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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
A magical book with a very human heart. The language is beautiful and though the subject matter of people displaced from their home by violence is a dark one, and difficult things happen, it never becomes cynical or unbearable.
Ahhh … the many definitions of “home” … and the journey to find it, to feel it, to honor, embrace, and celebrate HOME.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book follows the journey of two Syrian girls separated by 800 years as they struggle to find safety, the people they meet and the things that the see /experience along their ways.
Beautifully written and full of stories
Beautifully written and full of stories
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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
I’m simply not connecting with it. And for an audiobook, I’m having an incredibly difficult time paying attention to the story so I’m not fully taking it in which isn’t fair.
This is one of the best books I've read in a while. I was thirsting for a mythological/fictitious story taking place in the Arab world as a way to escape the realities and horrors affecting my homeland the last several years, and I came upon this book.
Nour, the main protagonist, also was desperate for a fantastical escape to the harsh realities of her experience, and through that masterfully told Rawiya's story. I was struck with the expectation that, life in the middle east right now, should be better than it was 800 years ago, and throughout Nour's chapters I found myself aching for a break, and to read about Rawiya's adventures through mapmaking and discovery. Fighting grand beasts and overcoming so many barriers.
These stories were interwoven seamlessly and were a fantastic parallel to each other. I highly recommend this book, and Zeyn Joukhadar has a new fan.
Nour, the main protagonist, also was desperate for a fantastical escape to the harsh realities of her experience, and through that masterfully told Rawiya's story. I was struck with the expectation that, life in the middle east right now, should be better than it was 800 years ago, and throughout Nour's chapters I found myself aching for a break, and to read about Rawiya's adventures through mapmaking and discovery. Fighting grand beasts and overcoming so many barriers.
These stories were interwoven seamlessly and were a fantastic parallel to each other. I highly recommend this book, and Zeyn Joukhadar has a new fan.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
The prose in this book is like a living thing. And I wanted to crawl in it’s lap and stay forever.
adventurous
mysterious
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
Painful story of a family fleeing the war in Syria and the hardships they face on a trek across North Africa, juxtaposed with a historical account of a medieval mapmaking expedition along the same route. The stories are rich with symbolism and beautiful language, which occasionally verges on flowery. The author's poems at the start of each section were especially lovely and meaningful.
I felt most connected to the timely and realistic refugee experiences. The historical section, while also interesting, gave surprisingly little insight into the art of mapmaking; and I felt it went a bit too far into the realm of the Arabian Nights, with not only an attack by a roc but also a battle with giant snakes and some implausible feats with a slingshot. Still, a fine novel about the Middle East, past and present.
I felt most connected to the timely and realistic refugee experiences. The historical section, while also interesting, gave surprisingly little insight into the art of mapmaking; and I felt it went a bit too far into the realm of the Arabian Nights, with not only an attack by a roc but also a battle with giant snakes and some implausible feats with a slingshot. Still, a fine novel about the Middle East, past and present.