Reviews

Here is a Body by Basma Abdel Aziz

shizlets's review

4.0

"Here is a Body" explores how an authoritarian system can wield political, social, and economic power to steer people in vastly different directions and pit them against each other. In fact, the narrative the system propagates can enslave and control both willing and unwilling participants, dividing them into "heads" and "bodies". The system aims to disempower the disenfranchised by turning them into mere "bodies" to be steered by the aligned "heads", essentially creating a dead man army to do as the system wishes.

The book contains strong ideas and allegories about power, albeit told from a couple of narrow perspectives. It remains an excellent source of important ideas about power and cooptation explained through a gripping cultural story.

ohlhauc's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

fscolli93's review

challenging dark tense medium-paced

4.75