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bywell's review
5.0
Hands down, the best book I read this year.
Written in the second person, Hamid wastes no words telling the full story of a man’s life in two hundred and forty delicious pages. We do not learn the protagonists name (you) or that of his girlfriend (the pretty girl) or where in Asia they live, but we do learn a path to success and how one man has lived his life.
The twelve chapters provide the framework - Move to the City; Get an Education; Don’t Fall in Love; Avoid Idealists; Learn from a Master; Work for Yourself; Be Prepared to Use Violence; Befriend a Bureaucrat; Patronize the Artists of War; Dance with Debt; Focus on the Fundamentals; and Have an Exit Strategy.
While some may find the voice and the structure difficult, I found it to be comfortable and comforting. Being one step removed allowed me to worry less about our hero’s struggles and enjoy his life’s story all the more.
Written in the second person, Hamid wastes no words telling the full story of a man’s life in two hundred and forty delicious pages. We do not learn the protagonists name (you) or that of his girlfriend (the pretty girl) or where in Asia they live, but we do learn a path to success and how one man has lived his life.
The twelve chapters provide the framework - Move to the City; Get an Education; Don’t Fall in Love; Avoid Idealists; Learn from a Master; Work for Yourself; Be Prepared to Use Violence; Befriend a Bureaucrat; Patronize the Artists of War; Dance with Debt; Focus on the Fundamentals; and Have an Exit Strategy.
While some may find the voice and the structure difficult, I found it to be comfortable and comforting. Being one step removed allowed me to worry less about our hero’s struggles and enjoy his life’s story all the more.
nicoleplec's review
dark
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.0
janiswong's review
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A fantastic re-read, I loved the second person writing and narration as it brought the book to life in its form and allowed me to reminisce. Stunning prose by Hamid.
lottie1803's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sushizhan's review against another edition
4.0
I knew it was going to be sad in the end but I read it anyway. Totally worth it tho.
ali_bali_bee's review
challenging
funny
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
4.5
teresaalice's review
5.0
Quirky writing that takes time to get used to, but the dry humor and very real personalities really sucked me in.
botanigal's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
hornefja's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0