Reviews

The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles

harrymclellan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

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

3.75

ericfheiman's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

I first read this in my 20s and was equally smitten this go-round in my 50s, though for different reasons. It’s still a strange book—barely believable from a plot standpoint but emotionally compelling with a haunting conclusion. Bowles seems to be using the North African locale to plumb the repressions of Western society. I suppose one could level accusations of colonialism and an over-exoticizing of the region from a white perspective, even if Bowles lived in Tangiers most of his life and is no tourist. But dismissing the book on those grounds would deprive one of a memorable reading experience. Their loss.

amkclaes's review against another edition

funny mysterious 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

4.0

kind of a gut punch read, starts off pretty funny with these totally airhead characters and their interesting dynamic and ends in a very haunting way, very cynical about humanity, beautifully written

betseyboo's review against another edition

5.0

The moment I finished a collection of Paul Bowles short stories I picked up this book. I'm so glad that I did. It was an amazing story. I really recommend this book.

hjfritz27's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

b0hemian_graham's review against another edition

3.0

it's well written, but it was a total chore to read, especially the whole rape fantasy second half. Kit is a moron.

ridanwise's review against another edition

3.0

What a chore. It’s not in the crafting of the book itself but rather in its content. Not what I was in the mood for. Not what I would ever be in the mood for.

nonpopulus's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

mike_c's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Apart from the book showing its age (I re-read after reading it when it was half as old) I have a real problem with the editing.
On my Kobo the presentation is shoddy, there are too many typos and, I suspect, poor coding.
OK, I was a cheapskate for a nostalgia re-read but if it's your first buy, spend a bit more and get something a bit nicer on the eye.

niallgoulding1's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.75

A strange novel. No doubt it is beautifully written. Each location is described so vividly that the places become almost tangible. Little by little there is a building sense of impending doom - the first half of the novel is a masterclass in subtly creating a taut, claustrophic atmosphere. 

But the 2nd half spirals off into random orientalist fantasy. It actually made the novel come across as quite childish in its nihilism. Its a teenage boy's angsty view of the world - things get worse and worse, everyone is horrible, everyone is doomed, the world is a terrible meaningless place if only everyone was smart enough to realise it.

Bowles has said he wasn't trying to make a point in this book... unfortunately I'd believe that. The first half up until the main character's death could have made for an interesting, coherent arc. However evidently that was too passe. 

Ultimately, the more of these I read, I think I might just dislike all mid-20th century American authors. There's something about their classics that leaves me cold