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fionayin's review against another edition
5.0
“Discovering love is like seeing a bouquet floating down a river. You have to catch it at the right time, or the river will sweep it away; it won’t wait for long. You have only a few intense, mad moments to give voice to your profound desires.”
“In the face of a meaningless death, hanging on to the self becomes a task as sacred as it is selfish.”
“In war, death is blind. It never stops to look at its victims.”
“In the face of a meaningless death, hanging on to the self becomes a task as sacred as it is selfish.”
“In war, death is blind. It never stops to look at its victims.”
addi_freeman's review against another edition
1.0
Wanted a moving story about three siblings carrying out their father’s final wish. Got a story that reminds me why I don’t reach for books written by men. I think I’d rather be in a van with a decaying body than read how a man writes about women/sex/relationships.
sunrays118's review against another edition
3.0
If you are wanting to read a typical book with a hero and a change for the better, this might not be your book.
This is more of an engrossing look at death, compromise, and futility.
The characters are difficult to like though quite relatable. The story takes place in a rather short period of three days which condenses the tension substantially. Images of the war are placed strategically and with a careful, light touch that adds to the bleakness of the novel.
This short read is worthwhile but not life-changing.
One quick note about the translation: the translator's overuse of "skulk" was grating.
This is more of an engrossing look at death, compromise, and futility.
The characters are difficult to like though quite relatable. The story takes place in a rather short period of three days which condenses the tension substantially. Images of the war are placed strategically and with a careful, light touch that adds to the bleakness of the novel.
This short read is worthwhile but not life-changing.
One quick note about the translation: the translator's overuse of "skulk" was grating.
leonidasm's review against another edition
5.0
"Όσο σκληρή κι αν είναι η ζωή, ο θάνατος είναι πάντοτε σκληρότερος"
Ο πατέρας πεθαίνει και ζητάει να ταφεί στη γενέτειρα του. Ο δειλός και άτολμος γιος του δίνει αυτή την υπόσχεση και μαζί με τα αδέρφια του ξεκινούν ένα επικίνδυνο road trip με ένα βαν και ένα σώμα που σαπίζει μέρα τη μέρα, περνώντας ανάμεσα σε βομβαρδισμενα χωριά, πτώματα πεταμένα στο δρόμο, πεινασμένα σκυλιά και τον παραλογισμό του πολέμου σε όλο του το μεγαλείο.
Μέσα σε όλη αυτή τη δυσωδία οι προσωπικές ιστορίες των ηρώων αναβλύζουν έρωτα και επανάσταση, όνειρα και ματαιώσεις, αποτυχία και θυμό.
Η γραφή του Khalifa περνάει απ'την δημοσιογραφική - ξερή - σχεδόν καταγραφή στην αρχή, κάνοντας με να πιστεύω ότι η μετάφραση δεν βοηθά, στην βαθιά συναισθηματική και γεμάτη κατανόηση αγκαλιά του μολυβιού του. Με ένα τέλος αντάξιο του πικρού ρεαλισμού ενός συγγραφέα που έχει αρνηθεί να εγκαταλείψει την πόλη που έζησε όλη του τη ζωή για λίγη ασφάλεια.
Οι εικόνες του βιβλίου κινηματογραφικές, θα ήθελα να τις δω στο πανί κάποια στιγμή.
Ο πατέρας πεθαίνει και ζητάει να ταφεί στη γενέτειρα του. Ο δειλός και άτολμος γιος του δίνει αυτή την υπόσχεση και μαζί με τα αδέρφια του ξεκινούν ένα επικίνδυνο road trip με ένα βαν και ένα σώμα που σαπίζει μέρα τη μέρα, περνώντας ανάμεσα σε βομβαρδισμενα χωριά, πτώματα πεταμένα στο δρόμο, πεινασμένα σκυλιά και τον παραλογισμό του πολέμου σε όλο του το μεγαλείο.
Μέσα σε όλη αυτή τη δυσωδία οι προσωπικές ιστορίες των ηρώων αναβλύζουν έρωτα και επανάσταση, όνειρα και ματαιώσεις, αποτυχία και θυμό.
Η γραφή του Khalifa περνάει απ'την δημοσιογραφική - ξερή - σχεδόν καταγραφή στην αρχή, κάνοντας με να πιστεύω ότι η μετάφραση δεν βοηθά, στην βαθιά συναισθηματική και γεμάτη κατανόηση αγκαλιά του μολυβιού του. Με ένα τέλος αντάξιο του πικρού ρεαλισμού ενός συγγραφέα που έχει αρνηθεί να εγκαταλείψει την πόλη που έζησε όλη του τη ζωή για λίγη ασφάλεια.
Οι εικόνες του βιβλίου κινηματογραφικές, θα ήθελα να τις δω στο πανί κάποια στιγμή.
boingloings's review against another edition
4.0
to say Arabic is a beautiful language is an understatement. english words cannot describe how immense, powerful, and beautiful arabic really is. it’s sad because people who aren’t arab / don’t understand arabic have been conditioned to perceive it as a violent, angry language. which of course it is not.
translator Leri Price did such a phenomenal job with translating this novel. and ofc goes without saying but the author did an absolute phenomenal job writing this realism story in war torn syria. it is thought provoking, heavy, and really really important
translator Leri Price did such a phenomenal job with translating this novel. and ofc goes without saying but the author did an absolute phenomenal job writing this realism story in war torn syria. it is thought provoking, heavy, and really really important
ffnooran's review against another edition
4.0
really good but annoying as i know it wouldve been a lot better if i read it in arabic (motivation to learn how to properly read and understand arabic lit)
dsouth20's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mldutoff's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cami19's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
dirtydima's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this book was hard work! The novel can be described as a hyperrealistic piece rather than a work of fiction. A documentation of a painful journey from south to north resembling the Syrian conflict itself as its flames travelled across the country sweeping every inch of land. As tension builds between characters and their trip becomes all the more precarious their hellish ride reveals how much of yourself you're bound to lose when living under a an opressive regime. The hardships they encounter along the way mirror the protagonist's innermost struggles as well as the country's and its people's. The writer is a Syrian through and through. I highly recommend delving into this eye-opening tragedy for those curious to understand what it means to live in Assad's Syria.