Reviews

What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad

rufio7's review against another edition

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5.0

This could be read as a straightforward tale humanizing the individual in the migrant crisis. But as the book progressed (especially the last chapter) there is so much more to unpack and debate. The author calls out the momentary Western sympathy and how we use these stories to validate our own internal righteousness and sense of being good people but continue on with no action. It doesn't offer a solution to the problem, but it also illustrates how some of the characters/roles can't be painted as one-dimensional villains and are a part of a more problematic culture and world.

ink_squid's review against another edition

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3.0

This was on some “great books” list or other. IT concentrates on two characters - a young refugee boy and a native older girl. While most of the boy’s story had me wanting more, I was bored by the girl. There was plenty of information that seemed to lead nowhere or not be brought up again. An okay read, but nothing inspiring.

mattrw88's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 Stars

nooneyouknow's review against another edition

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3.0

Just ok. Covers important refugee (and receiving land) issues that we all need to know about and work to address, but overall this one felt clunky and a little overwrought. I didn’t like it enough to recommend it to others.

siiribooks's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

degger74's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

samc67's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

lilyvoituret's review against another edition

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emotional tense slow-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

2.75

misstwild2's review against another edition

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

4.0

celeris's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

honestly, exit west is the better version of this book