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essjay1's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting structure, I enjoyed the simplicity of form in the first half although I could have easily put this down. Pleased I persisted as the last half of the book is more engaging.
anitahoz's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
rosemarykirk's review against another edition
3.0
I particularly liked the actual House of Youssef section in the middle. 3.5 stars
read_with_pinot's review against another edition
4.0
I felt the stories in the last two parts were a bit repetitive and the voice too similar.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘What is a home? Is it a house? Is it where you are born? Is it where you will be buried?’
A collection of short stories, divided into four different sections, set in Western Sydney. The first section is a collection of vignettes, which capture small (and often unremarkable) moments in people’s lives. The second section is a much longer and linked set of stories about the gradual disintegration of a family and is told from several different perspectives. The third and fourth sections belong to two older first-generation migrants: a man and then a woman reflecting on the decisions they had made and their families.
‘Always it seems to me that I live between two worlds: the country where I was a child and this one
here where my children were born.’
The people in these stories are ordinary people: first- or second-generation Lebanese migrants to Australia. The themes explored include nostalgia, differences in custom, social isolation, and relationships.
I enjoyed this book: the vignettes (‘Motherland’) prepared me for the second section (‘The House of Youssef’) while the third and fourth sections (‘Homing’ and ‘Darkness, Speak’) enabled me to look at the consequence of emigration through different eyes.
Emigration is never easy. Those of us, like me, some generations removed from the experience of moving between countries take a lot for granted. Those who move to countries with differences in culture and language are always straddling two worlds.
In her thoughtful, minimalist prose, Ms Kassab captures many of the challenges first and second-generation migrants face. While this style will not appeal to every reader, I liked the opportunity it gave me to reflect on choice and consequence.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A collection of short stories, divided into four different sections, set in Western Sydney. The first section is a collection of vignettes, which capture small (and often unremarkable) moments in people’s lives. The second section is a much longer and linked set of stories about the gradual disintegration of a family and is told from several different perspectives. The third and fourth sections belong to two older first-generation migrants: a man and then a woman reflecting on the decisions they had made and their families.
‘Always it seems to me that I live between two worlds: the country where I was a child and this one
here where my children were born.’
The people in these stories are ordinary people: first- or second-generation Lebanese migrants to Australia. The themes explored include nostalgia, differences in custom, social isolation, and relationships.
I enjoyed this book: the vignettes (‘Motherland’) prepared me for the second section (‘The House of Youssef’) while the third and fourth sections (‘Homing’ and ‘Darkness, Speak’) enabled me to look at the consequence of emigration through different eyes.
Emigration is never easy. Those of us, like me, some generations removed from the experience of moving between countries take a lot for granted. Those who move to countries with differences in culture and language are always straddling two worlds.
In her thoughtful, minimalist prose, Ms Kassab captures many of the challenges first and second-generation migrants face. While this style will not appeal to every reader, I liked the opportunity it gave me to reflect on choice and consequence.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
kimswhims's review against another edition
3.0
Read as part of reading the 2020 Stella Longlist.
3.5 stars
This short-story collection was quite a contrast for me, it had it's powerful moments amongst the predominantly intently mundane.
The migrant voice is believable, to a point, there were times I was pulled out of the story with the thought, 'this is a young writer, writing about what she thinks an old person thinks'. I would have given it a higher rating if it wasn't for that.
I read the two longer short stories, 'Homing' and 'Darkness, speak' each in one sitting and before I read the vignettes at the front of the book. I think that's a better way to read this collection. The vignettes are certainly more powerful stories that way. Made the collection end on a powerful note for me not a whimper.
3.5 stars
This short-story collection was quite a contrast for me, it had it's powerful moments amongst the predominantly intently mundane.
The migrant voice is believable, to a point, there were times I was pulled out of the story with the thought, 'this is a young writer, writing about what she thinks an old person thinks'. I would have given it a higher rating if it wasn't for that.
I read the two longer short stories, 'Homing' and 'Darkness, speak' each in one sitting and before I read the vignettes at the front of the book. I think that's a better way to read this collection. The vignettes are certainly more powerful stories that way. Made the collection end on a powerful note for me not a whimper.
ashthee's review against another edition
5.0
I really like the stories, it's a nice book and its short. It's the type of stories where shortness really is enough
earlgreybooks's review against another edition
4.0
When this made the longlist, I was really unsure about it. I hadn’t really seen anyone I knew talk about it, and while I’m getting better at it—I’m still not the best at reading short story collections.
There was something about this one that kind of blew me away.
I loved the first section which is a collection of unrelated short pieces, mostly only a few pages long each. I absolutely flew through these, but they all held my attention and there weren’t any that I didn’t enjoy. My favourite part, however, was the second section which is the story the title takes it name from. It’s a longer piece following the one family. I don’t know what it was about this one, but I just really enjoyed reading it.
I have to admit that I struggled with the last two stories a little. Kassab’s prose is incredible throughout the book, but I just didn’t feel the same connection to them as the others.
There was something about this one that kind of blew me away.
I loved the first section which is a collection of unrelated short pieces, mostly only a few pages long each. I absolutely flew through these, but they all held my attention and there weren’t any that I didn’t enjoy. My favourite part, however, was the second section which is the story the title takes it name from. It’s a longer piece following the one family. I don’t know what it was about this one, but I just really enjoyed reading it.
I have to admit that I struggled with the last two stories a little. Kassab’s prose is incredible throughout the book, but I just didn’t feel the same connection to them as the others.