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kristianawithak's review against another edition
4.0
Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi writes a spellbinding dreamlike novel that casted a spell over me. I was enthralled and captivate. The promise of becoming fluent in any language in 10 days is at the heart of the plot. But a lot is being said about people, cultures, and how we consume information.
Anisa Ellahi is a Pakistani translator in London. Her long term relationship with her boyfriend becomes even more strained when he becomes fluent in Urdu seemingly overnight. His language skills are unparalleled and when applied to her own language she is incensed. Adam eventually tells her of the language school he uses.
As Anisa becomes the type of translator she always dreamed of being, she confronts the price of her knowledge, the relationships she’s been involved with, and her complicity in the system that granted her newfound skills.
While the novel gets a little meta at the end, which is not my cup of tea, the overall novel is so well done I can forgive its ending. It works within the novel.
The interview with the author at the end of the audiobook was especially enlightening and a wonderful addition to the novel. In an interview with Powell’s she says,
“On the other hand, it’s a good thing that we are becoming more aware, now, of the problematic elements of the books we were reading at such formative ages, and that we are starting to revisit [the books we read] with a more critical gaze, to untangle the effects on our psyche from the racist, ableist, patriarchal, and classist currents in the books we consumed as children.”
This idea of the classics being questioned and revisited is also at the heart of the novel. The Centre had me gasping in shock toward the end. I really thought I knew where it was going and I was completely surprised and taken aback.
What’s a book you’ve revisited with new eyes?
Anisa Ellahi is a Pakistani translator in London. Her long term relationship with her boyfriend becomes even more strained when he becomes fluent in Urdu seemingly overnight. His language skills are unparalleled and when applied to her own language she is incensed. Adam eventually tells her of the language school he uses.
As Anisa becomes the type of translator she always dreamed of being, she confronts the price of her knowledge, the relationships she’s been involved with, and her complicity in the system that granted her newfound skills.
While the novel gets a little meta at the end, which is not my cup of tea, the overall novel is so well done I can forgive its ending. It works within the novel.
The interview with the author at the end of the audiobook was especially enlightening and a wonderful addition to the novel. In an interview with Powell’s she says,
“On the other hand, it’s a good thing that we are becoming more aware, now, of the problematic elements of the books we were reading at such formative ages, and that we are starting to revisit [the books we read] with a more critical gaze, to untangle the effects on our psyche from the racist, ableist, patriarchal, and classist currents in the books we consumed as children.”
This idea of the classics being questioned and revisited is also at the heart of the novel. The Centre had me gasping in shock toward the end. I really thought I knew where it was going and I was completely surprised and taken aback.
What’s a book you’ve revisited with new eyes?
fernzommu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kati_armstrong's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
It was just ok. A little predictable.
martindavidharp's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
adlang's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
misa_pisa's review against another edition
2.0
The build up was thrilling and the voice was vibrant but I don’t feel like this said much or argued any specific or substantial point
kayri687's review against another edition
4.0
read pretty quickly
maybe I'll come back and add other thoughts. i felt like there were a few loose ends not tied up. also who the Fuck is Conrad?
maybe I'll come back and add other thoughts. i felt like there were a few loose ends not tied up. also who the Fuck is Conrad?
sarahtsg333reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was disappointed in this book. It felt nearly all major plot points were in the book blurb. I kept waiting for more to happen. In the last 1/4 or 1/3, there were some additional developments, but it felt too late in the story
thech4nclan's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Toxic relationship
kk_47's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
had a hard time wrapping my head around some of the main character’s choices. Was still a fun ride, but the ending felt too abrupt for me