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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
3.5 Slow moving but atmospheric. This is a book with alot of moving parts.
3.5 stars. This book is incredibly poetic and tells the harrowing journey of a Syrian refugee family (fictional). While beautifully written, I did find some elements a bit too fictionalized (not in terms of the trauma of the experience but rather the chronology) and I think detailing some of the experiences in more depth would have made this more touching. I did enjoy the story of Rawiya that precedes every chapter though.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, War
Moderate: Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
2 girls, separated by centuries, one legendary and one a Syrian refugee, journey from Syria to Morocco. It is beautifully crafted. The use of maps and colors still astound me. From sea to desert, from city to deserted, this story took me on a journey that I am glad I went on.
I love all the Arabic words and since I listened to the audio, it was like being back in the Arab World.
I love all the Arabic words and since I listened to the audio, it was like being back in the Arab World.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent
The Map Of Salt And Stars By Zeyn Joukhadar
"Stories are powerful, but gather too many of the words of others in your heart and they will drown out your own."
Nour leaves her home in New York after the death of her father to move with her sisters and mother to Homs in Syria, which is the closest to her family’s idea of home.
However, when war breaks out and threatens their already fragile existence in Syria they are forced to become refugees and undertake a journey interspersed with danger in search of safety and a home.
Running alongside is the story of Rawiya, a sixteen year old girl who takes on the guise of “Rami”, a boy to work as an apprentice under Al-Idrisi, a renowned mapmaker commissioned by the King of Sicily to create a special map.
The same map which has the route that centuries later is traversed by Nour and her family, facing the unknown.
The writing style is rich, layered and interesting, even more so as Joukhadar has synesthesia, a condition that connects number, letters or experiences to become inherently colored and the character of Nour has the same beautiful observations of everything around her in vivid colored details.
I also liked that every chapter on a new country began with intriguing and fascinating lyrical prose.
The pain of losses echoes throughout the pages of this book with a glimpse of hope as the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” that leads innumerable refugees to carry on existing till they can really live someday.
As is the case with a dual narrative I preferred the present to the past which had a very folklorish mythical feel to it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
"Stories are powerful, but gather too many of the words of others in your heart and they will drown out your own."
Nour leaves her home in New York after the death of her father to move with her sisters and mother to Homs in Syria, which is the closest to her family’s idea of home.
However, when war breaks out and threatens their already fragile existence in Syria they are forced to become refugees and undertake a journey interspersed with danger in search of safety and a home.
Running alongside is the story of Rawiya, a sixteen year old girl who takes on the guise of “Rami”, a boy to work as an apprentice under Al-Idrisi, a renowned mapmaker commissioned by the King of Sicily to create a special map.
The same map which has the route that centuries later is traversed by Nour and her family, facing the unknown.
The writing style is rich, layered and interesting, even more so as Joukhadar has synesthesia, a condition that connects number, letters or experiences to become inherently colored and the character of Nour has the same beautiful observations of everything around her in vivid colored details.
I also liked that every chapter on a new country began with intriguing and fascinating lyrical prose.
The pain of losses echoes throughout the pages of this book with a glimpse of hope as the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” that leads innumerable refugees to carry on existing till they can really live someday.
As is the case with a dual narrative I preferred the present to the past which had a very folklorish mythical feel to it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I really wanted to like this more. I love pouring over maps and while both timelines featured mapmakers there wasn't much about map making. Loved looking up Al Idrisi's maps and photos of astrolabes while reading. I felt the refugee story was very glossed over.
Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. The way the author weaves the two stories together is wonderful. I admire his storytelling even more after having read the note at the end. He’s done so much research and you can tell Joukhadar’s genuinely interested in the great variety of topics that he used. The result is a great book, which I add to my list of favorites.
love, love, loved this one!
the writing!! the characters!! the parallels between the stories and places!! and ohhh the map <3
just filled my heart to its fullest <3
the writing!! the characters!! the parallels between the stories and places!! and ohhh the map <3
just filled my heart to its fullest <3
emotional
reflective
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
Moderate: Death, Violence, War
Minor: Sexual assault, Terminal illness
adventurous
emotional
fast-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