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_inge_'s review against another edition
2.0
Did finish, but the form of the story (many characters, switching view points) doesn't suit me. It makes me lose track and it didn't invite me to keep reading, which doesn't help in remembering who's who. The translation was a bit formal. Could be due to the translator, could be from the author. I wouldn't pick this author up again.
savaging's review
5.0
"There comes a point in life where each one of us who survives begins to feel like a ghost that has forgotten to die at the right time"
This book. This beautiful book. What a book to read during this rise of nationalism and appeals for a 'white ethnostate' - to watch how ideologies like this have played out before.
Birds Without Wings is funny and horrible, full of appreciation for regular, poor people, and full of animosity towards the head honchos with their big ideas that bring the most beautiful things to ruin.
This book. This beautiful book. What a book to read during this rise of nationalism and appeals for a 'white ethnostate' - to watch how ideologies like this have played out before.
Birds Without Wings is funny and horrible, full of appreciation for regular, poor people, and full of animosity towards the head honchos with their big ideas that bring the most beautiful things to ruin.
kathleenitpdx's review
5.0
De Bernieres writes of an Ottoman village where the residents, Muslim and Christian, speak Turkish and those who write, write with the Greek alphabet. The potter, the iman, the priest, the teacher, the apothecary, the landlord, their wives and children form a wonderful interdependent community. There are friendships, loneliness, births, deaths, squabbles. Then comes war and dislocation.
This is the best of historical fiction. De Bernieres includes the story of Attaturk and with the background of the founding of the nation of Turkey, we feel the impacts on the people of a simple village.
This is the best of historical fiction. De Bernieres includes the story of Attaturk and with the background of the founding of the nation of Turkey, we feel the impacts on the people of a simple village.
janhicks's review
4.0
For me, this had a slow build up. It's well crafted and researched, but I found the first half of the book a little slow as de Bernières developed the plot and characters. Once that had happened, though, it was a much better book. I could truly believe in the characters and I enjoyed the way they were written into the facts of history, bringing the things I had learnt at school about the Gallipoli campaign and the creation of modern Turkey to life. It was also interesting to gain a Turkish perspective on this part of history. I read the book straight after Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, as well, so now I feel like I've had a crash course in early 20th century Turkish/Greek history! Overall, the story is a human one, full of sorrow, laughter and farce, and explores the contradictions of what it is to be human.
jed327's review
4.0
This is an astonishing novel. It's hard to believe that the author is not Turkish. He completely captures the tradegy of the dissoltion of the Ottoman Empire through the eyes of the people in one small village.
thebee's review
2.0
the exact same formula as Corelli's Mandolin - small locality's story interspersed with a dictator's backstory
would have been nice if he didn't give away the ending within a couple pages. made it harder to slog through. but I did it, which speaks to his ability to tell a good historical story
would have been nice if he didn't give away the ending within a couple pages. made it harder to slog through. but I did it, which speaks to his ability to tell a good historical story
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