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starringandrea's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-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
5.0
lanagabriela99's review
5.0
A masterpiece. A novel that contains everything I love about fiction and what I'd like to see more of. Without a doubt, this will be the best book I'll read this year. The prose was exquisite and due credit should be given to both the author and the translator for such beautiful writing. If anything, I'd learn Italian in order to read the original, because this was simply spectacular.
majvi's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jaclyn_sixminutesforme's review
3.0
I was really moved by the various perspectives in BEYOND BABYLON - the trauma of conflict, immigration, social and cultural expectations of women and women’s bodies... I feel like this book did so much and from multiple (mostly female) perspectives too! Admittedly there were moments midway through the novel that I felt a little lost amongst these perspectives as they continued to alternate (particularly the two half-sisters), though I did feel like this eased and they came together more as the narrative tapered. That said, this was a literary joy to read, full of gorgeous prose and explorations of identity at the intersections of so many of the narratives themes. Well worth a read particularly if you’re planning your TBR for August and #womenintranslation month. Many thanks to @two_lines_press for sending a copy my way to review.
candelibri's review
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
emzireads's review
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Sexual violence, and Genocide
Moderate: Addiction, Eating disorder, and Suicide
tictactoney's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Lots of meditative, melancholy women in this book, which normally is 100% my thing, but I had a really hard time connecting with these characters. The writing is gorgeous and the descriptions are lush, but I never felt like I was fully engrossed.
dreesreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5 narrators. 2 mothers. 2 daughters. The father.
This novel is about women’s traumas and how they affect the following generation(s). But daughters also have hidden traumas—mothers blame themselves for things that are actually not entirely their fault.
This novel is about women’s traumas and how they affect the following generation(s). But daughters also have hidden traumas—mothers blame themselves for things that are actually not entirely their fault.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Abortion, Murder, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Rape
This book is about trauma and it gets all the content warnings.