Reviews

Sonora by Hannah Lillith Assadi

leavingsealevel's review against another edition

4.0

Wow. Amazing debut. Keep an eye on this author.

changeablelandscape's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

vtlism's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I loved it, and I could barely even say what it's about. Normally I'd hate a book by that description, but her main characters are so well developed, it's like following them across timelines with a shallow depth of field. It works. What a cool book! 

meredithmc's review against another edition

3.0

I got some Francesca Lia Block vibes from this book.

makealongstorycourt's review against another edition

4.0

Would ideally give a 3.75 - I liked the ideas in the novel and the lyrical nature of it. However, I feel like it's one of those novels you have to read again to really grasp the nuance (at least for me, personally). I found myself trying to go back several pages or chapters throughout reading to make the connections Assadi was trying to make smoothly. Maybe a higher rating will come with the second read.

I did really enjoy the fact that the novel is a coming-of-age novel, but one that doesn't end in rainbows, or really end at all. I'm left wondering how Ahlam's life goes on past the pages of the book, and how she deals with the darkness that is her cursed upbringing of being a Palestinian/Israeli outsider in America.

sam8834's review against another edition

4.0

3.75 stars

This book is a fever dream about coming of age in the Sonora desert and NYC, female friendship, sex and drugs, and ghosts and UFOs. It's both real and mystical and the kind of novel that makes writers want to write a book. I felt at times the characters were kept at too much of a distance from the reader, for such an intimate novel, but Assadi is a talented writer and I look forward to what she writes next.

stefan_'s review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

pantsantspants's review against another edition

5.0

It captures the desert and the city and tells a unique and interesting story.

inkylabyrinth's review against another edition

It has all the elements of a novel I'd love: child of immigrant story, coming of age story, set in the desert, about female friendships and even a road trip--but the characters felt flat-ish and the pacing was off. It's too soon after reading White Oleander. Definitely want to give the author another try.

thedoctorsaysrun's review

4.0

I liked this book, but it was a difficult read; not the physical action of reading, but the nature of the story. I'd like to know what comes next for the narrator.