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eoneon's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
carmencitae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
megea's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of those books that you feel you have to like, or face criticism. "Oh, the themes are so important. The perspectives so valuable. The setup so thought provoking." That is undeniable. But isn't enough to make it good or enjoyable to read. And one perspective I could do without is the narrator's - at least, do without such an immersion in his inner monologue and tiresome perpetual present tense. His self-satisfaction at the beginning of the novel is insufferable. And he becomes more, and differently insufferable as he experiences a mental breakdown in response to the shock of his wife becoming a suicide bomber. But he never questions his choices, his self-satisfaction never wavers, it just gets joined by outrage. Yes, his station and personality are partly a trope to be leveraged by the Islamic rebels he pursues and debates to try to understand why his wife became a suicide bomber. And that is used effectively, though blatantly, as are the indignities routinely faced. Ultimately, the purpose of the novel seems to be to have an "important message," with everything in service to that, regardless of how tedious the devices become.
rsyhoon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
the_book_of_nouk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
llamagirll's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
anna_scht7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
melissabeth's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this authors writing style. Could not put this book down. It is not my kind of book but it was an eye opener and I highly recommend it.
aliss_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such a beautiful book
misspalah's review against another edition
5.0
There is no Palestinian and Israeli in this story; just tale of a human being. The inner struggle of what is right and wrong and a strong devotion towards county is what causes two states kept fighting each other. The impact of war seems to affect human who lives surrounded by the environment. This is not heavily political like some books, it's just bursting with emotions and feelings by the main character, Dr. Amin. Refuse to accept that his wife involved in suicide bombing, he seeks the truth. During his own journey, he unravel mystery of his wife and the secrets that she's harboring all this time. This story is simply amazing, to say the least.