mcancian's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
anna1328's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
3.0
Have loved the books by Rabih Alameddine so this was a disappointment compared to those.
Part of the problem for me was the constantly changing narrator (and I couldn't always tell who was who). So couldn't tell whose opinion on certain things I was hearing.
It was frustrating, but also went in with very high expectations and those are hard to live up to sometimes.
Part of the problem for me was the constantly changing narrator (and I couldn't always tell who was who). So couldn't tell whose opinion on certain things I was hearing.
It was frustrating, but also went in with very high expectations and those are hard to live up to sometimes.
samalbert's review against another edition
5.0
Read for ENGL 374: Post-Colonial Literature with a focus on global HIV/AIDS writing.
Koolaids is one of the most unique books I have ever read. I feel challenged by Alameddine's writing. His meta-fictional and post-modern writing style is some of the most sophisticated and impactful literature I have ever read. Koolaids is deceptively simple, written in plain English with a punchy, at times even comedic, tone to it. But this non-linear and seemingly senseless style of writing conveys exactly what Alameddine is trying to express through his convoluted and complicated prose - that narratives around plague (AIDS) and war (Lebanese civil war) are more similar than we think. Koolaids is an impressive attempt at unifying these two major themes in Alameddine's life in perhaps the only way you can, imbued with a sense of chaos and disorganization to it. But what else can be expected? HIV/AIDS and civil war are complicated issues, both crises exacerbated by a profound lack of historic critical engagement from the groups most influential in causing the problems in the first place. In this regard, I don't think it is tangible for me to ever fully understand what Koolaids is trying to impart to its reader, but I can guarantee it's a book I will be returning to over and over again.
Koolaids is one of the most unique books I have ever read. I feel challenged by Alameddine's writing. His meta-fictional and post-modern writing style is some of the most sophisticated and impactful literature I have ever read. Koolaids is deceptively simple, written in plain English with a punchy, at times even comedic, tone to it. But this non-linear and seemingly senseless style of writing conveys exactly what Alameddine is trying to express through his convoluted and complicated prose - that narratives around plague (AIDS) and war (Lebanese civil war) are more similar than we think. Koolaids is an impressive attempt at unifying these two major themes in Alameddine's life in perhaps the only way you can, imbued with a sense of chaos and disorganization to it. But what else can be expected? HIV/AIDS and civil war are complicated issues, both crises exacerbated by a profound lack of historic critical engagement from the groups most influential in causing the problems in the first place. In this regard, I don't think it is tangible for me to ever fully understand what Koolaids is trying to impart to its reader, but I can guarantee it's a book I will be returning to over and over again.
zoeleier's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
willowtree3335's review
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I read this for school but I think this book is definitely worth reading and it really makes you think deeply about things. I don’t think it should be dismissed just because it doesn’t have a traditional plot structure, I think it’s experimental nature makes it very compelling and ties into the ideas it is dealing with in fascinating ways.
marycamus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
dinoparker's review against another edition
5.0
Alameddine was able to capture and articulate feelings about home and identity in a way that I didn’t think was possible. It’s like he pierced into your soul and explained to you the feelings you had but never knew if they were real. Koolaids shattered my heart into a thousand pieces.
joelle99's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Violence, War, and Hate crime
chirinech's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0