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emmalemonnz's review
Maybe it's the translation, maybe it's that the Saudi or Arabic story-telling style is too different from what I know, but I just could not get into this. It seems to have generally low ratings overall though, so maybe it's just not a great book. I wish I could read Arabic so I could understand some of the other reviews.
As far as I'm aware, not many Arabic novels are translated into English, so it seems weird to put the effort into a novel so uncaptivating.
The protagonist feels distant. I have no real sense of who he is. The dialogue is often stilted and exposition-y. There's no real flow and I just don't want to keep reading. I got up to chapter 9. I might come back to it one day, but for now I'm abandoning it.
Open to recommendations of other books in translation from Saudi Arabia and other Arabic-speaking nations.
As far as I'm aware, not many Arabic novels are translated into English, so it seems weird to put the effort into a novel so uncaptivating.
The protagonist feels distant. I have no real sense of who he is. The dialogue is often stilted and exposition-y. There's no real flow and I just don't want to keep reading. I got up to chapter 9. I might come back to it one day, but for now I'm abandoning it.
Open to recommendations of other books in translation from Saudi Arabia and other Arabic-speaking nations.
charlotteyveta's review
challenging
dark
slow-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
2.0
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