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lisamarie2005's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
tararoi_'s review against another edition
4.0
a heartwarming, bite-sized story that has left me wanting for more, which i read on a train journey.
it reads so simple but surely, it has meaning.
it has to do hardships, learning and understanding among people. it has to do with migration, identity and belonging. It is about finding strength when facing problems. (and all this is packed into that little short story).
4/5 stars for now!
I'm hoping to read it again and gain a better understanding :)
it reads so simple but surely, it has meaning.
it has to do hardships, learning and understanding among people. it has to do with migration, identity and belonging. It is about finding strength when facing problems. (and all this is packed into that little short story).
4/5 stars for now!
I'm hoping to read it again and gain a better understanding :)
bookyberrybridge's review
funny
informative
reflective
fast-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
4.25
zaccry's review
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
janinagnes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
malinse's review
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
katykelly's review
4.0
Would have loved to read more of this.
This short story isn't really at all about the embassy, anyone who goes in there, anything that happens there.
It's about a woman who passes the embassy each week on the way to a swimming pool, using her employer's guest pass. Fatou is an unpaid overworked cleaner/childcarer who is just trying to survive. The 69 short pages barely scratch the surface on her life, there is scope for much more.
Hard to review such a short tale but did enough reading it and the quality of Smith's writing.
This short story isn't really at all about the embassy, anyone who goes in there, anything that happens there.
It's about a woman who passes the embassy each week on the way to a swimming pool, using her employer's guest pass. Fatou is an unpaid overworked cleaner/childcarer who is just trying to survive. The 69 short pages barely scratch the surface on her life, there is scope for much more.
Hard to review such a short tale but did enough reading it and the quality of Smith's writing.
notyourvegetable's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
meganoh's review
5.0
Delicious and nutritious! This novella manages to pack so many layers and questions into a succinct narrative. Smith concisely encapsulates so many themes: the plight of foreign domestic workers, how we grapple with the history of our own country and others that seem far removed, what constitutes as racism and what is simply ignorance, religion, power, and perspective. Will be thinking about this one for a while, highly recommend!!!
minxy's review
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5