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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
A memoir about fighting for one's life!
There is a summary about it in my blog - https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
There is a summary about it in my blog - https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Well written until the last chapter. The story is horrifying yet captivating. What gives the person the strength to rebell and survive when others would perish?
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
After reading this, I kind of wonder... why did I bother? What was I supposed to get out of it? I mean, it was truly horrific, but what did I actually learn from this book? That corrupt monarchies are corrupt? That absolute power corrupts absolutely? I'm not sure. It sort of seems to go into that category of books with a lot of abused children writing their memoirs that what we're supposed to get out of it is some kind of weird lesson about how awful life can be and you still survive it and grow up and stuff. I didn't really care about any of the characters, and I didn't feel like I knew any of them except the narrator. Even though she was surrounded by the same 5-6 people through the entire book, I couldn't name them. I'm not entirely sure why I finished reading this book, but I did. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't well written either. I'm left feeling very "meh" about this.
An incredible story told in a way that inspires strength. It also offers a glimpse into a culture that is so foreign to those of us who enjoy freedom in a way we take for granted every day.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
A gripping story of grief, suffering, love and family. I love that this memoir was written (or at least translated) simply. There weren't a lot of flowery, poetic phrases or metaphors. It felt like Malika Oufkir was telling me her story in person. The way she described her palace life was fascinating. I have never seen a Moroccan palace before but her vivid accounts of its architecture, its cultures and traditions made me feel like I was there myself. This same vivid imagery is present in her accounts of her prison life. It was horrifying to learn what they had gone through for sins they hadn't committed.
Despite all that, I think that this could have been edited more in a way that the events followed a linear time progression. Yes, this book was sectioned according to timeline, but within each section, the authors chose a theme-based approach. This confused me as we are going back and forth in time. Another minor complaint: some parts of the book felt choppy from writing one short sentence after another and another.
But overall, I am glad this book found me. This made me curious about the historical events in Morocco surrounding this book. The Oufkir family suffered so much for crimes they did not commit. Their story, and those of the hundreds other political prisoners, deserves to be heard and talked about even to this day.
Despite all that, I think that this could have been edited more in a way that the events followed a linear time progression. Yes, this book was sectioned according to timeline, but within each section, the authors chose a theme-based approach. This confused me as we are going back and forth in time. Another minor complaint: some parts of the book felt choppy from writing one short sentence after another and another.
But overall, I am glad this book found me. This made me curious about the historical events in Morocco surrounding this book. The Oufkir family suffered so much for crimes they did not commit. Their story, and those of the hundreds other political prisoners, deserves to be heard and talked about even to this day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Incredible true story of a woman from Morocco. Loved it.
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced