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dariadanley's review against another edition
2.0
I am (generiously) giving this book 2 stars rather than 1 because I can appreciate it for the craft elements.
I had to read this for my creative writing class, and for the life of me I can't figure out why. Omniscient narration is fine, but I don't think Hamid did a good job here. The characters were so detached, so flat. The only reason they started to feel REAL towards the end was because I was LOOKING for proof that they were real. I got to know Saeed and Nadia, but I couldn't connect with them since there was barely any indication of what they were feeling. They didn't feel genuine because I was so detached and I had to judge them off their actions, not their inner voices.
The magical realism throughout really made no sense. There wasn't a ton of world building and it was like Hamid assumed we should all already know why the doors are there - as if it is a part of normal daily lives. Yes, the doors allowed them to escape, but that's where the doors began and ended. I would have been more convinced and satisfied if the doors were mentioned more throughout the story.
For the love of God I hated the writing. I hate it with a burning passion and in sure it would be different if I listened to the audio book. NO HALF PAGE PARAGRAPH SHOULD BE ONE SENTENCE! Hamid is way too generous with his commas when there should be a period. It is the most infuriating thing of this book for me.
I can appreciate the craft elements, but I don't want to say I loved it just for that purpose. You can have absolutely beautiful craft, but a sucky book. I am taking this as what NOT to do with my own writing. I want my characters to feel real and for the reader to have a pleasant experience. This book was not it for me and I won't apologize for that. I hated it, but I can appreciate it. Does that mean I want to read another book like this? Absolutely not because I had a horrible reading experience. Again, you can have beautiful technique and craft, but not a good story.
I had to read this for my creative writing class, and for the life of me I can't figure out why. Omniscient narration is fine, but I don't think Hamid did a good job here. The characters were so detached, so flat. The only reason they started to feel REAL towards the end was because I was LOOKING for proof that they were real. I got to know Saeed and Nadia, but I couldn't connect with them since there was barely any indication of what they were feeling. They didn't feel genuine because I was so detached and I had to judge them off their actions, not their inner voices.
The magical realism throughout really made no sense. There wasn't a ton of world building and it was like Hamid assumed we should all already know why the doors are there - as if it is a part of normal daily lives. Yes, the doors allowed them to escape, but that's where the doors began and ended. I would have been more convinced and satisfied if the doors were mentioned more throughout the story.
For the love of God I hated the writing. I hate it with a burning passion and in sure it would be different if I listened to the audio book. NO HALF PAGE PARAGRAPH SHOULD BE ONE SENTENCE! Hamid is way too generous with his commas when there should be a period. It is the most infuriating thing of this book for me.
I can appreciate the craft elements, but I don't want to say I loved it just for that purpose. You can have absolutely beautiful craft, but a sucky book. I am taking this as what NOT to do with my own writing. I want my characters to feel real and for the reader to have a pleasant experience. This book was not it for me and I won't apologize for that. I hated it, but I can appreciate it. Does that mean I want to read another book like this? Absolutely not because I had a horrible reading experience. Again, you can have beautiful technique and craft, but not a good story.
readingisforthehotties's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Interesting but quite long sentences in parts
buttercupita's review against another edition
4.0
Hamid's writing combines restraint with enormous emotional power. The story of a couple in a war-ravaged unnamed Middle Eastern city brought alive for me the headlines we've read over the past many years and hinted at the unspoken experiences of the Syrian refugee family I have been working with. I admire Hamid's ability to capture the complex unfolding of a relationship under incredible stress. I'd be interested to know what others make of the brief interludes where he introduces other people's stories....
henrikyoung's review against another edition
challenging
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
exorcismemily's review against another edition
4.0
This was a little too slow for my taste, but in the end, the story was good. It was a solid story about humanity and relationships, and it was a little heartbreaking.
itshassan's review against another edition
3.0
The writing style was more intriguing than the story itself, which seemed insignificant.
mirandyli's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Excrement, Sexism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, War, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Grief, and Islamophobia
duanur's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
1.0
mindgunk's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-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? No
pietan's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? No
4.0