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bailey_books's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
3 stars for the first part, 4 for middle, 5 for ending.
I didn’t realize this book was about queerness and motherhood/ivf from the descriptions I read about it. You slowly start to understand more and more as you dig through and the disjointed fragments pull together.
I don’t think it spoils anything to give that context—if you don’t want to think about family planning this might be a little triggering in a surprising way, which is why I’m sharing this.
I wish I spoke French and could have read this untranslated because the writing is stunning in some places and too didactic in others and I can’t tell if that’s intentional or an accident of translation. Regardless, while it took me a long time to want to keep coming back to this book bc of how it read in certain parts. I’ll be thinking about the story and ending for a while to come.
I didn’t realize this book was about queerness and motherhood/ivf from the descriptions I read about it. You slowly start to understand more and more as you dig through and the disjointed fragments pull together.
I don’t think it spoils anything to give that context—if you don’t want to think about family planning this might be a little triggering in a surprising way, which is why I’m sharing this.
I wish I spoke French and could have read this untranslated because the writing is stunning in some places and too didactic in others and I can’t tell if that’s intentional or an accident of translation. Regardless, while it took me a long time to want to keep coming back to this book bc of how it read in certain parts. I’ll be thinking about the story and ending for a while to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical content, Grief, Infertility, War, Xenophobia, and Murder
jessthanthree's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Violence, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Infertility
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
disoriental is a family saga that is as compelling and multilayered as the political upheaval experienced by its characters.
admittedly, the myriad of characters, their unique names and histories, coupled with frequent time jumps confuse me; there's a lot of them and being info-dumped from the get-go initially throws me off a bit. the sadrs and their extended families, however, are also what give this novel so much of its life and color on both extremes.
the characters are full of depth and multidimensionality, and some of their parallels to one another are intriguing as well. i also rly enjoy how eloquent djavadi is w/ her exploration of the characters' deepest psyches, how she's able to pinpoint and articulate the personal rationales - molded by experience, history, beliefs - that shape each character and greatly impact their actions, yet are always left unsaid and unmentioned externally.
it's also insightful to read and learn abt the historical context of the book, the tide of political upheaval through various regimes that is critical to the shaping of modern iranian - and world - history. i enjoy reading abt iranian culture and setting here, both the humorous and self-deprecating observations of the family- and community-oriented mindset, and the more serious topics such as feminism and LGBTQ+ issues, the latter in which saddeq and kimia's parallels and respective plights are emotionally resonant and affecting.
while the main characters are highly affected by their time, they also help drive it all forward as well, though it's indeed disheartening to see how they have to pay such a high price for it. it's a somber reminder of the actual reality of political dissidents during the time period and one that many still experiences even today. there's so much nuance to all the political discussion as well, how no one country is wholly good, even the supposedly good ones treat refugees questionably and still trade arms on the sly.
overall, i rly enjoy this novel, and the story of the sadrs and their belived iran is one that will undoubtedly stay w/ me.
admittedly, the myriad of characters, their unique names and histories, coupled with frequent time jumps confuse me; there's a lot of them and being info-dumped from the get-go initially throws me off a bit. the sadrs and their extended families, however, are also what give this novel so much of its life and color on both extremes.
the characters are full of depth and multidimensionality, and some of their parallels to one another are intriguing as well. i also rly enjoy how eloquent djavadi is w/ her exploration of the characters' deepest psyches, how she's able to pinpoint and articulate the personal rationales - molded by experience, history, beliefs - that shape each character and greatly impact their actions, yet are always left unsaid and unmentioned externally.
it's also insightful to read and learn abt the historical context of the book, the tide of political upheaval through various regimes that is critical to the shaping of modern iranian - and world - history. i enjoy reading abt iranian culture and setting here, both the humorous and self-deprecating observations of the family- and community-oriented mindset, and the more serious topics such as feminism and LGBTQ+ issues, the latter in which saddeq and kimia's parallels and respective plights are emotionally resonant and affecting.
while the main characters are highly affected by their time, they also help drive it all forward as well, though it's indeed disheartening to see how they have to pay such a high price for it. it's a somber reminder of the actual reality of political dissidents during the time period and one that many still experiences even today. there's so much nuance to all the political discussion as well, how no one country is wholly good, even the supposedly good ones treat refugees questionably and still trade arms on the sly.
overall, i rly enjoy this novel, and the story of the sadrs and their belived iran is one that will undoubtedly stay w/ me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Sexism, and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Murder, Death of parent, Infertility, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Police brutality, and Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy, Genocide, Sexual content, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Abandonment, Confinement, and Religious bigotry
bodiesinbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Dementia, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Hate crime, Infertility, Medical content, Violence, and Vomit
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