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salma_175's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Islamophobia
nehariaz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Having LOVED the Pakistani drama, Alif, I had high hopes. But in this book, Sufism was favoured upon Islam, almost showing that it’s wrong. Shafak’s writing is beautiful & spiritual, how she wove together the 40 rules in the different stories & characters is applaudable. Ella’s POV bordered a soap drama but the latter (infidelity😬) romance made up for it. I wasn’t too interested in her weight gain, cheating husband or intimate emails, and skipped some of her chapters. Shams was an amazing character, but I don’t understand why he turned Kimya down. Desert Rose the Harlot always had the most touching storyline and quotes. Rumi’s transformation from a preacher to poet, a scholar to Sufi, all have inspired me to pick up his poetry. This reflective piece certainly encourages one to embark on their jihad-al nafs, to lose one’s ego and find love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Death
Minor: Addiction
lucie437's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
quite contrasting elements, a lot of love and harmony but just as much hate and misunderstandingraelin's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think this is a book I would love to revisit at some point when I am in a different mood. I read this for book club and my head just wasn’t in a space to absorb the full message.
I enjoyed Rumi/Shams story so much more than the Ella story. I honestly probably could have done without it. Her story felt very brushed over and undeveloped. We heard more about the dishes she made for dinner than what was happening with her relationship with her kids, especially her younger daughter with an ED.
I am interested in reading more from Elif after reading this and watching a couple of interviews with her.
I enjoyed Rumi/Shams story so much more than the Ella story. I honestly probably could have done without it. Her story felt very brushed over and undeveloped. We heard more about the dishes she made for dinner than what was happening with her relationship with her kids, especially her younger daughter with an ED.
I am interested in reading more from Elif after reading this and watching a couple of interviews with her.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
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