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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Sparks Like Stars was a solid, enjoyable read for me. I love it when historical fiction exposes me to events I know little about and this delivered, being centred around the 1978 military coup in Afghanistan. I really liked how it highlighted the thriving richness (and I’m not talking financial here) of the country before warfare, foreign interference and religious extremists took hold. I always love a heroine I can root for and Sitara fit that bill. We see her first as an eight year old who witnessed her entire family murdered in a coup inside the presidential palace. Using her wits and with some help she survives and escapes to the United States. Thirty years later she is working as an oncologist when an encounter with a former Afghani palace guard leads to her return to her homeland seeking answers to the fate of her family. I was quickly invested in Sitara’s well-being and worried about her safety including while escaping her country, in the foster care system and later when challenging Afghan authorities. I also appreciate good writing and this book didn’t disappoint. I especially loved the imagery relating to light and stars, not to mention the explicit parallels to Anastasia Romanov. So much historical fiction utilises a dual timeline. This book was refreshing for its straightforward linear narrative.
Great storytelling and a book I’d recommend.
Great storytelling and a book I’d recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Gun violence
eicart_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Child death
Minor: Child abuse and Suicidal thoughts
Contains descriptions, from a child's point of view, of a coup that includes fighter jets shooting at the palace where she was. Contains descriptions of gunfire, hiding from soldiers, witnessing her family be shot. Contains implied sexual abuse of two female children by a man, their foster parent.happiestwhenreading's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don’t know much about Afghanistan’s history; and sadly, I’m like most Americans who only became aware of the country after the events of 9/11. Since then, I have read several books set in the Middle East region, but I’m sure this book will forever stand out to me.
The book begins in 1978 in Afghanistan where Sitara has an idealic life. Her father is a close advisor to the President Daoud, so the palace and all its lush gardens are her playground. One night, the military turned on the President, invaded the palace, and killed everyone – except Sitara. For whatever reason, one of the military guards has mercy on Sitara and smuggles her out to an American diplomat who eventually adopts and raises her in America. Flash forward to NYC in 2008 where Sitara (but now known as Aryana) is a successful surgeon. On a chance encounter, she comes face to face with her past and, once again, her world is flipped upside down.
Hashimi’s writing immediately pulled me in. While her writing is succinct, it is also quite metaphorical and profound. I sunk into her lyrical prose first, and eventually found that I had also sunk into the story as well. I loved Hasimi’s character development, but most of all, I loved returning to Kabul and learning more about the history of Afghanistan. This book felt like I took a journey and I came out on the otherside better for having took it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Medical content, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Minor: Confinement
reading_ladies_blog's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
theredheadbaker's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
I couldn't put this book down! Beautifully-written story of a girl who loses her family during a coup in 1978 in Afghanistan. The descriptions of the settings and the culture were so rich, it was easy to picture. Explorations of grief, PTSD, and the politics of the CIA interfering in foreign governments.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Death of parent
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