Reviews

L'illuminazione del susino selvatico by Shokoofeh Azar, Silvia Montis

cmdennehy's review against another edition

challenging dark

5.0

papaveriepapere's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

dutchcrunch's review against another edition

4.0

Many passages here were 5 star quality however, I have given this book 4 stars due to some passages being lost in translation—particularly the more politically-focused sections and those that diverted away from the novel’s central family. It also could have used a few more revisions to knock out issues with syntax and unintentional repetitive passages.
The novel is deeply rooted in political trauma that has destroyed a beautifully interconnected Iranian family. It showcases how external conflicts (war, revolution, national disaster) can have internal consequences to the family unit. I found the sections about Roza’s disappearance and Beeta’s transformation to be particularly profound. I found it overall to be reminiscent of Ana Castillo’s /So Far from God/; as well as the obvious connection to /One Hundred Years of Solitude/.

*Some of the most exquisite magical realism I have ever experienced*

audreypalz's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.5

An interesting, sad, and layered book. There were parts I loved where the writing really shone and the author's emotional intelligence and grief were immediately apparent, but other times where I got a little lost. I'd recommend it, especially to anyone interested in the history of Iran, but it is, at many points, a tough read. 

ang_2's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

reggiethebird's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

p_scale's review against another edition

3.5

This was a strange read. I wasn't sure I was going to finish it untill about chapter 10, I'm not sure what changed or if I just started to grasp the writing style but it really was quite a change in that chapter.

There were still alot of things I didn't really connect with and broke the world of the story for me somewhat but this could be due to cultural differences as well. 

By the end I felt really connected to the characters though, I liked how the story flowed from different perspectives everyones wants and needs felt very unique to them and their character. 

I wouldn't say this is a necessary read but if you end up reading it I would give it a chance, definitely something unique and indefinable about this book.

sarahelanany's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

5.0

wereallinthegutter's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

thebobsphere's review against another edition

4.0

 

One thing I like about the International Booker is that I’m exposed to quite a few interesting books. Never would I have believed that one day I would be reviewing a Persian Magical Realist novel.

The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree breaks a lot of rules. First of all the narrator is dead. Secondly the book goes into some detail about the Iranian revolutions and there’s some scenes which guarantee a bit of chair squirming.

The narrator is Bahar and she is a ghost floating in and out of her family’s lives. Throughout the book she documents her family’s background, how she became a ghost and the destinies of her brother and sister. One is quite brutal and the other is surreal.

As this is a novel which focuses on magical realism, a lot of strange things occur : Black snow which kills all life, the narrator’s mother sitting on a tree for three days, underground glass palaces and mermaids ( imagine my delight when I read that passage)

Leaving the weird bits aside .. Greengage Tree is a political novel. Shookoofeh Azar writes about the kidnappings, torture, the cruel imprisonments, the book burnings (the book related sections are an absolute joy to read) and censorship.The thing is that no matter how bizarre these acts were, they actually happened.

I guess that’s the ironic aspect of this novel. Magical realism and the more cruel aspects of history can be blurred. By the end of the novel it’s difficult to distinguish between the two.

The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree did take me by surprise. There were passages which I read greedily, while there were others which filled me a sense of unease. Not too many books can play with your emotions like that.