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midwifereading's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I hate rating classics...but if I stick to how it made me feel, then, it's two stars. Squarely in the "It was okay" space for me.
This version is apparently considered the closest to the original Syrian manuscript, and doesn't have Aladdin, Ali-Baba, or Sindbad. Go figure I would pick the version without anything I had previously heard of!
That's okay though. It's quite weird enough for my 21st century eyes.
Weird.
Women are either sex objects or sorceresses (and always property). Men are all the "most handsomest." Throw in a few magic demons (djinn, really), lots of swooning and pining and you've got the idea.
Still, the poetic, lyrical style is beautiful. Just because it's out of my depth, culturally, doesn't mean it doesn't have value. Another classic that was worth my time.
This version is apparently considered the closest to the original Syrian manuscript, and doesn't have Aladdin, Ali-Baba, or Sindbad. Go figure I would pick the version without anything I had previously heard of!
That's okay though. It's quite weird enough for my 21st century eyes.
Weird.
Women are either sex objects or sorceresses (and always property). Men are all the "most handsomest." Throw in a few magic demons (djinn, really), lots of swooning and pining and you've got the idea.
Still, the poetic, lyrical style is beautiful. Just because it's out of my depth, culturally, doesn't mean it doesn't have value. Another classic that was worth my time.
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
morebedsidebooks's review against another edition
4.0
The Annotated Arabian Nights represents a of selection of folktales from what is (without the orientalist moniker) properly titled the One Thousand and One Nights, giving a sample of a newer contemporary translation by Yasmine Seale alongside analysis.
Although this book does not quite reflect Seale’s thinking on the Nights, her translation is engaging and clear in attention to cadence, rhyme, especially verse, and the voice of Shahrazad. While, like her visual poem “Sleepless” of Shahrazad’s waking eye, illuminating texts for modern audiences and up out of previous liberties taken by many. A labor sure to produce something glorious when that edition arrives in full. In the time being, the Annotated Arabian Nights is an immense book more suited to coffee tables and academic interest.
See an in-depth review on my blog.
See an in-depth review on my blog.
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Death, Violence, Sexual content, Infidelity, Alcohol, Racism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Incest, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Miscarriage, Infertility, Animal death, and Antisemitism
Dalila the Crafty includes drugging men and stealing their clothes.displacedcactus's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Do you have fond memories of reading some version of Arabian Nights as a child? Are you a nerd? Do you think that more books should be at least as big as a dictionary? Then you owe it to yourself to pick up this awesome edition of Arabian Nights.
In addition to the stories you know and love, this book has an extensive introduction and afterward, lots of annotations (as you would expect from the title...) and a ton of artwork from previous illustrated editions, artists from the MENAHT region, stage and film productions, artifacts, etc etc.
No, this isn't the sort of book you can easily throw in your bag to go to the coffee shop or beach, but it's an entertaining-yet-scholarly read that rewards you for being willing to bear the weight of its 700+ pages and hardback cover.
In addition to the stories you know and love, this book has an extensive introduction and afterward, lots of annotations (as you would expect from the title...) and a ton of artwork from previous illustrated editions, artists from the MENAHT region, stage and film productions, artifacts, etc etc.
No, this isn't the sort of book you can easily throw in your bag to go to the coffee shop or beach, but it's an entertaining-yet-scholarly read that rewards you for being willing to bear the weight of its 700+ pages and hardback cover.
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Sexism, Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
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