Reviews

All the Names They Used for God by Anjali Sachdeva

katlib's review against another edition

5.0

I genuinely couldn't stop reading these stories even as I grew sadder as I got closer to the end. Sachdeva's stories are surprising and lyrical and fascinating. What most struck me as I was reading was how the fabulist ideas, the literal monsters, the psychic abilities, etc served as the perfect way for us to empathize more deeply with all of the characters. My favorite was the title story, which takes so many dark and surprising turns as two women who survived their kidnapping by Boko Haram are clawing their way back to healing through whatever means are at their disposal. I'll be thinking about all of these stories for a long time.

aduqu's review

emotional inspiring reflective fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

I really enjoyed this book - the short stories are poignant, and leave you thinking. The elements of magic woven through them keeps the settings almost-familiar. 

tjmgibson's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

la3111's review against another edition

5.0

Incredibly moving. My highest recommendation.

greader's review

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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

Wonderful book of short stories! Each one was so well written that they left me wanting more!

bgw's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.25

courte's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.0

wordsareworlds's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I loved the atmospheric nature of Sachdeva's writing. It gave each of these stories incredibly depth of worldbuilding, and while the worlds themselves were quite varied they also each felt like part of a cohesive whole. Unfortunately for a book sold to me as magical realism, the stories lacked the key element of making a point about our reality, especially when it comes to oppressive power systems. Sachdeva also takes the American "melting pot" approach to culture, several times including and reinforcing colonial tropes, and once coopting a narrative that felt like it completely flattened the culture involved and relied strongly on Islamaphobic stereotypes.

Overall, Manus was the most successful story here in both craft and themes, while the titular All the Names of God was the bad apple that spoiled the bunch.

spookyweirdo's review

challenging emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

nitha_ni's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-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

3.0