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tzurky's review against another edition
4.0
The book has three parts with 3 stories each. Thankfully, I have pretty similar feelings about the stories in each part so I won’t have to do a review of each story.
I loved the stories in the “East” part (5 stars) because they were very atmospheric, at the same time grounded in the not always rosy reality and somewhat distant, blurry, archetypal. I don’t want to use the term magical realism because it wouldn’t fit, but I had much the same feeling, that the stories were not about real persons but about mythological actors. The plots themselves were engrossing and even seemed to have a “moral”. You could find elements of fables as well.
The last part, the meeting of “East” and “West” was also wonderful (5 stars). This time the stories feel very realistic, even limited and enclosed by their surroundings. The characters are unique and interesting, but also endearing. As opposed to the second part, they are very mundane, regular people. The cultural encounters are done very well and very subtly. At the same time, major cultural events take place on the edges of the stories, in the background, and their echoes of even their direct influence are felt by the characters.
Now then, to the elephant in the room, the middle part “West”. I’ll be honest and admit that this part went completely over my head. I am missing it’s point so badly it’s nowhere in sight. I have been trying to figure out what the author was trying to do and I can almost see it. I think he was going for western archetypes. Trying to identify some of the central myths at the core of western identity and self-conception. He takes up Hamlet and Columbus and the materialism and consumption that our societies and economic systems are based around. And it’s a very smart idea, very smartly done. I can tell that there is excellent craftsmanship and finesse in the stories. But they just seem to be beating you over the head with their themes and at the same time they don’t really fit for me, they didn’t elicit any emotional reaction or intellectual realization. This could be due to the fact that I’m not actually part of the West. On the contrary, I was born in the East. The fact that I haven’t read Hamlet is definitely detrimental to my enjoyment of its reimagining. And yet, I can’t help but wonder whether this part may just generally not be as on point as the other two. I don’t feel like I’m entitled to judge that though, since I quite obviously don’t get it.
I loved the stories in the “East” part (5 stars) because they were very atmospheric, at the same time grounded in the not always rosy reality and somewhat distant, blurry, archetypal. I don’t want to use the term magical realism because it wouldn’t fit, but I had much the same feeling, that the stories were not about real persons but about mythological actors. The plots themselves were engrossing and even seemed to have a “moral”. You could find elements of fables as well.
The last part, the meeting of “East” and “West” was also wonderful (5 stars). This time the stories feel very realistic, even limited and enclosed by their surroundings. The characters are unique and interesting, but also endearing. As opposed to the second part, they are very mundane, regular people. The cultural encounters are done very well and very subtly. At the same time, major cultural events take place on the edges of the stories, in the background, and their echoes of even their direct influence are felt by the characters.
Now then, to the elephant in the room, the middle part “West”. I’ll be honest and admit that this part went completely over my head. I am missing it’s point so badly it’s nowhere in sight. I have been trying to figure out what the author was trying to do and I can almost see it. I think he was going for western archetypes. Trying to identify some of the central myths at the core of western identity and self-conception. He takes up Hamlet and Columbus and the materialism and consumption that our societies and economic systems are based around. And it’s a very smart idea, very smartly done. I can tell that there is excellent craftsmanship and finesse in the stories. But they just seem to be beating you over the head with their themes and at the same time they don’t really fit for me, they didn’t elicit any emotional reaction or intellectual realization. This could be due to the fact that I’m not actually part of the West. On the contrary, I was born in the East. The fact that I haven’t read Hamlet is definitely detrimental to my enjoyment of its reimagining. And yet, I can’t help but wonder whether this part may just generally not be as on point as the other two. I don’t feel like I’m entitled to judge that though, since I quite obviously don’t get it.
audshuffs's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
sadiya's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
101jun's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
adele_em's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
naju's review against another edition
Uni read - read the short story (rubies) and a couple more