Reviews

The Patience Stone by Atiq Rahimi

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rfelt's review against another edition

4.0

Globally Minded Challenge
Afghanistan

Read in line for TOT Challenge. Deeply depressing, the background of war to such inner and marital turmoil was impactful and devastating

rebecka2023's review against another edition

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reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

rnmcfarlane's review against another edition

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challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.0

leila_sft's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

crafalsk264's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

In Persian folklore, the Syngue Sebour is a black stone said to absorb the troubles of those who confide in it. When it has received too much misery, it will lead to the explosion of all the misery at once. In this tale, an unnamed woman is caring for her husband who is comatose following his combat injuries. He was expected to be well into recovering in two weeks. It is now the 16th day with no change. The action takes place in one small room where she pours out her frustration, her desires, secrets and fears. She cares for his physical needs while talking with him over the day, evening and another day. All while talking and pouring out her life to her own Patience Stone.

This book is a story of love, retributions, and an Islam woman’s thoughts on honor, sex, marriage and war. She illuminates the plight of Afghan women living in one of the most severe patriarchy systems in the world. This book is explicit in language related to sex, physical injuries, violence, and incest. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Carolyn Seymour and her narration serves to dramatize the reading. This is a powerful book dealing with serious issues. It is difficult to say I enjoyed the book. I admired the way the author set up the premise to give the woman a place to have the candid conservation she did. And the novel will stay with me for a while. I recommend to readers interested in Asia, France, war, Islam, contemporary women’s literature. Also please note the cautions mentioned early in this paragraph

Content Warnings

bvic's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

2.5

Very pretty, very poetic.

Once I realised it was written by a man the whole thing felt very uncomfortable and sadistic - to steal from another review. Interested in reading work of a similar theme by Afghan women