zoracious's review against another edition
4.0
This book reminds me of Richardson's Pamela, where I kept on cheering on the narrator in her quest at suicide. Except Asya doesn't really attempt suicide. Oddly, though, I found myself unable to put this book down, which is a feat considering that it is a thick tome that inspires thoughts of what paraphernalia I might be able to hide within its covers given a sharp X-acto knife and some paper-cutting skills. Nonetheless I can't be too mean considering how doggedly I continued to read this thing. I've given up on shorter books.
busyblackbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really, really enjoyed this book! It’s steeped in both the geopolitical currents of 1970s Egypt and also considers the positionality of women in Egyptian and Western society. Soueif did an amazing job with her portrayal of Asya, the protagonist—I flew through the book because I was so drawn to Asya and wanted only the best for her as she contended with complicated romantic and familial dynamics. We watch Asya grow to question more deeply the decisions she makes in life, both in choosing her romantic partners and in her career. While 800 pages is quite long for any book, I felt that Soueif used these pages well to paint a portrait of a woman finding herself in a world made for men (plus, I do enjoy a thick book from time to time!).
Another thing to note is that if you’re a fan of Middlemarch by George Eliot, you may enjoy this novel—Soueif herself nods to Middlemarch in the beginning of the book, clearly envisioning this as an Egyptian response to Eliot’s classic. I’ve not yet read it, but this definitely makes me excited to pick it up!
This is definitely a book that I’d like to revisit in the coming years, because it is full of political, gender, and social commentary that I am sure will stay with me.
Another thing to note is that if you’re a fan of Middlemarch by George Eliot, you may enjoy this novel—Soueif herself nods to Middlemarch in the beginning of the book, clearly envisioning this as an Egyptian response to Eliot’s classic. I’ve not yet read it, but this definitely makes me excited to pick it up!
This is definitely a book that I’d like to revisit in the coming years, because it is full of political, gender, and social commentary that I am sure will stay with me.
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage
literarydecolonisation's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Classism
emzireads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexism
Moderate: Miscarriage
lipglossmaffia's review against another edition
I'll get back to it, I just have way too many interesting shorter books to read
faizafiza's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ashmawi's review against another edition
4.0
reread: i still threw it across the room in annoyance but i love it
dkeane2007's review against another edition
4.0
I searched for this book when it was first published and ended up having to order it. I love Soueif's ability to have different story lines in different places running at the same time, all equally engaging.
ladyr's review against another edition
Stopping reading for now at 200 pages in. I’m finding the layout quite confusing, the jumping about in time within a paragraph confusing and the tiny font in my edition very hard to read! I’ve learnt lots from the bits I’ve read but just not engaged enough right now to keep going. Definitely a case of me not the book...
chalkletters's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up, I think, in Sennocke House, many many years ago. I read it now because I had a week of holiday and thought it would be a good opportunity to read something long. It took a long while to get interested in it, and it's awfully long for what it is, but I found Asya's story interesting and a bit sad.
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