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zeldiecakes's review
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
3.25
sara_shocks's review
4.0
4/5 stars
I thought there would be more birds and fewer parables, but that's on me! This translation seemed accessible enough for people who, like me, do not have much background in Persian poetry & myth -- there are some footnotes around the allusions, but not to a point of distraction. I might have liked some additional endnotes, maybe.
The most beautiful part for me was "The Seven Valleys," perhaps followed by "The Birds Ask About the Beloved" and "The Journey of the Birds," all of which are towards the end of this epic. The front portion dragged a bit in regards to the parables, for me at least, as I was not and still am not interested in Sufism for me personally. I was surprised at the moments of humor, and often puzzled by the parables. There was an interesting ethical question that came up near the end that reminded me of The Good Place, so I enjoyed that. This epic also seemed...unexpectedly erotic? I need to read the intro again to see what I'm missing on the translation of the word Lover, or to better understand its use here.
I thought there would be more birds and fewer parables, but that's on me! This translation seemed accessible enough for people who, like me, do not have much background in Persian poetry & myth -- there are some footnotes around the allusions, but not to a point of distraction. I might have liked some additional endnotes, maybe.
The most beautiful part for me was "The Seven Valleys," perhaps followed by "The Birds Ask About the Beloved" and "The Journey of the Birds," all of which are towards the end of this epic. The front portion dragged a bit in regards to the parables, for me at least, as I was not and still am not interested in Sufism for me personally. I was surprised at the moments of humor, and often puzzled by the parables. There was an interesting ethical question that came up near the end that reminded me of The Good Place, so I enjoyed that. This epic also seemed...unexpectedly erotic? I need to read the intro again to see what I'm missing on the translation of the word Lover, or to better understand its use here.
treparker73's review
3.0
Wow
I don’t ready poetry and I tried hard to understand this book. Many parts I understood. I wish I had someone to explain it though.
I don’t ready poetry and I tried hard to understand this book. Many parts I understood. I wish I had someone to explain it though.
mehul_dhikonia's review
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
The Conference of the Birds seems to be the most beautiful rendition of philosophy that preaches selfless love and humility as a path to the divine mirrored in self.
Reading this wasn't without its challenges and there were twofold conflicts - one with the philosophy of culture where I come from and the other with the idea of "self" in current times. Once I made peace with the time and context of when this was written, I abandoned my ego and found myself immersed in the journey of the Hoopoe and the Simorgh.
I don't know any Persian to appreciate how this was written though I believe translating this must have been a transcendent experience for Sholeh Wolpe, as is for the reader.
Reading this wasn't without its challenges and there were twofold conflicts - one with the philosophy of culture where I come from and the other with the idea of "self" in current times. Once I made peace with the time and context of when this was written, I abandoned my ego and found myself immersed in the journey of the Hoopoe and the Simorgh.
I don't know any Persian to appreciate how this was written though I believe translating this must have been a transcendent experience for Sholeh Wolpe, as is for the reader.
gitli57's review
The translation is lovely. But as with many other ancient texts from the Abrahamic traditions, the heavy handed theology, with its emphasis on authority and unquestioning obedience became tedious for me.
dhernandez's review
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
djoshuva's review
5.0
THE BAT IN SEARCH OF THE SUN
One night a bat was heard to say ' How is it that I am unable even for a moment to see the sun? All my life I have been in despair because not for an instant can I be lost in him. For months and years I have flown hither and thither with my eyes shut, and here I am!' A contemplative said ' You are beset with pride, and you still have thousands of years to travel. How can such a being as you discover the sun? Can an ant reach the moon?' 'Nevertheless,' said the bat, 'I shall still go on trying.' And so for some years it continued to search until it had neither strength nor wings. As it still had not discovered the sun it said: 'Perhaps I have flown beyond it.' A wise bird hearing this, said: 'You live in a dream; you have been going round in circles, and haven't advanced a single step; and in your pride you say you have gone beyond the sun. This so shocked the bat that realizing her helplessness she humbled herself completely, saying: 'You have found a bird with inner sight, go no further.'
One night a bat was heard to say ' How is it that I am unable even for a moment to see the sun? All my life I have been in despair because not for an instant can I be lost in him. For months and years I have flown hither and thither with my eyes shut, and here I am!' A contemplative said ' You are beset with pride, and you still have thousands of years to travel. How can such a being as you discover the sun? Can an ant reach the moon?' 'Nevertheless,' said the bat, 'I shall still go on trying.' And so for some years it continued to search until it had neither strength nor wings. As it still had not discovered the sun it said: 'Perhaps I have flown beyond it.' A wise bird hearing this, said: 'You live in a dream; you have been going round in circles, and haven't advanced a single step; and in your pride you say you have gone beyond the sun. This so shocked the bat that realizing her helplessness she humbled herself completely, saying: 'You have found a bird with inner sight, go no further.'
casimiera's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0