by politics and history without actively choosing to be "political."
I found this novel totally absorbing. Before reading it, I happened across a short story by this author called "A New Race of Men From Heaven" which was one of those amazing stories that packs so much in while retaining its elegance and adherence to the short story form--stunning. I am really looking forward to reading more by this author. Check it out if you liked this novel: https://shenandoahliterary.org/682/a-new-race-of-men-from-heaven/?fbclid=IwAR1m8pEVB9-a9tU3JAVYbWShmUC951kfDjWupp99d22j_hBuXOo6rmeYmdQ
I found this novel totally absorbing. Before reading it, I happened across a short story by this author called "A New Race of Men From Heaven" which was one of those amazing stories that packs so much in while retaining its elegance and adherence to the short story form--stunning. I am really looking forward to reading more by this author. Check it out if you liked this novel: https://shenandoahliterary.org/682/a-new-race-of-men-from-heaven/?fbclid=IwAR1m8pEVB9-a9tU3JAVYbWShmUC951kfDjWupp99d22j_hBuXOo6rmeYmdQ
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
January 2016 Late Night Library Book Club Selection
Author interview:
Late Night Conversation, hosted by Paul Martone
http://latenightlibrary.org/chaitalisen/
The Pathless Sky takes place in an unnamed country that is in political turmoil. Even through all the social unrest John and Mariam find each other and fall in love. They are kept apart through most of the story because of social and political circumstances. They do eventually marry and have a brief period of peace and tranquility. Then Mariam suffers through an unsuccessful pregnancy. This causes internal conflict in the couple just is an external conflict is raging outside.
This is a beautifully written love story. Each and every sentence was a treasure. I just can't stress enough how much I loved this haunting tale.
I am so thankful that Late Nght Library turned me onto this book. So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed every book they have sent me through their book club. You should consider joining.
ddechenb's review against another edition
4.0
I reviewed this book along with two others on my blog. https://donnadechenbirdwell.com/2018/06/07/three-books-for-our-time/?fbclid=IwAR2UFWeUpGK-bKL96z7u5EJ4pomErcJ8bgUcfBfD9OTc00FIi95xXeIPzO4
laura_trap's review against another edition
2.0
The best way to describe this book is that it is a still life portrait. The artistry was amazing, her lyricism held a deep realism but yet still poetic quality to it that was enjoyable. But the subject matter. Boring. Disappointing. Lackluster. The characters did not inspire any form of empathy, John was awful for most of the book, and Mariam...was so unimaginative. There was very little character development for anyone in the story. It centered around the deeply intense love between Mariam and John, the times they hated each other, the times they craved each other more than anything. The whole pregnancy thing made very little sense. It seemed to be a very random plot device thrown in to make conflict in the middle of the story, which made it even less of a thrilling read. I was more fascinated by paralells of geology (the actual physicality of the land) versus the very human symbolism placed upon it by people, governments, religions. But most of that theme was stripped away by vague mentions of what that importance was and the fact that the reader is never given an actual name for the country the book is in. It is heavily implied to be in the mid-nineteenth century and somewhere in the middle east. The descriptions have a very human quality to them:
"The terrain eventually became more feminine, less angular" p. 101.
Yes, part of that reflection of human qualities imposed upon the landscape, that people attach importance to the land they are. Her writing is hypnotic, and almost makes you forget how boring the plot is, how monotonous and selfish the characters are. The love between Mariam and John takes center stage at specific points in the book, then it slips back into the political unrest within this unnamed country. This book could not make up its mind on what it wanted to be. A commentary on the singular lives on individuals and how they are effected by the gears of politics and war? A love story that spans a lifetime? Maybe a story showcasing the landscape, the people, the government, and how they all are intertwined? I don't know. I walked away from this book not knowing really what type of story I was presented. It was so beautifully written that by the time I realized how boring the plot and characters were, I had fully committed and needed to finish the book.
"To chase the ghosts of mountains" p. 166
Yeah, that about sums up this book. To chase the ghost of a story. Bleh.
"The terrain eventually became more feminine, less angular" p. 101.
Yes, part of that reflection of human qualities imposed upon the landscape, that people attach importance to the land they are. Her writing is hypnotic, and almost makes you forget how boring the plot is, how monotonous and selfish the characters are. The love between Mariam and John takes center stage at specific points in the book, then it slips back into the political unrest within this unnamed country. This book could not make up its mind on what it wanted to be. A commentary on the singular lives on individuals and how they are effected by the gears of politics and war? A love story that spans a lifetime? Maybe a story showcasing the landscape, the people, the government, and how they all are intertwined? I don't know. I walked away from this book not knowing really what type of story I was presented. It was so beautifully written that by the time I realized how boring the plot and characters were, I had fully committed and needed to finish the book.
"To chase the ghosts of mountains" p. 166
Yeah, that about sums up this book. To chase the ghost of a story. Bleh.
searian's review against another edition
5.0
I've never put a book down feeling like it was a completely different one from what I had originally picked up. The characters feel so fully realized precisely because you realize you don't know them at all - they change throughout the story and become almost strangers to you, much like people in your own life do. The Pathless Sky covers issues of love, war, career, friendship, and family while somehow never leaving you feeling like the content is too much for the story to carry. I adored this and can't wait until I've been away from it long enough to revisit it with fresh eyes.
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