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samahcanread__'s reviews
935 reviews
Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
if you like the relationship between Fleabag and her sister, especially the complexity of Clair's character and her struggles to be enough, Clair saying to Fleabag that she is the only person she'll run through an airport for, Clair telling her sister "I have my own jokes, I am funny, I am interesting" and "you'll always be fine, you'll always be interesting with your quirky café", read this book.
It's a take of sisters relationship in a way I've only seen in Fleabag the show, with a touch of magic realism that weaves through narration in a style that is unique to Ali Smith.
It's a take of sisters relationship in a way I've only seen in Fleabag the show, with a touch of magic realism that weaves through narration in a style that is unique to Ali Smith.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
actual rating: 3.75 stars
i understand this was written about a time where many feminist slogans used back then may sound overused and saturated today, but i couldn't help but cringe a bit.
i understand this was written about a time where many feminist slogans used back then may sound overused and saturated today, but i couldn't help but cringe a bit.
Demian by Hermann Hesse
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
why did no one tell me this one was a little gay?
reading Demian gave me flashbacks to the relationship between Lord Henry and Dorian Grey from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Grey. The narrator, Sinclair, like Dorian, are very impressionable; Sinclair is on the doorstep of being an adult, looking for guidance and and easily influenced, which made him a very attached to this character Demian that showed up with his big ideas and outside philosophies that contradict what he grew up with.
Hermann's philosophy is more into inner search of what's good or bad. In our modern times, not everyone stop and reflect on their actions and idea, because we are always looking for the next thing, absorbed in a fast world. Hermann encourages us to celebrate the little things in our lives, to be moderate with our approach to life, take a walk, enjoy the stillness of our surroundings, and maybe, that'll lead to a long overdue conversation with yourself
reading Demian gave me flashbacks to the relationship between Lord Henry and Dorian Grey from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Grey. The narrator, Sinclair, like Dorian, are very impressionable; Sinclair is on the doorstep of being an adult, looking for guidance and and easily influenced, which made him a very attached to this character Demian that showed up with his big ideas and outside philosophies that contradict what he grew up with.
Hermann's philosophy is more into inner search of what's good or bad. In our modern times, not everyone stop and reflect on their actions and idea, because we are always looking for the next thing, absorbed in a fast world. Hermann encourages us to celebrate the little things in our lives, to be moderate with our approach to life, take a walk, enjoy the stillness of our surroundings, and maybe, that'll lead to a long overdue conversation with yourself
Touch by Adania Shibli
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Adania's writing is fluid as a river, flowing through you and carrying you to the next sentence in a seamless manner.
the story is about a young palestinian girl's life and instances in her daily life through her eyes. she experiences love, attends a funeral, sees a hanged man, but doesn't grasp fully the depth of the things she's witnessing. her innocence and naive look on life makes us pause and reflect on the effects of trauma inflected on little kids and how they are trying to understand it with their limited language and undeveloped skills.
very short novella that can be read in a day, which is what i did.
the story is about a young palestinian girl's life and instances in her daily life through her eyes. she experiences love, attends a funeral, sees a hanged man, but doesn't grasp fully the depth of the things she's witnessing. her innocence and naive look on life makes us pause and reflect on the effects of trauma inflected on little kids and how they are trying to understand it with their limited language and undeveloped skills.
very short novella that can be read in a day, which is what i did.
Rifqa by Mohammed El-Kurd
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
EL-Kurd words hit me like a bulldozer.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
i'm usually not a big fan of autobiographies, but this took the cake. Jenette didn't just rely on the shock value of her story to create a captivating autobiography, but I believe her writing is what made this stood out.
I hope she write more books in the future.
I hope she write more books in the future.
Wild Thorns by Sahar Khalifeh
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
what is the right way to resist?
read during #ReadPalestine Week (27th Nov - 5th Dec)
Wild Thorns begs this question; is the mere existence in the face of the occupation a resistance, or violence resistance is the right way? Our protagonist, Usama, comes back to the West Bank from the Golf countries to find a different Palestine. According to him, Palestinians who are working with Israelis are betraying their cause and nationalism. His cousin is one of them, abandoning his farm to work in Israelis factories.
The book highlights the struggle and the layers of war and the Israeli occupation of Palestine within Palestinian communities. Beside the daily oppression by the IOF, Palestinians are like any other people; struggling to make ends meets, falling in love and trying to make the best of their lives. Usama is the embodiment of the angry resentment many youths have against their oppressors, to the point he came to Nablus to blow one of the buses taking Palestinians from the West Bank to work in the occupied lands by Israel.
Wild Throns is originally published in Arabic under the name , meaning Cacti. Al-Subar in arabic is close to the word "Sabr", which means patience. Patience is a theme dominant in this book; Usama and later his cousin, Basil, are impatient to fight back the IOF. His other cousin, Adil, is patient in his arguments with Usama who is urging him to join the resistance.
I don't think I've read a very nuanced book like this one, giving the characters more layers and making him human in the eye of the reader and not just names on paper.
read during #ReadPalestine Week (27th Nov - 5th Dec)
Wild Thorns begs this question; is the mere existence in the face of the occupation a resistance, or violence resistance is the right way? Our protagonist, Usama, comes back to the West Bank from the Golf countries to find a different Palestine. According to him, Palestinians who are working with Israelis are betraying their cause and nationalism. His cousin is one of them, abandoning his farm to work in Israelis factories.
The book highlights the struggle and the layers of war and the Israeli occupation of Palestine within Palestinian communities. Beside the daily oppression by the IOF, Palestinians are like any other people; struggling to make ends meets, falling in love and trying to make the best of their lives. Usama is the embodiment of the angry resentment many youths have against their oppressors, to the point he came to Nablus to blow one of the buses taking Palestinians from the West Bank to work in the occupied lands by Israel.
Wild Throns is originally published in Arabic under the name , meaning Cacti. Al-Subar in arabic is close to the word "Sabr", which means patience. Patience is a theme dominant in this book; Usama and later his cousin, Basil, are impatient to fight back the IOF. His other cousin, Adil, is patient in his arguments with Usama who is urging him to join the resistance.
I don't think I've read a very nuanced book like this one, giving the characters more layers and making him human in the eye of the reader and not just names on paper.
When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
I'm embarrassed to admit it took me an ridiculous time to get into the story. I don't blame anything but my stupid brain. The writing was easy to follow but the magic realism really threw me off at the beginning.
Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza by Mosab Abu Toha
read during #readpalestine week
a collection of poems that encapsulates the beauty of gaza amid the saffocating reality of living under a blockade and ongoing agression by the zionist state. Mosab is an incredible writer, making his poems accessible and written in a language easy to follow. many of his poems are narrating his life, woven in beautiful verses.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Mahmoud Darwish wanted to build his home, his exile, from all the words in the world. I weave my poems with my veins. I want to build a poem like a solid home, but hopefully not with my bones.
read during #readpalestine week
a collection of poems that encapsulates the beauty of gaza amid the saffocating reality of living under a blockade and ongoing agression by the zionist state. Mosab is an incredible writer, making his poems accessible and written in a language easy to follow. many of his poems are narrating his life, woven in beautiful verses.