Reviews

The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist by Emile Habiby

izzy_feen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

jlyons's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny fast-paced

3.75

waniasajid's review

adventurous challenging dark funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

aegireads's review

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Police brutality, Mental illness, Islamophobia, Genocide, War, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

lisa_savage's review against another edition

5.0

If you loved Candide by Voltaire you owe it to yourself to read this book. The author has created a Palestinian anti-hero of epic proportions, a protagonist so hemmed in by the Israeli occupation and his attempts to placate it at every turn that the story is a classic of hilarious tragedy.

I liked this book so much that I set it down for a couple of months and then read the whole thing again.

Gratitude to the translator!

kaaatieball's review

challenging 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

1.25

lillowo's review

challenging emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book was a challenging read. I don't know if it was because of translation soley or if the writing was also confusing. It was a challenge to follow the plot fully either way. 

What I did understand was interesting and complex and also did wonders to highlight more about the atrocities done against the Palistinian people's. 

There was also somewhat questionable portrial of disability in this book. It was complex and layered but seeped in violence either way. It was interesting to analyze. 

kingkong's review

3.0

It is cool conceptually

amber_unabridged's review

3.0

The story was compelling, however there were many geographical and historical references I was unfamiliar with, and I wasn't able to fully enjoy the book.

jelliestars's review

challenging dark funny reflective sad fast-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? Yes

3.25

Feel like a lot of the meaning is missed if you are reading the English translation.