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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Another great YA book from Samira Ahmed! History and present day intertwine in this novel about a Desi-French-American girl spending the summer in Paris. When she crosses paths with the however-many-greats grandson of Alexandre Dumas, the subject of her recently rejected admission essay to the art history program of her dreams, who becomes her co-conspirator in an investigation into a possible connection between Dumas, Byron, Delacroix, and a mysterious woman depicted in all of their work. Lots of girl power and feminist undertones as well as tons of fun details for art / history / literature nerds.
It's a fascinating read mixing historical accounts with modern day. The flashbacks to Leila's perspective were a nice touch. And I'm eager to get my hands on a finished copy which will hopefully include some notes about the history / research behind the story as well, because I'd love to find out just how historically accurate it is. But regardless of that, a fun and enchanting read picking yourself up after failure and carving your own path.
It's a fascinating read mixing historical accounts with modern day. The flashbacks to Leila's perspective were a nice touch. And I'm eager to get my hands on a finished copy which will hopefully include some notes about the history / research behind the story as well, because I'd love to find out just how historically accurate it is. But regardless of that, a fun and enchanting read picking yourself up after failure and carving your own path.
TW: sexism, misogyny, fetishishing cultures, racism, infidelity, stalking
Wow. This one surprised me, in all the best ways. While there was a trope or two that felt predictable, they were integral for the plot and the final firecracker message. #writeherstory
Wow. This one surprised me, in all the best ways. While there was a trope or two that felt predictable, they were integral for the plot and the final firecracker message. #writeherstory
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
¿escritores muertos, mujeres olvidadas, Europa en el siglo XIX y romanticismo? I'm in.
antes que nada, tengo que decir que DETESTÉ el triángulo amoroso, ¿CON QUÉ NECESIDAD? todos son unos idiotas que carecen de sentido común. les falta honestidad y terapia, tbh.
la diferencia de edad entre Alexandre y Khayyam me hacía un poco de ruido. si tuvieran la misma edad/estuvieran en las mismas condiciones TAL VEZ me hubiera gustado más el romance.
Alexandre venía diez puntos hasta que en un momento se autoproclama "FEMINISTA"???? why.
como fanática de la historia, me fascinó la búsqueda y el misterio, pero hubiera apreciado más del punto de vista de Lidia.
a veces quería CACHETEAR a la protagonista, pero todos los errores que comete (que son muchos) contribuyen a la construcción y desarrollo de su personaje.
el mensaje que deja es bellísimo. a historiadores y escritores: CUENTEN NUESTRAS HISTORIAS.
antes que nada, tengo que decir que DETESTÉ el triángulo amoroso, ¿CON QUÉ NECESIDAD? todos son unos idiotas que carecen de sentido común. les falta honestidad y terapia, tbh.
la diferencia de edad entre Alexandre y Khayyam me hacía un poco de ruido. si tuvieran la misma edad/estuvieran en las mismas condiciones TAL VEZ me hubiera gustado más el romance.
Alexandre venía diez puntos hasta que en un momento se autoproclama "FEMINISTA"???? why.
como fanática de la historia, me fascinó la búsqueda y el misterio, pero hubiera apreciado más del punto de vista de Lidia.
a veces quería CACHETEAR a la protagonista, pero todos los errores que comete (que son muchos) contribuyen a la construcción y desarrollo de su personaje.
el mensaje que deja es bellísimo. a historiadores y escritores: CUENTEN NUESTRAS HISTORIAS.
Samira Ahmed is the queen of disappointing me. She’s made an Olympic sport out of it, and not only does she keep winning gold, she keeps beating her own records as well.
Maybe my disappointment comes from the fact that I was so hyped for his book. A historical mystery, unearthed years later? 19th-century France? A critique of Orientalism? Muslim rep in YA?? On paper, it sounds perfect for me, but an awesome premise does not a good book make. The book itself isn’t even terrible - I don’t have it in me to give it 1 star, because it’s ultimately competent and tells A Story, even if it’s not the one I wanted - but I can’t help but feel betrayed and frustrated.
Maybe my disappointment comes from the fact that I was so hyped for his book. A historical mystery, unearthed years later? 19th-century France? A critique of Orientalism? Muslim rep in YA?? On paper, it sounds perfect for me, but an awesome premise does not a good book make. The book itself isn’t even terrible - I don’t have it in me to give it 1 star, because it’s ultimately competent and tells A Story, even if it’s not the one I wanted - but I can’t help but feel betrayed and frustrated.
so boring and slow i was quite disappointed because i really enjoyed internment. i liked khayyam's personality but i didn't really understand leila's chapters. maybe you would like this if you were into art history.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Khayyam is naïve and immature for someone who has lofty ambitions to become an art historian. She is cultured, yet fell for a fringe theory on the internet, and then fell again when her essay was scorned by one of the judges when she applied for a program at Chicago School of Art Institute.
While in France, where her parents have a second home, she meets a descendant of Alexander Dumas, a seemingly fateful encounter since the derided essay had to do with a masterpiece possibly owned by the French author. The two join forces to conduct actual research, based on primary sources, to see how much truth there is behind the internet rumors.
Their story is interspersed with Leila's story. As the contemporary protagonists search for clues, we learn about the hardships lived by Leila, who was an unacknowledged muse to a handful of Dumas and a handful of his contemporaries.
Ultimately, the two storylines converge and the afterword from the author gives the book a heft that the vapid young protagonists ever could.
While in France, where her parents have a second home, she meets a descendant of Alexander Dumas, a seemingly fateful encounter since the derided essay had to do with a masterpiece possibly owned by the French author. The two join forces to conduct actual research, based on primary sources, to see how much truth there is behind the internet rumors.
Their story is interspersed with Leila's story. As the contemporary protagonists search for clues, we learn about the hardships lived by Leila, who was an unacknowledged muse to a handful of Dumas and a handful of his contemporaries.
Ultimately, the two storylines converge and the afterword from the author gives the book a heft that the vapid young protagonists ever could.