Reviews

In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar

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evaaander's review

3.0

3.5 — interesting story but the ending was so rushed and parts of the historical context were not explained that well so I was a tad confused while reading

Nationalism is as thin as thread, perhaps thats why many feel it must be anxiously guarded. Page 231

How readily and thinly we we procure these fictional selves, deceiving the world and what e might become if only we hadn't got in the way, if only we had waited to seed what might have become of us. P. 233

tessyoung's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow, such beautiful writing delivers a narrative of everyday emotional brutality. I found this a difficult read in places, as one can see the cruelty of the political context at one remove through the eyes of a child. An absolutely compelling and totally unsettling read.

andbarr_'s review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

mohamedfarid's review against another edition

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5.0

رواية للكاتب "هشام مطر" - تدور أحداثها في ليبيا بلغة جميلة سهلة ومباشرة.

الرواية سهلة الفهم - يأخذنا أبطالها لأحداث حدثت بعد تحرير ليبيا في نهايات ستينات القرن الماضي وما تعرض له المعارضين والبطش الدموي للجيش.

سرد التفاصيل والتعرض لبعض القصص والحكايات الطريفة على لسان سليمان - بطل الرواية - وهو الفتى الصغير والذي حكى لنا عن والده ووالدته وأصدقائه وجيرانه وأصدقاء والده بعذوبة وأريحية جعلتنا نعيش مع الأحداث والشخصيات التي استطاع الكاتب بناءها بصورة جميلة.

القصة سياسية ومع إنها لم تتطرق للأحداث السياسية في هذه الفترة بصورة مباشرة إلاّ إنها وصفت مشاعر الناس وما يتعرضون له وكيف يفكرون وكل هذا بصورة سهلة ويسيرة وجميلة.

ملحوظة شخصية:
ذهبت إلى ليبيا عدة مرات "طرابلس" و "بني غازي" وما زلت أتذكر طيبة الناس وتلقائيتهم وجمال عشرتهم.

استمعت إلى الرواية على تطبيق "ستوريتيل" - ثماني ساعات و دقيقة.

#فريديات

ruta_crnoja's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Kako spremno i jedva prikriveno izradimo te umjetne nas varajući svijet i ono što smo mogli postati, da se nismo umiješali, da smo samo pričekali da vidimo što bi se moglo dogoditi s nama.

msliz's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jenniferstringer's review against another edition

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4.0

I get a "Fight Ignorance - READ" newsletter, and this was one of the titles from countries "not-banned," (but really banned). Impressive first novel. It's a heart-wrenching story of a boy trying to make sense of his life as his parents attempt to shield him from the harsh realities of living under the Gaddafi regime. I can't imagine living under those circumstances.
And, on another level, it's a Libyan version of "Room." It's also a story of a woman trying to rescue her son from a life she had no choice about. A very sad, but enlightening read.