Scan barcode
manonpalmer's review against another edition
3.0
Picture this: it is hot, all you can see is the desert around you, and you are soooo thirsty. You have had no water in three days and your whole throat hurts. This is what Nora feels like. The year is 1893, and she lives in Amargo, in the Arizona territory. Her husband has been gone for too long on his way to fetch water. Her two older sons are gone looking for their father. All she has left are an old lady, her youngest son Toby, her niece Josie, and her ghosts.
On the other hand, we have Lurie. He is Turkish, and an outlaw. His many adventures have left him with different wants: the wants of the ghosts he's seen along the way. So he roams the land with his fellow cameleers, going nowhere without the want for water or trinkets.
This is a story of the life inland. This remote America, far from any water, food or people, is being slowly annihilated by the likes of Merrion Crace and his big Stock Association. What does it take to survive in this desert? Aren't we all haunted by the ghosts of our past? Intertwining American history and fiction, Téa Obreht tries to answer these questions.
On my part, this is only a 3 star out of 5. The characters were supposed to be linked by destiny, and I did not find what I was really looking for, as it felt like reading two parallel stories that never crossed. Nora's character was very well developed, her inner thoughts, memories and feelings were passionating to read ; but I did not find the same depth in Lurie. I can't say the book was unpleasant to read, because it was quite alright. But this is sadly a book I'm most likely going to forget. For another American outlaw book, I'd recommend Outlawed by Anna North instead, as it had more depth to it. I wanted to be enthralled by it, but I couldn't find it in my heart to root for this book. On the other hand, the novel approaches the question of the transformation of America with an interesting perspective, along with themes of immigration, Native American people's place, and secrets.
You should read this if you enjoy: military history of the US, superstitions, cowboyish stories, relationships between animals and their riders, struggling characters.
On the other hand, we have Lurie. He is Turkish, and an outlaw. His many adventures have left him with different wants: the wants of the ghosts he's seen along the way. So he roams the land with his fellow cameleers, going nowhere without the want for water or trinkets.
This is a story of the life inland. This remote America, far from any water, food or people, is being slowly annihilated by the likes of Merrion Crace and his big Stock Association. What does it take to survive in this desert? Aren't we all haunted by the ghosts of our past? Intertwining American history and fiction, Téa Obreht tries to answer these questions.
On my part, this is only a 3 star out of 5. The characters were supposed to be linked by destiny, and I did not find what I was really looking for, as it felt like reading two parallel stories that never crossed. Nora's character was very well developed, her inner thoughts, memories and feelings were passionating to read ; but I did not find the same depth in Lurie. I can't say the book was unpleasant to read, because it was quite alright. But this is sadly a book I'm most likely going to forget. For another American outlaw book, I'd recommend Outlawed by Anna North instead, as it had more depth to it. I wanted to be enthralled by it, but I couldn't find it in my heart to root for this book. On the other hand, the novel approaches the question of the transformation of America with an interesting perspective, along with themes of immigration, Native American people's place, and secrets.
You should read this if you enjoy: military history of the US, superstitions, cowboyish stories, relationships between animals and their riders, struggling characters.
p3ach's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the lyrical prose and how the two main characters ended up meeting, however it was like a long waterless ride in the desert to get to that point. How fitting! 3.5/5
_rusalka's review against another edition
2.0
My favourite bit about this book was the camel. Majority of the characters were unlikable, the story was plodding and long. I left this book for a bit as a library book came through, and I had to actively drag myself to come back to it and through it.
The story was not inherently bad, and in parts interesting. I just didn't overly care except for one or two supporting characters (Hi Jolly/Hadi Jahli as an example. And Bourke the camel). And it just kept. going. I just needed a book set in Arizona.
Disappointing as I have had Obreht's book [b:The Tiger's Wife|8366402|The Tiger's Wife|Téa Obreht|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1382570044l/8366402._SY75_.jpg|13221524] on my physical shelf for nearly 15 years now, but I am thinking twice about picking it up unfortunately.
The story was not inherently bad, and in parts interesting. I just didn't overly care except for one or two supporting characters (Hi Jolly/Hadi Jahli as an example. And Bourke the camel). And it just kept. going. I just needed a book set in Arizona.
Disappointing as I have had Obreht's book [b:The Tiger's Wife|8366402|The Tiger's Wife|Téa Obreht|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1382570044l/8366402._SY75_.jpg|13221524] on my physical shelf for nearly 15 years now, but I am thinking twice about picking it up unfortunately.
aubreybrooke's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
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
joyousreads132's review against another edition
2.0
Not into Western at all so I don't know why I thought I would enjoy this.
myza's review against another edition
DNF at 33%.
I couldn’t get into the book and decided to put it down.
I couldn’t get into the book and decided to put it down.
zoef's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
pearloz's review against another edition
5.0
What a weird, interesting, well-written, deeply-engrossing novel. I bought the book based on the author alone and did my best not to even read a synopsis, so I had not expected a either or quasi-western, nor the deep dive into the brief and wonderful history of the Camel Corps.
Nora's half of the book I found deeply compelling and engaging--I lived in every moment which was a treat as it seems every moment of approximately 2 or 3 days was explored and turned over and reviewed. The story of her all-but-physical infidelity, the story of her missing husband and sons, the psychic niece, the boy Toby, gramma, Crace...all of it coalesced into a satisfying conclusion.
Nora's half of the book I found deeply compelling and engaging--I lived in every moment which was a treat as it seems every moment of approximately 2 or 3 days was explored and turned over and reviewed. The story of her all-but-physical infidelity, the story of her missing husband and sons, the psychic niece, the boy Toby, gramma, Crace...all of it coalesced into a satisfying conclusion.
flannery512's review against another edition
3.0
This was a slow read for me, but the last 100 pages picked up. I preferred her first book more/it was way more interesting to me.