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deecreatenola's review
4.0
This is a New Orleans story. And it's a Syrian story. I wouldn't have thought to put those two things together, but they work so well here in Ramadan Ramsey.
Everything in the New Orleans part of the story is spot on. Edwards captures life in the Crescent City, especially life in the Tremé neighborhood. It's harsh and heartbreaking and also loving and heartwarming. Our main character (who isn't even born when we start) is loved intensely by his grandmother, Mama Joon. The city is portrayed perfectly, warts and all, but also great beauty and joy.
Then it becomes something of an adventure story for 12-year-old Ramadan. Some of this stretches disbelief but it's worth suspending for the sake of a good story. The story and the situations are touching - Ramadan meets kind people almost everywhere he goes - but it's never cloying or twee.
The story ends with a resolution for Ramadan - but you want more, you want to know what comes next.
It's a beautiful book. My one critique, an unusual one for me, is that the author is very, very descriptive. He writes beautifully...but goes on a little long at times in his descriptions (and I love descriptive writing!). But it's also lovely to read someone who crafts his language and uses metaphors that ring true.
Louis Edwards is an author to watch!
Everything in the New Orleans part of the story is spot on. Edwards captures life in the Crescent City, especially life in the Tremé neighborhood. It's harsh and heartbreaking and also loving and heartwarming. Our main character (who isn't even born when we start) is loved intensely by his grandmother, Mama Joon. The city is portrayed perfectly, warts and all, but also great beauty and joy.
Then it becomes something of an adventure story for 12-year-old Ramadan. Some of this stretches disbelief but it's worth suspending for the sake of a good story. The story and the situations are touching - Ramadan meets kind people almost everywhere he goes - but it's never cloying or twee.
The story ends with a resolution for Ramadan - but you want more, you want to know what comes next.
It's a beautiful book. My one critique, an unusual one for me, is that the author is very, very descriptive. He writes beautifully...but goes on a little long at times in his descriptions (and I love descriptive writing!). But it's also lovely to read someone who crafts his language and uses metaphors that ring true.
Louis Edwards is an author to watch!
quillathe_23's review
4.0
3.5⭐ rounded up. I felt like the metaphors towards the beginning were distracting and derailed me from the story. I felt like it was a pretty good story overall, it moved quickly and held my interest. There was certainly a fictitious feel to many of the plot points, but again it held my interest. I did feel like the ending was kind of rushed and incomplete. I want to know the rest! What happened after all this?!
sci_mom's review
4.0
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. Knowing the premise of this book, I was somewhat skeptical about how this story was going to play out. But, I've known a fair number of intelligent and precocious 12-year-olds, so I was willing to suspend my disbelief about Ramadan's adventures. Then I started actually reading. This story was more along the lines of a parable or folktale and if you approach it with that in mind, it is really a remarkably beautiful novel. While the ending did feel a little rushed, I decided it made sense given that it was such a small part of his young life and that his life in NOLA should include more detail and depth. Overall, I was enthralled with the story and the philosophical way it was told.
ferris_mx's review
3.0
Tries too hard. The linguistic tricks detract from the story. The explanation of the complex thought process of infants was too twee.
goldxnapplxs's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Adding to the list of books that made me cry this year 😭
The author has a very Toni Morrison-esque way of describing his characters, giving backstory on them that helps readers understand their actions in the novel. I found this endearing, as I am a Morrison fan, and it helps make the characters more three dimensional.
There were some times when I wish the character descriptions were a bit shorter, and some that could’ve been removed altogether, but overall, it was a wonderful story.
The author has a very Toni Morrison-esque way of describing his characters, giving backstory on them that helps readers understand their actions in the novel. I found this endearing, as I am a Morrison fan, and it helps make the characters more three dimensional.
There were some times when I wish the character descriptions were a bit shorter, and some that could’ve been removed altogether, but overall, it was a wonderful story.
prairiegirlreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
Style and of the novel wasn’t my favourite and not capturing my attention.
aryiana's review
I couldn’t really get into the book and I was losing focus while reading
hyac1nthgirl's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
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
2.75
though i loved ramadan's journey, both emotional & physical, throughout this book, it was a bit too slow paced & the writing was very flowery.