Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Φιρντάους by Nawal El Saadawi

9 reviews

bookishbrenbren's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

Hmm this is a hard book to review. I really admire the book and the story and Firdaus and yeah just the commentary it's making on society and the value of women. I think it's really powerful. I even like the flowery language and the circular events. I think it's a little daydreamy at times though. Like sometimes I just wanted to skip ahead of the la la la ness of the internal thoughts

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, Murder, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Incest, Abortion, and Gore

shinsreading's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It’s a dark, dark book. But I love it with all my heart.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Child death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Incest, and Pedophilia

k_kay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Such a brave beautiful exploration of feminism through Firdaus’ experiences as well as the impact she has on those around. Saawadi does not shy away from the short comings of feminism, particularly the illusions of autonomy under a patriarchal and classist society.
There were so many times I was angry and crying.
It’s not a hopeful read, but felt cathartic in its rawness. 
“For truth and death are similar in that they both require a great courage if one wishes to face them. And truth is like death in that it kills”

An incredibly emotional read, that I think speaks to experiences of many women.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Rape

icarusandthesun's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

2.5

'you criminal. you deserve to die.'
- 'everybody has to die. i prefer to die from a crime i have committed rather than to die for one of the crimes which you have committed.'

a tale filled with great horrors, pain and truth.
this book was very special, something i've never read before, and wise in an unconventional type of way.
i liked the story in its simple complexity, but the pacing threw me off quite frequently. the storyline and structure were sort of jumpy and the lifeless ease with which the events were described took away most of the impact.

an important story, but the writing style was not for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Police brutality

Minor: Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Abortion

bdilley28's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I thought this book was very well written, and the different POVs tied together really well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual content

el219's review against another edition

4.5

Disgusting and so essential to read; nawal was such an icon may continue to rest in peace and power

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Child abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion and Death of parent

ivannna_u's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Abortion and Death of parent

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

this book was merely ok - albeit dark and insightful on an aspect of women's lives in egyptian society - originally, but 2/3 of the way thru things heated UP for real.

idk how representative firdaus and her tribulations were, but they were def shitty at every turn, w/ her being used by all the men in her life. her gradual, then rapidly crashing epiphanies and realizations abt women in a patriarchal, objectifying, power- & money-obsessed society were a gut punch. woman at point zero was also perhaps the first whose powerful patriarchy-hating declarations were able to actually make me legit moaned?? bc of how much i FELT them and their truth; they were so satisfying. 

we all knew how things would end, so there wasnt a lot of tension and anticipation while reading, thus this novel didnt elicit much emotions from me, but i still appreciate it for its bold truth-telling of how absolutely shitty it is to be a woman in a man's world, regardless of which part of the world it is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Murder, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Child death and Death of parent