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r_for_tsundoku's Reviews (49)
Darwish is clearly an amazing writer but his poetry is not for me. It is abstract, complex, ambiguous at times but most times reflects on the histories of the middle east. When I read poetry, I enjoy extracting lines as quotes that work well outside their context. I wish to screenshot my favourite lines and share it with others but Darwish's writing resists that - his lines only hold meaning and beauty when the whole work is shared and appreciated. I still skimmed through the whole collection and my favourite works were No More and No Less, Don't Write History as Poetry and While Waiting. I have no regrets reading the whole collection and understanding how Darwish came to be renowned as he is.
I couldn't tell at all where the story was going with every chapter I read, which is such a rare luxury. Very rarely I get to dive into a book completely blind without any expectations. It was a simple yet very emotional read, easy but not juvenile. It was like a cross between an Aesop's fable and The Little Prince, with a bit less philosophy and a bit more grim reality. It is far from something I typically read but I have no regrets about picking it up. I was worried I would be depressed after finishing the book but I am not, just very moved. A true fable for adults.
His poems are layered with political metaphor, historical references, and national trauma. I am certain they're excellent pieces of work but they're not what I am currently looking for in my reads.
Maybe creative and funny but also gimmicky and the gimmick gets old after 3 pages. Could have been better if the questions were actually linked together and indicated some kind of journey or progression.
Too abstract for me and just not particularly engaging enough to keep me reading till the end where I presume there's a climax or a twist that is supposed to reward the reader for their persistence - it's not for me
Essentially this is a book that combines prose and poetry to depict grief as it is - sudden, obscure, abstract, nonsensical, tumultuous and whatnot. I enjoyed certain snippets of the prose because they fit my taste. The Crow chapters that are more abstract do not. Overall, I don't think it's worth trying to finish the book just because I like 1 out of every 10 paragraphs. But I won't lie and say I am not tempted to do so. But it's a better use of my time to read something I enjoy more overall. So I just skipped to the last 10 pages or so
Unfortunately not as funny as Dear Sir. Some of the letters sound more like written stand-up comedy jokes than real letters. Still some of it was funny, a typical bathroom reading book or a waiting room book among magazines and newspapers.
