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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
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:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
i like how it was intergenerational which allowed me to understand the complexities of navigating identity and politics in the diaspora (perpetual…)
I read this book for a class, and I'd honestly forgotten how much I missed reading good fiction. This was a quality book, and it captured the sense of how in the midst of the Palestine conflict, while things are still being hashed out and going wrong and remaining unresolved, families are growing and living and dying, perpetually separated from their homes (sometimes even their second or third homes) by one conflict or another.
The prose was beautiful and evocative; the descriptions made me want to fall back into writing fiction again.
When I started this book, I noticed that one spread was dedicated to a family tree. I was apprehensive at first, because taking on too many characters can bog down a story. But even though there were multiple generations and multiple people in each generation who took turns telling the story, I managed to distinguish and care about all of them. Towards the end of the book, when one character had become old, it was unbelievable to me that they had some hours ago been introduced to me as a toddler, which I think speaks to how well Alyan drew me into the world she was creating on the page.
I'd say this was the best book I've read in a while. Granted, I haven't read that much lately, but that doesn't diminish the praise I'd award it.
The prose was beautiful and evocative; the descriptions made me want to fall back into writing fiction again.
When I started this book, I noticed that one spread was dedicated to a family tree. I was apprehensive at first, because taking on too many characters can bog down a story. But even though there were multiple generations and multiple people in each generation who took turns telling the story, I managed to distinguish and care about all of them. Towards the end of the book, when one character had become old, it was unbelievable to me that they had some hours ago been introduced to me as a toddler, which I think speaks to how well Alyan drew me into the world she was creating on the page.
I'd say this was the best book I've read in a while. Granted, I haven't read that much lately, but that doesn't diminish the praise I'd award it.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Two and a half stars from me. To be clear: this is not my usual fare. But someone recommended it to me, so an attempt was made. And in the end, it was okay. Still not my cup of tea, and it's not likely to make me change my fantasy plot-driven ways, but enjoyable for what it was.
It's the story of a family told through almost every individual, across generations. You follow them from place to place, and watch them navigate their complicated lives. But, as is often the case in family dramas...the problems often feel petty and angsty compared to the actual events occurring. The book is strongest when it views war through its children's characters' eyes, as they have a difficult time understanding why they have limitations--but the rest of the time, it's a lot of bickering and fighting and complaining about how people aren't what you expected.
I was always much more interested in the historical drama occurring in the background. Any time the story started getting compelling, though, the plot would jump forward another couple years and we would be in another character's head.
It's poetic and often times delightful. I just wish it hadn't meandered quite so much. Some sections seemed unnecessary, while others could have used more. But that's life. It isn't always clean and interesting. Usually it's messy and ugly. So, I enjoyed it well enough. Would I recommend it? Ehhhh. If a slow family drama is your cup, go forth and drink it in--but take it slowly.
It's the story of a family told through almost every individual, across generations. You follow them from place to place, and watch them navigate their complicated lives. But, as is often the case in family dramas...the problems often feel petty and angsty compared to the actual events occurring. The book is strongest when it views war through its children's characters' eyes, as they have a difficult time understanding why they have limitations--but the rest of the time, it's a lot of bickering and fighting and complaining about how people aren't what you expected.
I was always much more interested in the historical drama occurring in the background. Any time the story started getting compelling, though, the plot would jump forward another couple years and we would be in another character's head.
It's poetic and often times delightful. I just wish it hadn't meandered quite so much. Some sections seemed unnecessary, while others could have used more. But that's life. It isn't always clean and interesting. Usually it's messy and ugly. So, I enjoyed it well enough. Would I recommend it? Ehhhh. If a slow family drama is your cup, go forth and drink it in--but take it slowly.
