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takumo_n's review against another edition
4.0
A Lebanese woman in her seventies dyes her hair blue, translate great works of literature into arabic from the french and english since she was in her twenties, sees how Beirut is changing. Reminisce about different wars throughout the twentieth century, about her only friend Hannah who killed herself, about her good for nothing impotent husband, about when she used to work in a library, about her abusive mother and stepfather and older stepbrother, about the time that stepbrother tried to bully her into leaving her deceased husband's aparment, because it was a bigger than his, about the time she exchange sex for an automatic rifle with the guy her parents wanted to force her to marry years ago. She talks about her favorite writers and poets, her process of translating. The fact that she doesn't want her senile mother living with her, but goes to visit and cleans her fungi ridden feet. Or when the apartment starts flooding and her neighbours, who she doesn't particularly likes, help her dry the pages of her translations out, and she has to admit that she's been doing this for fifty years just as a whim. And everything is so gripping and entertaining. The main character has a great sense of irony, and an interesting view of the world.
becann's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is incredibly melancholy in a really impactful way. The stories told throughout leave blanks within the narrator’s story, but somehow it doesn’t feel incomplete
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
emmachaldecott's review against another edition
Didn’t enjoy this at all. Incredibly slow and boring. Gave up after a long slog!!
calla91's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
100reads's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It’s about a woman who reads a lot of books and also translates them but not for commercial purposes, just for fun; a hobby. I enjoyed it, it’s informative and relaxing, will reread.
eliisvaino's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
melissaalgood's review against another edition
3.0
There’s no real story-it’s more a love letter to literature told through the life of one woman who’s obsessed with books. I did find the prose quite beautiful, but I was kind of bored.
chloe_spencer1800's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
nickstarr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0