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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Incredibly rich creative writing. Usually heartbreaking but makes you better by it.
One of the best short story collections that I've read in a long time. I was engaged with every story.
Here is a passage that I hope will entice you to read this book.
"And so it was that after Merzagul caught word of the murder of his only son, his puny heart pumped into overdrive and led him to the studded handle of his father's legendary scimitar, which had once chopped down three hundred British colonizers back in the benevolent days of Kipling and Forster, when white men would fight on the earth like mere mortals--not as they did now; from thousands of miles above, from the very heavens themselves, perched upon behemoths of steel and light, watching their targets below, even in the darkest of nights, hour upon hour, spying and recording and listening, until one fateful day or night, when the white men in the clouds would rain down their fire, and decide, with the flick of a finger, the twitch of an eye, the shiver of an asshole, whether an entire village would celebrate a wedding or mourn a funeral."
Now this passage:
"In the years after his brother's death, Billy had abandoned his father's goats and taken refuge in computer-generated pornography, online social simulations, catfish accounts on Instagram, the philosophy of Jean Baudrillard, the writings of Philip K. Dick, and the Modern Warfare franchise, through which he had carried out his first virtual drone strike on little blips of Afghan enemies."
Yes, I chose these because they mention other authors of great literature but this book is filled with passages like these. Great literature opens doors to worlds you may not have yet seen. We need to hear more from this young man and I'm wishing for a long career as an author.
Here is a passage that I hope will entice you to read this book.
"And so it was that after Merzagul caught word of the murder of his only son, his puny heart pumped into overdrive and led him to the studded handle of his father's legendary scimitar, which had once chopped down three hundred British colonizers back in the benevolent days of Kipling and Forster, when white men would fight on the earth like mere mortals--not as they did now; from thousands of miles above, from the very heavens themselves, perched upon behemoths of steel and light, watching their targets below, even in the darkest of nights, hour upon hour, spying and recording and listening, until one fateful day or night, when the white men in the clouds would rain down their fire, and decide, with the flick of a finger, the twitch of an eye, the shiver of an asshole, whether an entire village would celebrate a wedding or mourn a funeral."
Now this passage:
"In the years after his brother's death, Billy had abandoned his father's goats and taken refuge in computer-generated pornography, online social simulations, catfish accounts on Instagram, the philosophy of Jean Baudrillard, the writings of Philip K. Dick, and the Modern Warfare franchise, through which he had carried out his first virtual drone strike on little blips of Afghan enemies."
Yes, I chose these because they mention other authors of great literature but this book is filled with passages like these. Great literature opens doors to worlds you may not have yet seen. We need to hear more from this young man and I'm wishing for a long career as an author.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a challenging read for me due to the violence and emotional gut punches. I had to take it pieces, or I wouldn't have survived the book. Make sure you check content warnings before you dive in.
If you liked If They Come for Us, you will probably like this collection as well. The format is different, of course, but the rawness and nuance of refugee experiences takes center stage in both. I will say there's a lot more misogyny in Hajji Hotak, but it wasn't off putting enough to avoid the book. For me at least.
Great stories, great concept. Will definitely be sampling more from this author.
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes