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A review by whippycleric
Book of Khartoum: A City in Short Fiction by Rania Mamoun, Ali al-Makk, Abdel Aziz Baraka Sakin, Arthur Gabriel Yak, Ahmed al-Malik, Bushra al-Fadil, Bawadir Bashir, Hammour Ziada, Isa al-Hilu, Mamoun Eltlib
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed this collection of 10 short stories. I'd never read anything from Sudan before so a small collection can be a nice intro, this is a rather bizarre collection though. I've done a one sentance review, more or less, of each and the average rating comes out to near 3.5,hence that being the rating overall.
The Tank: An enjoyable little story, not too serious - 3.5
In the city: A look at a country boy moving to the city and how his confidence is misplaced now being a fish in a much bigger pond, - 3.5
A boy playing with dolls: I really liked this short story, which is actually another short story collection in side exploring various themes. Some of them I didn't fully get but the once I did were very nicely written . - 4.5
It's not important, you're from there: A second person view of a refugee from the south coming to the city. A bizzare dream like writing style that works well in these few pages - 4
Next Eid. Another look at a country boy moved to the city, this time more focusing on the difference between how those left in the countryside think of him and the reality of his life ein the city. I wasnt really gripped by this one, it felt a bit normal. - 3
Paasing. I struggle to see much related to the city in this story, felt it could be a short story / study on death set anywhere. It was nicely written, just not sure of it's place in this collection - 3
The story of the girl who's birds flew away. A firts person account of a poet who becomes obsessed with a girl and her sister having seen them in the street. The imagery of the city is really nicely done in this one, but if you someone could give me a clue as to what we means by the birds it would help! - 3.5
The passage. Vivid imagery but doesn't feel like a story, would be an interesting part of a larger story however I see no plot in this so struggle to judge it as a short story - 3
The butchers daughter. Another in the theme of a villager moving to the city told from the perspective of a father concerned his daughter has fallen into an unnoficial marriage and eloped. A good little story, with some humor thrown is as well - 4
The void A brutal look at war from the loosing side, a lot of historical information throughout, it was a very interesting but heavy read. - 4
The Tank: An enjoyable little story, not too serious - 3.5
In the city: A look at a country boy moving to the city and how his confidence is misplaced now being a fish in a much bigger pond, - 3.5
A boy playing with dolls: I really liked this short story, which is actually another short story collection in side exploring various themes. Some of them I didn't fully get but the once I did were very nicely written . - 4.5
It's not important, you're from there: A second person view of a refugee from the south coming to the city. A bizzare dream like writing style that works well in these few pages - 4
Next Eid. Another look at a country boy moved to the city, this time more focusing on the difference between how those left in the countryside think of him and the reality of his life ein the city. I wasnt really gripped by this one, it felt a bit normal. - 3
Paasing. I struggle to see much related to the city in this story, felt it could be a short story / study on death set anywhere. It was nicely written, just not sure of it's place in this collection - 3
The story of the girl who's birds flew away. A firts person account of a poet who becomes obsessed with a girl and her sister having seen them in the street. The imagery of the city is really nicely done in this one, but if you someone could give me a clue as to what we means by the birds it would help! - 3.5
The passage. Vivid imagery but doesn't feel like a story, would be an interesting part of a larger story however I see no plot in this so struggle to judge it as a short story - 3
The butchers daughter. Another in the theme of a villager moving to the city told from the perspective of a father concerned his daughter has fallen into an unnoficial marriage and eloped. A good little story, with some humor thrown is as well - 4
The void A brutal look at war from the loosing side, a lot of historical information throughout, it was a very interesting but heavy read. - 4