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zahrahazmi's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
nadakhaledhp's review against another edition
3.0
من احزن واكأب الروايات.
صاحبة مقهى عاشت طول عمرها وحيدة ولفترة قصيرة وثقت بالشخص الخطأ اللي خسرها كل اللي بنته، بس هل دي تعتبر خسارة ولا هى كانت مبسوطة فعلا بضمها وحمايتها للأحدب لما ظهر في حياتها لأول مرة.
في كره للنسّاج مش قادرة اتخطاه نهائي. سواء بسبب عجرفته او بسبب بثه لسمومه وكره في اللي حواليه.
اخيرا، كتير في حياتنا بنسمح لاشخاص غلط انهم يخدوا امتيازات مش من حقهم. العلاقة اللي صورهتها الكاتبة علاقة مسمومة كطبق العصيدة الاخير اللي سابه النساج للآنسة أميليا. مش قادرة اذا كان غباء أميليا ام غباء الأحدب اللي سارعت في انهاء اخر شئ ممتع وجميل في تلك البلدة الصغيرة لكن الأكيد ان شخصية أميليا القوية خوفت اللي حواليها منها لدرجة انهم معرفوش يساعدوها حتى في أضعف اوقاتها وعلى الرغم انهم كلهم يكنوا ليها حب واعتزاز واعتراف بأفضلها عليهم. فعلا الانسان عدو نفسه.
صاحبة مقهى عاشت طول عمرها وحيدة ولفترة قصيرة وثقت بالشخص الخطأ اللي خسرها كل اللي بنته، بس هل دي تعتبر خسارة ولا هى كانت مبسوطة فعلا بضمها وحمايتها للأحدب لما ظهر في حياتها لأول مرة.
في كره للنسّاج مش قادرة اتخطاه نهائي. سواء بسبب عجرفته او بسبب بثه لسمومه وكره في اللي حواليه.
اخيرا، كتير في حياتنا بنسمح لاشخاص غلط انهم يخدوا امتيازات مش من حقهم. العلاقة اللي صورهتها الكاتبة علاقة مسمومة كطبق العصيدة الاخير اللي سابه النساج للآنسة أميليا. مش قادرة اذا كان غباء أميليا ام غباء الأحدب اللي سارعت في انهاء اخر شئ ممتع وجميل في تلك البلدة الصغيرة لكن الأكيد ان شخصية أميليا القوية خوفت اللي حواليها منها لدرجة انهم معرفوش يساعدوها حتى في أضعف اوقاتها وعلى الرغم انهم كلهم يكنوا ليها حب واعتزاز واعتراف بأفضلها عليهم. فعلا الانسان عدو نفسه.
nicolebeans's review
“the ballad of the sad cafe” (titular story) was not my thing.
some of the others were giving otessa moshfegh if she was even a little entertaining (sorry).
and some were pretty epic insights into the human experience
some of the others were giving otessa moshfegh if she was even a little entertaining (sorry).
and some were pretty epic insights into the human experience
jennyoo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
evergardenwall's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
pwc1919's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
khornstein1's review against another edition
5.0
Carson McCullers, where have you been all my life? My only previous connection with McCullers was having to have some idea of who she was for my English (MA) comprehensive exam. So I memorized a couple of lines describing her...A few months later, I picked up a copy of "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" and it has been on my bookshelf for the past 20 years, unread.
I did not expect to like this...the South, outsiders, undiscovered women writers (who have perhaps fallen by the wayside now that we read fiction by women all the time.) But this short novel is fantastic...something about the characters, mood, and the voice...which is both simple and completely profound at the same time, to wit: "All useful things have a price, and are bought only with money, as that is the way the world is run. You know without having to reason about it the price of a bale of cotton, or a quart of molasses. But no value has been put on human life; it is given to us free and taken without being paid for..."
The plot is strange, the ending haunting. Strange and haunting and for that reason, I plan to read this one again before book group. And then maybe finally pick up The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
I did not expect to like this...the South, outsiders, undiscovered women writers (who have perhaps fallen by the wayside now that we read fiction by women all the time.) But this short novel is fantastic...something about the characters, mood, and the voice...which is both simple and completely profound at the same time, to wit: "All useful things have a price, and are bought only with money, as that is the way the world is run. You know without having to reason about it the price of a bale of cotton, or a quart of molasses. But no value has been put on human life; it is given to us free and taken without being paid for..."
The plot is strange, the ending haunting. Strange and haunting and for that reason, I plan to read this one again before book group. And then maybe finally pick up The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
jess13jess's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0