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aljagolob's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vermilionaura's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
siren224's review against another edition
4.0
الحقيقة لا هي وحشة ولا هي حلوة
بدايه انا كنت طبعا قريت عن الفرقة الاسماعيلية النزارية في بحثي عن اصول الشيعة وفرقهم .. و برده قريت عن الصباح في كتاب تراجم اسلامية والحقيقة ان المؤرخ العظيم عنان افرد كل وجهات النظر عن الصباح في مسأله الحشيش والفردوس
نيجي بقي لفلاديمير
.... الحقيقة طريقة السرد سيئة اوي فكرني بكتب التاريخ بتاعت المدرسة .. حتي في وصف الشجر ولا البنات ولا حتي المشاعر ... كل ده من غير روح
تاريخيا انا معرفش هو جايي معلوماته منين ... ومبقتش عازفة ايه اللي يتصدق وايه لا ..
بس بعيدا عن الرواية
هتكلم عن الصباخ
اللي هو عصره كان تقريبا القرن الحادي عشر او الثاني عشر
فكره كان سابق عصره
حسيت انه قرا كتاب الامير وطبق المبدا المشهور الغاية تبرر الوسيله
بس مكيافيليي كان بعده بقرون
بعيدا عن كل ده
مبدأه مرعب ان كل شيء مباح ولا شيء حقيقي
انا مش عارفة المعلومة دي صح ولا لا بس دي مرعبة
انك تعمل اي حاجه في سبيل هدفك
اللي انا برده مش عارفك ايه هو
هو كان مجنون وشك في كل حاجه وحسيت بمعاناته بس كرهته
احنا ممكم نتعلم من الكتاب ده طريقة من طرق صناعه الارهاب
.... بس كدة
بدايه انا كنت طبعا قريت عن الفرقة الاسماعيلية النزارية في بحثي عن اصول الشيعة وفرقهم .. و برده قريت عن الصباح في كتاب تراجم اسلامية والحقيقة ان المؤرخ العظيم عنان افرد كل وجهات النظر عن الصباح في مسأله الحشيش والفردوس
نيجي بقي لفلاديمير
.... الحقيقة طريقة السرد سيئة اوي فكرني بكتب التاريخ بتاعت المدرسة .. حتي في وصف الشجر ولا البنات ولا حتي المشاعر ... كل ده من غير روح
تاريخيا انا معرفش هو جايي معلوماته منين ... ومبقتش عازفة ايه اللي يتصدق وايه لا ..
بس بعيدا عن الرواية
هتكلم عن الصباخ
اللي هو عصره كان تقريبا القرن الحادي عشر او الثاني عشر
فكره كان سابق عصره
حسيت انه قرا كتاب الامير وطبق المبدا المشهور الغاية تبرر الوسيله
بس مكيافيليي كان بعده بقرون
بعيدا عن كل ده
مبدأه مرعب ان كل شيء مباح ولا شيء حقيقي
انا مش عارفة المعلومة دي صح ولا لا بس دي مرعبة
انك تعمل اي حاجه في سبيل هدفك
اللي انا برده مش عارفك ايه هو
هو كان مجنون وشك في كل حاجه وحسيت بمعاناته بس كرهته
احنا ممكم نتعلم من الكتاب ده طريقة من طرق صناعه الارهاب
.... بس كدة
amal_idris's review against another edition
4.0
الى المزيد من الابحار في دهشة وليدة كانت استشعار قريب
aly_moh's review against another edition
5.0
ان الذى يكتشف أن مايسميه الناس بالسعادة والحب والفرح ماهو الا خليط تقديرات زائفة قائمة على فرضيات مغلوطة..هذا المرء لن يجد فى قلبه حينئذ سوى الفراغ المخيف !! ..والشىء الوحيد الذى يمكن أن يوقظه من ذلك الجنون أن يجازف بمصيره ومصير الأخرين !!...والذى يقوى على هذا ....فكل شىء مباح أمامه !!..
amoebaa031's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
aqsa_ayman's review against another edition
5.0
This review might be a little long, since it gave me a lot to think about...
This book was based on the story of Hasan-e Sabbah, who founded the order of Assassins at the fortress of Alamut. He supposedly tricked them into thinking he could send them to paradise, by building a fake paradise to make them devout believers, ready to carry out political assassinations and further his cause.
When I first saw the synopsis, it was hard to believe that this was historically based rather than pure fiction, but it’s also very relevant to the dictatorships seen in history, and of course to modern terrorism. Hasan leads these men to their death in the name of his cause, but the most interesting part of the story (besides the fake paradise, because that is seriously out there) is the fact that he began this whole scheme after discovering that there is no ultimate god or religion, or anything waiting for him after death.
Hasan convinces himself he’s doing these men a favour, since they go to their deaths with joy in the knowledge that they’ll go straight to paradise, while he suffers from the loneliness of knowing there is nothing out there. I wonder whether he really believes in this justification, or if he needed a distraction from that realisation.
I think Bartol’s structure was really well done - you read from the perspective of one of the fedayeen (assassins, in this context, but literally meaning those willing to sacrifice themselves) but also from one of the girls brought to the harem. Hasan uses this harem and their hidden gardens to fool a few chosen ones into believing that he holds the key to paradise, from which the rumours propagate until everyone at Alamut is in awe. It’s a little sad how things end from the girls’ side of the story, but I know it doesn’t make sense to expect a happy ending, or happy anything, especially when Halima is so young and naive.
Later, as both sides are trained and the military side of things progresses, we meet Hasan and see for ourselves what kind of person he is. Bartol writes him from various angles, so we get to see moments of weakness where he recognises the immorality of what he is doing, or fears that everything he has worked for will fail. In one memorable scene, he is being pulled down a pulley system by the eunuchs that guard him, and he thinks about what would happen if they realised how much power they have in that moment, if they just let go. His character is undoubtedly a distasteful and horrific one, but these moments make the story so much stronger, in my opinion.
Seeing that one of Slovenia’s most famous books is about a political and ideological struggle in 11th century Iran is pretty epic. I appreciated not seeing a bias towards certain characters or against the events that occurred. This was a powerful book, and it explored concepts like faith, religion and nihilism, but still had interesting and complex characters.
This book was based on the story of Hasan-e Sabbah, who founded the order of Assassins at the fortress of Alamut. He supposedly tricked them into thinking he could send them to paradise, by building a fake paradise to make them devout believers, ready to carry out political assassinations and further his cause.
When I first saw the synopsis, it was hard to believe that this was historically based rather than pure fiction, but it’s also very relevant to the dictatorships seen in history, and of course to modern terrorism. Hasan leads these men to their death in the name of his cause, but the most interesting part of the story (besides the fake paradise, because that is seriously out there) is the fact that he began this whole scheme after discovering that there is no ultimate god or religion, or anything waiting for him after death.
Hasan convinces himself he’s doing these men a favour, since they go to their deaths with joy in the knowledge that they’ll go straight to paradise, while he suffers from the loneliness of knowing there is nothing out there. I wonder whether he really believes in this justification, or if he needed a distraction from that realisation.
I think Bartol’s structure was really well done - you read from the perspective of one of the fedayeen (assassins, in this context, but literally meaning those willing to sacrifice themselves) but also from one of the girls brought to the harem. Hasan uses this harem and their hidden gardens to fool a few chosen ones into believing that he holds the key to paradise, from which the rumours propagate until everyone at Alamut is in awe. It’s a little sad how things end from the girls’ side of the story, but I know it doesn’t make sense to expect a happy ending, or happy anything, especially when Halima is so young and naive.
Later, as both sides are trained and the military side of things progresses, we meet Hasan and see for ourselves what kind of person he is. Bartol writes him from various angles, so we get to see moments of weakness where he recognises the immorality of what he is doing, or fears that everything he has worked for will fail. In one memorable scene, he is being pulled down a pulley system by the eunuchs that guard him, and he thinks about what would happen if they realised how much power they have in that moment, if they just let go. His character is undoubtedly a distasteful and horrific one, but these moments make the story so much stronger, in my opinion.
Seeing that one of Slovenia’s most famous books is about a political and ideological struggle in 11th century Iran is pretty epic. I appreciated not seeing a bias towards certain characters or against the events that occurred. This was a powerful book, and it explored concepts like faith, religion and nihilism, but still had interesting and complex characters.
radwamsakr's review against another edition
5.0
الرواية كسرد وتسلسل للأحداث تعتبر رواية ممتازة ومثية؛ فهي تُشعرك بأنك تعيش أحداثها، وتراها رأي العين، ولكن بالطبع لا يُمكن الاعتماد عليها كمرجع تاريخي.
الرواية ليست تاريخية فقط، وإنما أيضًا فلسفية؛ حيث تظهر فلسفتها من خلال أفكار حسن الصباح، ورؤيته للكون وولحياة وللدين، فهو رجل، وفقًا للرواية، لا يعترف بالمُسلمات، ويُخضع كل شيء للتساؤل والبحث والتنقيب.
الغريب في الأمر، وما يُثير الدهشة هو جنسية الكاتب، وتوقيت كتابتها، فما الذي يجعل كاتبًا سلوفينيًا يكتب عن حسن الصباح خلال ثلاثينيات القرن الماضي؟ أمرٌ يحتاج للبحث.
الرواية ليست تاريخية فقط، وإنما أيضًا فلسفية؛ حيث تظهر فلسفتها من خلال أفكار حسن الصباح، ورؤيته للكون وولحياة وللدين، فهو رجل، وفقًا للرواية، لا يعترف بالمُسلمات، ويُخضع كل شيء للتساؤل والبحث والتنقيب.
الغريب في الأمر، وما يُثير الدهشة هو جنسية الكاتب، وتوقيت كتابتها، فما الذي يجعل كاتبًا سلوفينيًا يكتب عن حسن الصباح خلال ثلاثينيات القرن الماضي؟ أمرٌ يحتاج للبحث.
cynicalraven's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Gaslighting: the book.
Okay, so. You read this book essentially just for one reason, you don't exactly look for books and randomly find this one and decide it was worth a shot.
So of you're here expecting something along the lines of "safety and peace" "your presence here will deliver us both" I suggest you go back.
Let me start by saying that mysogyny and racism prevented me to enjoy this book fully, but I should've probably expected it considering it's set in the 11th century.
I gave the book 2 stars but it should have been one because the book is just badly written: the majority of characters have no purpose and do not to move the plot forward. It's not one stars because I find Seyduna funny and he's a great antagonist (also main character?).
Seyduna is the chief of Alamut's castle. He founded a cult and posed himself as the prophet, and we see him recruiting boys for his cause and indoctrinating them.
The book starts with Halima, a young (13?14?) girl who finds herself in a garden surrounded by other girls like herself, being thought literature and music.
This covers like 8 damn chapters in which absolutely nothing happens. It also leads you to think that she's going to be, if not the main character, at least someone with a relevance. Wrong. The "main" female character turn out to be Miriam, who takes Halima under her wings. Unlike Halima, Miriam is capable of thinking with her head and of putting 2 + 2.both completely useless because they both kill themselves. If Halima's death was somewhat understandable -or maybe not because she falls in love with someone who basically rapes her and consequently kills herself for love- Miriam's death happens simply because the author did not not what do with her character Halima specifically serves absolutely no use to the plot. You could remove her from the books and event would still happen in the same way they did. Which makes the whole initial third of the book completely useless. it's also worth noting that every single female character in the book is a sex slave. I'd say sex worker but they are forced and brainwashed to do it, so.
In the first third of the book we are also introduced to ibn Tahir, who is the real main character for most of the book. He's brainwashed into the cult and becomes the best soldier/adept.the realizes he was tricked, decides to kill the Seyduna, the Seyduna basically tells him he sees him as a son -despite actually having a biological son: he gets him decapitated. Ah, fatherhood. - gives him some money and sends to India to study, despite confessing being the reason of ibn Tahir's friends' death. Tahir accepts and is never seen again. and again, at a certain point of the story he vanishes just because the author did not know how to resolve his storyline.
People in the book are so stupid it's funny, or maybe it's just the power of brainwashing.
Another thing that infuriates me is anachronism, because there are quite a few. At a certain point the book mentions atoms, except that the whole thing is set during the eleventh century.
Also, I don't know if the Italian translation is that bad or if it is the book that is that bad, but every black character is described with the n-word. Fitting for the time? Racism? Just be careful if it something that bothers you.
Okay, so. You read this book essentially just for one reason, you don't exactly look for books and randomly find this one and decide it was worth a shot.
So of you're here expecting something along the lines of "safety and peace" "your presence here will deliver us both" I suggest you go back.
Let me start by saying that mysogyny and racism prevented me to enjoy this book fully, but I should've probably expected it considering it's set in the 11th century.
I gave the book 2 stars but it should have been one because the book is just badly written: the majority of characters have no purpose and do not to move the plot forward. It's not one stars because I find Seyduna funny and he's a great antagonist (also main character?).
Seyduna is the chief of Alamut's castle. He founded a cult and posed himself as the prophet, and we see him recruiting boys for his cause and indoctrinating them.
The book starts with Halima, a young (13?14?) girl who finds herself in a garden surrounded by other girls like herself, being thought literature and music.
This covers like 8 damn chapters in which absolutely nothing happens. It also leads you to think that she's going to be, if not the main character, at least someone with a relevance. Wrong. The "main" female character turn out to be Miriam, who takes Halima under her wings. Unlike Halima, Miriam is capable of thinking with her head and of putting 2 + 2.
In the first third of the book we are also introduced to ibn Tahir, who is the real main character for most of the book. He's brainwashed into the cult and becomes the best soldier/adept.
People in the book are so stupid it's funny, or maybe it's just the power of brainwashing.
Another thing that infuriates me is anachronism, because there are quite a few. At a certain point the book mentions atoms, except that the whole thing is set during the eleventh century.
Also, I don't know if the Italian translation is that bad or if it is the book that is that bad, but every black character is described with the n-word. Fitting for the time? Racism? Just be careful if it something that bothers you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Torture, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Pregnancy