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A review by sarahwingo
The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye by A.S. Byatt
4.0
An interesting collection of tales, usually I find retellings of fairytales dull, but although each of these stories felt familiar they didn’t feel tedious or predictable in the ways this kind of collection usually does.
A lot of reviewers noted how different the title story feels from the preceding stories. I read the book out of order reading The Djinn In The Nightingale’s Eye first, and then circling back to the others. And I actually think they are more alike than not. Each story deals with similar ideas about life, fate, storytelling, and the fact that while some things are inescapable, understanding the story one finds oneself in can make a world of difference.
There’s also a heavy focus on women in these stories, and the choices they do or do not make and what that means for their lives.
A lot of reviewers noted how different the title story feels from the preceding stories. I read the book out of order reading The Djinn In The Nightingale’s Eye first, and then circling back to the others. And I actually think they are more alike than not. Each story deals with similar ideas about life, fate, storytelling, and the fact that while some things are inescapable, understanding the story one finds oneself in can make a world of difference.
There’s also a heavy focus on women in these stories, and the choices they do or do not make and what that means for their lives.