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aimardinli's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
sad
medium-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
4.0
sapphiremarie's review
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? It's complicated
2.5
lorees_reading_nook's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
We are all familiar with refugees, with people who flee conflicts and revolutions to seek shelter in distant lands. But The Stray Cats Of Homs is not a story about refugees. It is a story about someone who decided to stay.
Sami and his family lived in the Syrian city of Homs. He led a fairly ordinary life, as ordinary a life as possible in Syria in the 1990 s and beyond. He went to school, he met his friends for ice cream, he went to University, much like any child or teenager in any other country would. But Syria is not just any country. It is a country controlled by a cruel regime and divided by civil war.
If you are looking for a story with a complicated plot and lots of convoluted twists, then this book isn't for you. But if you want an insight into the Syrian revolution and how it affected ordinary citizens, then please give this book a try. Some parts are definitely not for the squeamish but it's a book that definitely needs to be read, especially by people like me who rarely watch the news or read the papers. My instinct when things get bad 'out there' is to cocoon myself and stay firmly inside my comfort zone. This book pushed me right out of it. It was poignant, heart-breaking, and horrifying, made even more so by the knowledge that this conflict isn't over yet.
4.8 stars
Sami and his family lived in the Syrian city of Homs. He led a fairly ordinary life, as ordinary a life as possible in Syria in the 1990 s and beyond. He went to school, he met his friends for ice cream, he went to University, much like any child or teenager in any other country would. But Syria is not just any country. It is a country controlled by a cruel regime and divided by civil war.
If you are looking for a story with a complicated plot and lots of convoluted twists, then this book isn't for you. But if you want an insight into the Syrian revolution and how it affected ordinary citizens, then please give this book a try. Some parts are definitely not for the squeamish but it's a book that definitely needs to be read, especially by people like me who rarely watch the news or read the papers. My instinct when things get bad 'out there' is to cocoon myself and stay firmly inside my comfort zone. This book pushed me right out of it. It was poignant, heart-breaking, and horrifying, made even more so by the knowledge that this conflict isn't over yet.
4.8 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, War, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
itslaura's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
leafy_94's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
janamcwhirter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
aisyhreadly's review
4.0
Firstly I want to say wow. Just wow. I never thought of a point of view in a war. Well, I did have a thought of what I would be like, but I never knew it would be that... unbelievable.
The story sets in a city called Homs. Where the people were lived happily before the war hits the ground. People are being murdered brutally with bombs and gunfires. It was really terrifying. And this is a story of Sami.
For me, the story was very heart touching but the plot is a bit flat. I know this is based on a true story so the plot cannot be change. This is a story untold, can't do anything about the plot. But what matters is the content.
The characters are a bit many. It's quite hard for me to remember everyone's name and role. But I figured it out at the end. Sami's character development is so amazing. From a boy who wears a shirt with penguin into a strong fighter. Honestly, I cried a few times just thinking of his development. I respect him, so much ❤
But the contra is I am not a fan of the writing style. To me, it's too plain and bland. Not enough emotion in it. But enough to tell the story to the world.
Rating : 4/5
The story sets in a city called Homs. Where the people were lived happily before the war hits the ground. People are being murdered brutally with bombs and gunfires. It was really terrifying. And this is a story of Sami.
For me, the story was very heart touching but the plot is a bit flat. I know this is based on a true story so the plot cannot be change. This is a story untold, can't do anything about the plot. But what matters is the content.
The characters are a bit many. It's quite hard for me to remember everyone's name and role. But I figured it out at the end. Sami's character development is so amazing. From a boy who wears a shirt with penguin into a strong fighter. Honestly, I cried a few times just thinking of his development. I respect him, so much ❤
But the contra is I am not a fan of the writing style. To me, it's too plain and bland. Not enough emotion in it. But enough to tell the story to the world.
Rating : 4/5