A review by kitness
By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

Incredibly dull, weakly written book that implies the author is incapable of writing dynamic scenes and relies on pseudo-intellectual language with the majority of the book taking place in flashbacks or a stilted stream of consciousness. The topic of how refugees are treated is interesting, but not here; largely because the majority of the novel is about the drama and tragedies involved with the ownership of a house, a topic that could have been handled in ten pages.

The characters are all unlikable and the two main characters sound exactly alike. The main-est character has been given purposeful flaws and regretful acts, but I wonder whether the author is aware of how needlessly critical and ungrateful he is inwardly about every single person he encounters. It feels unintentional as it’s too subtle for what the narrative skill level led me to expect. Not since Harlan Ellison’s misanthropic and sexist short stories have I felt more disinclined to ever want to meet an author.