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libraryfrog's review against another edition
2.5
Well, this book felt like a waste of time… I can kind of see how some people might really like it, like in the way some people really like pop psychology self help books? But it felt uncomfortably racist and sexist to me and the plot was pretty boring and every other sentence sounds like someone trying to be profound and failing to say anything original at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexism
poirot's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcohol, War, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Animal death and Violence
e_mm_2's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.0
I liked the messages Coelho tried to convey, but overall the story wasn't really interesting to me. I only had two or three instances where I was interested in the story and actually reflecting on what was written. Also why the racial slurs? They could've been left out...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death and Violence
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
After seeing this book pop up multiple times in a short period of time, I decided to give it a try, as I needed a short book to read, one that I could finish before a book list reading challenge started at my library on September 01st.
It was difficult to follow, and the main characters having no names did not help matters. The boy isn't a particularly lovable main character, and he's naive enough that it stops being a good thing and becomes a slog. For such a short book with so much travel, nothing really happens. The boy learns a lot of things, but I felt like I was missing half of the story.
It was difficult to follow, and the main characters having no names did not help matters. The boy isn't a particularly lovable main character, and he's naive enough that it stops being a good thing and becomes a slog. For such a short book with so much travel, nothing really happens. The boy learns a lot of things, but I felt like I was missing half of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Religious bigotry, Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Violence, War, and Sexism
camoo3032's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
I don't understand the hype around this book. It wasn't groundbreaking or profound to me. I thought it was boring and sexist
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
ms_ameerah's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I would have appreciated this book more in high school.
What I liked:
- The motivation I received was to follow my intuition.
- The valuable insights that are embedded into the story.
What I didn't like:
- The writing style, at times, would be very repetitive.
- This book was written in the 1980s, but I can't help but cringe at:
- The blatant appeal to male fantasy/the characterization of women.
Eg. Some elements of the hero's journey.
Especially how Fatima is written, I could rant for days.
- This is a fault of my own, but I can't help but read this book with a bit of skepticism and cynicism.
Sidenote: (I will, however, not be deducting points for the lack of progressiveness)
Conclusion:
I think that at times I might have taken this book too seriously, it is after all a fantasy telling of a monomyth.
The ending made me think a lot about people (and myself) who miss opportunities because they/I'm too arrogant to pursue them.
What I liked:
- The motivation I received was to follow my intuition.
- The valuable insights that are embedded into the story.
What I didn't like:
- The writing style, at times, would be very repetitive.
- This book was written in the 1980s, but I can't help but cringe at:
- The blatant appeal to male fantasy/the characterization of women.
Eg. Some elements of the hero's journey.
Especially how Fatima is written, I could rant for days.
- This is a fault of my own, but I can't help but read this book with a bit of skepticism and cynicism.
Sidenote: (I will, however, not be deducting points for the lack of progressiveness)
Conclusion:
I think that at times I might have taken this book too seriously, it is after all a fantasy telling of a monomyth.
The ending made me think a lot about people (and myself) who miss opportunities because they/I'm too arrogant to pursue them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
lena_and_her_books's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia
kaitlinjohnson's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism