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lou13st's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
tawallah's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
magis1105's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
2.0
Writing reviews is something I really enjoy. Not only because I like telling others about the (mostly) lovely and sometimes unknown books, but also because it gives me the time to think about what I've just read, what kind of journey I've been on, what I've learned and who I've gotten to know along the way. However, writing positive reviews is mostly much easier than writing negative ones. Because with positive reviews I enjoy those extra time with the book and the characters. With negative reviews, it's a struggle to find the right words.
And that's also what I'm struggling with in this case. I understand the intentions of this story. I understand that a lot of things that are being told and described are important for me to know. I understand that this is a YA book that shows us a part of history that is unknown to many of us and feels like long ago and far away (even though it's not THAT long ago and for sure not THAT far away). However, not once while reading this book did I feel anything.
I could never really connect to these characters. It feels like I still don't really know them, like I've been allowed to witness their lives from a distance, but have never come close and have for sure not become their friend. And in this case I think that really would have added something much needed to the story. The journey of the two girls is supposed to be quite emotional and hard and different from all the journeys we're so familiar with in YA literature. But when it doesn't touch me, when it doesn't reach my heart, the important message eventually gets lost.
It's hard to pinpoint what exactly goes wrong. One of the most important parts is that the story is described to be about two sisters on a quest to find each other, while they both do not too much searching at all. We mostly get to see how they live their lives, who they meet, how they have to struggle to get the things they love and to do the things they want to do. We meet loads of characters and people, we are shown loads of, for me, unknown cultures and rituals. But the true emotional storyline of twin sisters being separated and desperately trying to find each is not there. Even their reunion wasn't emotional at all. Nothing in the book really was to me.
And it's a pity. Because I think stories about girls like these need to be told. And I think I need to read stories about girls like these. I just think that a story written like this, where the showcasing of the beautiful African culture and the horrible history its people had to endure overshadows the plot and characters, is not gonna work for me.
And that's also what I'm struggling with in this case. I understand the intentions of this story. I understand that a lot of things that are being told and described are important for me to know. I understand that this is a YA book that shows us a part of history that is unknown to many of us and feels like long ago and far away (even though it's not THAT long ago and for sure not THAT far away). However, not once while reading this book did I feel anything.
I could never really connect to these characters. It feels like I still don't really know them, like I've been allowed to witness their lives from a distance, but have never come close and have for sure not become their friend. And in this case I think that really would have added something much needed to the story. The journey of the two girls is supposed to be quite emotional and hard and different from all the journeys we're so familiar with in YA literature. But when it doesn't touch me, when it doesn't reach my heart, the important message eventually gets lost.
It's hard to pinpoint what exactly goes wrong. One of the most important parts is that the story is described to be about two sisters on a quest to find each other, while they both do not too much searching at all. We mostly get to see how they live their lives, who they meet, how they have to struggle to get the things they love and to do the things they want to do. We meet loads of characters and people, we are shown loads of, for me, unknown cultures and rituals. But the true emotional storyline of twin sisters being separated and desperately trying to find each is not there. Even their reunion wasn't emotional at all. Nothing in the book really was to me.
And it's a pity. Because I think stories about girls like these need to be told. And I think I need to read stories about girls like these. I just think that a story written like this, where the showcasing of the beautiful African culture and the horrible history its people had to endure overshadows the plot and characters, is not gonna work for me.
africanbookaddict's review against another edition
4.0
!!! book review - https://africanbookaddict.com/2020/08/02/the-deep-blue-between-by-ayesha-harruna-attah/
solid 4 stars.
Aww, the ending was cute! This was a long journey, especially for readers of 'The Hundred Wells of Salaga' which was published in 2018, where we were first introduced to the twins - Hassana and Husseina.
sidebar - imagine the deep annoyance I felt encountering Wofa Sarpong again, at the beginning of this novel. Does anyone hate him more than me? whew...
solid 4 stars.
Aww, the ending was cute! This was a long journey, especially for readers of 'The Hundred Wells of Salaga' which was published in 2018, where we were first introduced to the twins - Hassana and Husseina.
sidebar - imagine the deep annoyance I felt encountering Wofa Sarpong again, at the beginning of this novel. Does anyone hate him more than me? whew...
toniamarieparker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
taylersimon22's review against another edition
3.0
The Deep Blue In Between is a YA love story that transcends space and consciousness. Twins, Hassana and Husseina, are tied to each other, until they are stolen from their families and separated from each other. The story follows the twins trying to find their way back to each other and fighting the deep blue rift in between them.
So, I will let you know, I do not read a book’s synopsis nine times out ten. I like to be completely surprised. I live for the thrill.
When I first started this audiobook, I thought it was going to be just another slavery. I don’t I could have taken reading a books about slavery right now; they just take a lot out of me emotionally because of the war I feel inside between guilt, shame, pride, and disgust.
I was pleased to see that they shortly find freedom, so for most of the story, the twins are grappling with how the trajectory of their lives has been drastically altered as a result of their kidnappings and time in bondage. During their time apart, Hassana and Husseina (who becomes Victoria) come to learn what it means to become their own person, yet part of them still feels missing without each other.
I liked the spin on this coming-of-age story. Twin identity seems complicated to me. I think there is a connection between twins that non-twins will just never understand. However, growing up around many twins, I saw that sometimes it hurt them to not have their own individual identities validated in the eyes of others.
You see this dynamic in The Deep Blue In Between. There is a point where Victoria wonders if she ever wants to find Hassana again. She has grown to like being her own person, but she realizes that she won’t be complete without Hassana.
The Deep Blue In Between was the first book I read that talks about slavery and the aftermath outside of the United States context. It was fascinating to read about the lingering horrors of continuing to try to sell and enslave other humans, even on the motherland. The Deep Blue In Between also gave me a glimpse of the rampant colonization and rise of white supremacy that was occurring in Africa and the diaspora in Brazil.
The Deep Blue In Between had scenes full of rich color, from the ocean to people of all shades. I think seeing so much of the depth in color really made the story come alive.
One thing I didn’t like as much was that I felt like there was a lack of differentiation between the voices of Hassana and Victoria. I knew which chapter I was reading because of the different settings and characters featured at the time. When they were in their perspective, their voices felt too similar. It almost felt like the same person was going through alternate universes. Which might have been the point, but I felt like it took away from the emphasis of finding themselves and then finding each other.
Overall, this book was magical. Getting to experience the culture through food, dancing, and community was amazing. Hassana and Victoria aren’t the only ones connected, as we are all connected throughout the diaspora.
So, I will let you know, I do not read a book’s synopsis nine times out ten. I like to be completely surprised. I live for the thrill.
When I first started this audiobook, I thought it was going to be just another slavery. I don’t I could have taken reading a books about slavery right now; they just take a lot out of me emotionally because of the war I feel inside between guilt, shame, pride, and disgust.
I was pleased to see that they shortly find freedom, so for most of the story, the twins are grappling with how the trajectory of their lives has been drastically altered as a result of their kidnappings and time in bondage. During their time apart, Hassana and Husseina (who becomes Victoria) come to learn what it means to become their own person, yet part of them still feels missing without each other.
I liked the spin on this coming-of-age story. Twin identity seems complicated to me. I think there is a connection between twins that non-twins will just never understand. However, growing up around many twins, I saw that sometimes it hurt them to not have their own individual identities validated in the eyes of others.
You see this dynamic in The Deep Blue In Between. There is a point where Victoria wonders if she ever wants to find Hassana again. She has grown to like being her own person, but she realizes that she won’t be complete without Hassana.
The Deep Blue In Between was the first book I read that talks about slavery and the aftermath outside of the United States context. It was fascinating to read about the lingering horrors of continuing to try to sell and enslave other humans, even on the motherland. The Deep Blue In Between also gave me a glimpse of the rampant colonization and rise of white supremacy that was occurring in Africa and the diaspora in Brazil.
The Deep Blue In Between had scenes full of rich color, from the ocean to people of all shades. I think seeing so much of the depth in color really made the story come alive.
One thing I didn’t like as much was that I felt like there was a lack of differentiation between the voices of Hassana and Victoria. I knew which chapter I was reading because of the different settings and characters featured at the time. When they were in their perspective, their voices felt too similar. It almost felt like the same person was going through alternate universes. Which might have been the point, but I felt like it took away from the emphasis of finding themselves and then finding each other.
Overall, this book was magical. Getting to experience the culture through food, dancing, and community was amazing. Hassana and Victoria aren’t the only ones connected, as we are all connected throughout the diaspora.
analuisadrv's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pomegranateicecream's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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
3.75
hiitssimone's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5