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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I almost didn't make it through this, it got a little slow about half way through. I enjoyed the 2nd half more than the first half but have a major question, which I guess counts a bit as a SPOILER -
but, why on earth would Nour's mom give her map, like a puzzle, and tell her basically, "FIGURE IT OUT." Instead of just like, telling her where to meet her if they get separated. Seems a bit of a dicey gamble, no?
but, why on earth would Nour's mom give her map, like a puzzle, and tell her basically, "FIGURE IT OUT." Instead of just like, telling her where to meet her if they get separated. Seems a bit of a dicey gamble, no?
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
the ending of this book was juuuust a little too perfect, but besides that, i LOVED it. nour is such a compelling narrator. one of the things i loved most was her relationships with people, her interactions with them, they way she formed a connection with almost every person she met, and all of them had at least a slight impact on her. anywaysss read this book if you want to be emotionally devastated on every. single. page.
What is mapmaking but the telling of stories of the lands where we have travelled and the places that have shaped us?
This is what I think about constantly as I read Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar’s The Map of Salt and Stars, a story of adventure embedded into a story of loss and escape. The main narrative, a tale of refugees forced to leave Syria when their home is destroyed, is bleak but powerfully poignant today, as populism demonizes those coming to our borders seeking refuge. The tale within the tale, of a grand mapmaking adventure, is magically mystical—but it does more than mirror the main narrative. It reminds us that we are defined by the places where we travel, where we seek shelter. Mapmaking is but a way to articulate how we have been shaped by these spaces.
— — —
One of the most powerful sentences, one that made me pause and breathe deeply, in Joukhadar’s novel is only four words long:
“I smell burnt cumin.”
How much of our memories of tragedy, of loss, of heartbreak, are hidden in these small, passing, visceral, sensory reminders? It is remarkable how a scent, word, a sound, a frisson of touch, can take us back to a time gone by. It is profound that sometimes our only way to process tragedy is through these sensory markers: they are a map to our pasts, drawn across our bodies.
( Originally published on inthemargins.ca)
This is what I think about constantly as I read Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar’s The Map of Salt and Stars, a story of adventure embedded into a story of loss and escape. The main narrative, a tale of refugees forced to leave Syria when their home is destroyed, is bleak but powerfully poignant today, as populism demonizes those coming to our borders seeking refuge. The tale within the tale, of a grand mapmaking adventure, is magically mystical—but it does more than mirror the main narrative. It reminds us that we are defined by the places where we travel, where we seek shelter. Mapmaking is but a way to articulate how we have been shaped by these spaces.
— — —
One of the most powerful sentences, one that made me pause and breathe deeply, in Joukhadar’s novel is only four words long:
“I smell burnt cumin.”
How much of our memories of tragedy, of loss, of heartbreak, are hidden in these small, passing, visceral, sensory reminders? It is remarkable how a scent, word, a sound, a frisson of touch, can take us back to a time gone by. It is profound that sometimes our only way to process tragedy is through these sensory markers: they are a map to our pasts, drawn across our bodies.
( Originally published on inthemargins.ca)
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Vomit, Colonisation
This book did take me longer to read—HOWEVER, it was a beautifully written book. I wouldn’t call it a page turner, but it has a lot of beautiful lessons about life and presents a unique perspective of the Syrian Refugee crisis. It beautifully intertwines the mysticism of the East and traditional thinking of the Western World. It’s a great book for girl POWER because it shows the challenges you can overcome from such a young age and in terrible disasters—but it also shows the very real emotions that come along with that. It has two stories that parallel each other tracking the journey, from two very different periods in history (hundreds of years ago and current time period). These two stories mirror each other as a family of women get through one of the biggest tragedies of their life. I think it’s a must read, but don’t expect to be kept on your seat—I think this book presents a lot more opportunity for reflection.
I really loved the historical and present day threads and how they wove together. Emotional and satisfying <333
Reminded me of Kubo and the Two Strings or The Secret of Kells
Reminded me of Kubo and the Two Strings or The Secret of Kells