Reviews

The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine

rocio_voncina's review against another edition

3.0

Titulo: El contador de historias
Autor: Rabih Alameddine
Año publicado: 2008
Motivo de lectura: #MarzoAsiatico
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Fisico / Electronico: Electronico
Mi edicion: -
Idioma: Español
Puntuacion: 3/5


Este libro es una reversion de las mil y una noches (entre otras obras) entremezclado con la historia de una familia de medio Oriente.

En varias partes encontre este libro entretenido, pero creo que la estructura narrativa por momentos le juega una mala pasada a este libro, haciendo que el texto que entrelaza las historias antiguas con el dia a dia de la familia no fluya, se siente como grandes saltos en lugar de una lectura fluida.

La prosa de Rabih Alameddine es una absoluta belleza, pero por alguna razon este libro no me termino de cerrar. Creo que el problema es que son tres historias y como mencione antes, al no estar conectadas de manera mas dinamica, la lectura por momentos se hace cuesta arriba.

Lamento mucho no haberme enamorado de la historia..

carriebrunalli's review

adventurous slow-paced

4.0

agnabbouh's review

adventurous dark emotional funny slow-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? Yes

4.0

jsykverd's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

melissajoulwan's review

challenging dark informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

omardfoda's review

challenging funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-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

5.0

themagmag's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mochavonbee's review against another edition

5.0

This is a book of stories that all blend into each other which means the structure is very fluid. I really liked this aspect of the book, though there were a couple of parts in the middle where it started to lag a little, but it picked up again quickly. However, Readers who prefer a clear, linear structure could find the format frustrating. Part of the story is set in the present, some stories concern the family history, others are historical legends and others are pure legend. I think mainly, it's about the importance of story and how legends are created and why they endure... though it's very open to interpretation. I would recommend it to anyone interested in fairytales and legends, especially Arabian ones.

farwen's review

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-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? Yes

5.0

zamziva's review

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Stories woven, unfurling, spelling, overflowing. We follow our narrator, Osama as he returns to Lebanon, and to the side of his dying father. We begin with a slave girl who must go on a quest. We encounter characters who are friends, family, lovers, enemies. Characters who are at times villains, and other times heroes. Characters who are vain, proud, jealous, and others who are confident, caring, determined, mischievous, wise, cunning. The stories reflect each other, allude to each other, diverge and converge  reference and spill and blend and melt together. I love this novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Slavery and War