Reviews

فرانكشتاين في بغداد by أحمد سعداوي, Ahmed Saadawi

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m_delaney's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

draven_deathcrush's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I'm obsessed with Frankenstein now and I thought this would be like a retelling, but it wasn't really. It didn't really focus much on the actual Frankenstein part, which is completely fine, but I just thought/hoped it would. It's a good book, but I just had different expectations.

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judithisreading's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

4.0

introvertsbookclub's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

4.5

‘Frankenstein in Baghdad’ is a blend of satire and magical realism, with intertwining plot lines and a writer trying to keep track of them all. It explores everyday experiences in an extraordinary environment of conflict and corruption, and is grounded in the emotions that are provoked in the daily lives of the novel’s cast of characters, from fear and grief to green and desire. The novel was made up of so many characters and story lines that it became a Frankenstein of sorts itself, and yet it was almost always easy to navigate and follow along.

The adaptation of the Frankenstein story is fascinating – not just because of the changes to the plot and purpose of the creature, but because of the new emotional context that fuels the creature’s creation. I loved the way that the creature became a way to debate ideas around good and bad, innocence and criminality, in the same way that Shelley’s original monster facilitated questions about science, morality and community.

I am so glad I decided to continue my spooky reading into November, and that I finally got around to reading this book.

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