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 (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 Summary of 107 reviews

Moods

challenging 66%
funny 66%
sad 53%
reflective 46%
dark 40%
emotional 26%
adventurous 20%
informative 20%
lighthearted 13%
mysterious 13%
tense 13%

Pace

medium 46%
fast 40%
slow 13%

Plot- or character-driven?

Character: 46% | A mix: 38% | Plot: 15%

Strong character development?

It's complicated: 58% | Yes: 25% | No: 16%

Loveable characters?

It's complicated: 63% | Yes: 18% | No: 9% | N/A: 9%

Diverse cast of characters?

Yes: 72% | No: 18% | It's complicated: 9%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

Yes: 72% | No: 18% | It's complicated: 9%

Average rating

3.69

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Content Warnings

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