Scan barcode
A review by kolorful_kay_reads
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"... and thinks of how odd it is to experience a secret loss. A loss without a name. The loss of a potential version of her life. Of what she never had, and now never will."
Though this is a quote from this book, it also represents a summation of my thoughts on having read it. What could I have read instead? What knowledge did I lose to read a book that sets women back?
My snark aside, this book is something I would describe as a "dollhouse" story. It is not about plot, but about living and experiencing life with the characters. I would often say that a dollhouse story is character-driven; however, this book is also not character-driven. It's not driven. It's simply a view. And that will not be for every reader; in fact, I'd argue it's probably not something for *most* readers. But it could be exactly the book for you, if that's your thing.
The first 300 pages or so (yes, it's exceptionally long) dragged pretty badly for a couple of reasons. For one, it's a dollhouse story without character development. Two, the storytelling jumped in time in a way that doesn't make sense until the last 50 pages of the book. Also, three, the third-person multiple POV narration is mind-numbingly distant. Again, this will make sense in the last 50ish pages of the book. But there is nothing less appetizing to me, personally, than sitting in the third person with multiple people who I barely touch the surface with in over 300 pages.
Would I say this is a bad book? No, it's very cleverly put together. But would I say that the first 3/4 of the book make the last 1/4 of the book worth it? No, I really wouldn't give it that claim either. There are other books with similar motifs and emotional value - including ones that center the stories of women instead of simply using them - that I would recommend in its place.
Also - publishing houses really need to stop italicizing words that are from languages or cultures that they believe their "mass" audience is not tuned-into. It's insulting to the writer and their depiction of their lived experiences needing descriptors or cues, as well as insulting to readers who are considered too dumb to do a quick Google search.
Though this is a quote from this book, it also represents a summation of my thoughts on having read it. What could I have read instead? What knowledge did I lose to read a book that sets women back?
My snark aside, this book is something I would describe as a "dollhouse" story. It is not about plot, but about living and experiencing life with the characters. I would often say that a dollhouse story is character-driven; however, this book is also not character-driven. It's not driven. It's simply a view. And that will not be for every reader; in fact, I'd argue it's probably not something for *most* readers. But it could be exactly the book for you, if that's your thing.
The first 300 pages or so (yes, it's exceptionally long) dragged pretty badly for a couple of reasons. For one, it's a dollhouse story without character development. Two, the storytelling jumped in time in a way that doesn't make sense until the last 50 pages of the book. Also, three, the third-person multiple POV narration is mind-numbingly distant. Again, this will make sense in the last 50ish pages of the book. But there is nothing less appetizing to me, personally, than sitting in the third person with multiple people who I barely touch the surface with in over 300 pages.
Would I say this is a bad book? No, it's very cleverly put together. But would I say that the first 3/4 of the book make the last 1/4 of the book worth it? No, I really wouldn't give it that claim either. There are other books with similar motifs and emotional value - including ones that center the stories of women instead of simply using them - that I would recommend in its place.
Also - publishing houses really need to stop italicizing words that are from languages or cultures that they believe their "mass" audience is not tuned-into. It's insulting to the writer and their depiction of their lived experiences needing descriptors or cues, as well as insulting to readers who are considered too dumb to do a quick Google search.