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A review by midwifereading
The Arabian Nights by Unknown
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I hate rating classics...but if I stick to how it made me feel, then, it's two stars. Squarely in the "It was okay" space for me.
This version is apparently considered the closest to the original Syrian manuscript, and doesn't have Aladdin, Ali-Baba, or Sindbad. Go figure I would pick the version without anything I had previously heard of!
That's okay though. It's quite weird enough for my 21st century eyes.
Weird.
Women are either sex objects or sorceresses (and always property). Men are all the "most handsomest." Throw in a few magic demons (djinn, really), lots of swooning and pining and you've got the idea.
Still, the poetic, lyrical style is beautiful. Just because it's out of my depth, culturally, doesn't mean it doesn't have value. Another classic that was worth my time.
This version is apparently considered the closest to the original Syrian manuscript, and doesn't have Aladdin, Ali-Baba, or Sindbad. Go figure I would pick the version without anything I had previously heard of!
That's okay though. It's quite weird enough for my 21st century eyes.
Weird.
Women are either sex objects or sorceresses (and always property). Men are all the "most handsomest." Throw in a few magic demons (djinn, really), lots of swooning and pining and you've got the idea.
Still, the poetic, lyrical style is beautiful. Just because it's out of my depth, culturally, doesn't mean it doesn't have value. Another classic that was worth my time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence