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geve_'s review against another edition
2.0
I really didn't get this book. Maybe it was the translation, I just didn't enjoy this or get much from it. It felt like a real oversimplification of the pretty complex situation, but it is also told by a girl. Am I to read it as if it's a child with a child's understanding? I dunno, I'm still an adult and it was presumably written for an adult audience.
I had a hard time following the story, it really meandered without ever being interesting or deep or complex. The characters felt pretty superficial.
Also, this felt a little bit like an intentional work. Not like an idea that just had to be written, but like something that was written in the framework of several other famous works, but with its creator failing to realize what made those books special.
I had a hard time following the story, it really meandered without ever being interesting or deep or complex. The characters felt pretty superficial.
Also, this felt a little bit like an intentional work. Not like an idea that just had to be written, but like something that was written in the framework of several other famous works, but with its creator failing to realize what made those books special.
theresaemig's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
dzsossz's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 As I started this book I mentioned it to an Iranian colleague. He mentioned that much Iranian writing coming out of the diaspora is focused on the pain and suffering under the current regime rather than being representative of Iranian literature. This was the case and rather made me frustrated with the book at the start, though did open my eyes to things that were unknown to me. After the first third it became more mystical and reminded me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and I rather liked the Persian connection to folk tales, including stories of djinns. I also enjoyed the non-linear story telling and the following of each member of the family. It was a bit disjointed in places but I’d recommend it all the same.
norcgr01's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A truly beautiful story of family, revolution, magic, love, and peace.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
bookswithboo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hanntastic's review against another edition
4.0
Global Read 138: Iran
I see I'm not the only reviewer who was reminded of 100 Years of Solitude while reading this book. I've read a lot of magic realism, so it isn't just that they are the same genre, it was really similar in a lot of ways, which was fine with me since I loved 100 Years. Iranian folklore was beautifully interwoven into the narrative, and I loved the way it was not just about a family, and other townspeople got to have beautiful stories as well. Obviously it is incredibly depressing, but I thought really good.
I see I'm not the only reviewer who was reminded of 100 Years of Solitude while reading this book. I've read a lot of magic realism, so it isn't just that they are the same genre, it was really similar in a lot of ways, which was fine with me since I loved 100 Years. Iranian folklore was beautifully interwoven into the narrative, and I loved the way it was not just about a family, and other townspeople got to have beautiful stories as well. Obviously it is incredibly depressing, but I thought really good.
emp2707's review against another edition
3.0
Extremely poetically written book about one family’s navigation of the time after the Islamic revolution.
What makes it even more gut wrenching is the fact that it is narrated by the ghost of the youngest child, Bahar.
However, this book deals with death as an extension of life, rather than it being an end.
‘We dead are the sorrowful side of life, while the living are the joyful side of death.’
It is true in this book that actually some of the happier moments come following a characters worldly death.
I will say the writing style took a bit for me to get my head around, didn’t realise until reading some of the reviews that it is ‘magical realism’ which I found a bit hard to understand. Definitely feels like the type of book you might get more from in a second read?
What makes it even more gut wrenching is the fact that it is narrated by the ghost of the youngest child, Bahar.
However, this book deals with death as an extension of life, rather than it being an end.
‘We dead are the sorrowful side of life, while the living are the joyful side of death.’
It is true in this book that actually some of the happier moments come following a characters worldly death.
I will say the writing style took a bit for me to get my head around, didn’t realise until reading some of the reviews that it is ‘magical realism’ which I found a bit hard to understand. Definitely feels like the type of book you might get more from in a second read?
mikefloydau's review against another edition
3.0
Gave up half way through. Interesting at first, especially the historical aspects about the Iranian revolution and its aftermath. But veered off into fairytale land too much for my liking