The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist by Emile Habiby

The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist

Emile Habiby with Salma Khadra Jayyusi (Translator), Trevor Le Gassick (Translator)

169 pages first pub 1974 (view editions)

fiction classics literary challenging emotional reflective slow-paced
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Description

This contemporary classic, the story of a Palestinian who becomes a citizen of Israel, combines fact and fantasy, tragedy and comedy. Saeed is the comic hero, the luckless fool, whose tale tells of aggression and resistance, terror and heroism, re...

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Community Reviews

3.75
based on 187 reviews

Moods

funny: 67%

reflective: 52%

challenging: 50%

sad: 47%

dark: 38%

emotional: 26%

informative: 26%

mysterious: 14%

adventurous: 8%

lighthearted: 8%

tense: 5%


Pace

36% of readers chose fast
51% of readers chose medium
12% of readers chose slow
fast
medium
slow

Plot or character driven?

19% of readers chose Plot
30% of readers chose A mix
50% of readers chose Character
Plot
A mix
Character

Strong character development?

32% of readers chose Yes
48% of readers chose Complicated
20% of readers chose No
Yes
Complicated
No

Loveable characters?

37% of readers chose Yes
45% of readers chose Complicated
12% of readers chose No
4% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Diverse cast of characters?

65% of readers chose Yes
4% of readers chose Complicated
30% of readers chose No
Yes
Complicated
No

Flaws of characters a main focus?

66% of readers chose Yes
20% of readers chose Complicated
12% of readers chose No
Yes
Complicated
No

Content Warnings

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