Reviews

The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree: A Novel by Shokoofeh Azar, Shokoofeh Azar

mandypandyrox's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

geve_'s review against another edition

2.0

I really didn't get this book. Maybe it was the translation, I just didn't enjoy this or get much from it. It felt like a real oversimplification of the pretty complex situation, but it is also told by a girl. Am I to read it as if it's a child with a child's understanding? I dunno, I'm still an adult and it was presumably written for an adult audience.
I had a hard time following the story, it really meandered without ever being interesting or deep or complex. The characters felt pretty superficial.

Also, this felt a little bit like an intentional work. Not like an idea that just had to be written, but like something that was written in the framework of several other famous works, but with its creator failing to realize what made those books special.

illustriousnewt's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

gpettey19's review

5.0

I loved this in ways I can’t explain

jane_emma's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

laviskrg's review against another edition

5.0

This is officially one of my top-most favourite books, on the same level as "One Hundred Years of Solitude" (which it is a homage of) and "If on a Winter's Night a Traveller".

I will begin with what is important and unimportant at the same time: the subject. A family amidst unbelievable tragedy, suffering, death, corruption, retarded religion, history, metaphor, survival, love, passion, poetry, togetherness, resilience, patience, longing, various levels of complexity and Enlightenment, spirituality, forgiveness and ultimately, again, finally, death. This is the best book about death that I have ever read.

This was absolutely one of the most tender, intense, personal and heart-breaking literary experiences of my life. This book tore out what is left of my soul with a spoon and fed it back to me. It is a book for which I am incapable to sing praises because I simply cannot begin to describe its sensitivity, beauty, value or depth.

If ever you thought about reading a book more than once, read this one. Read it forever.

dafni's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

4.5

This book reminds us the strength people gain through storytelling, fantasy, cultural heritage and imagination under political regimes of oppression and violence. We witness the life experience of Islamic Revolution in Iran through the eyes of Bahar’s family. My heart is heavy; feelings of sadness, anger and powerlessness. A great example of magic realism. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

sarah_dietrich's review against another edition

4.0

Excellent, multi-faceted book with rich characters. I will reread this.

nomonbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

jkwriting24's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-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? No

5.0

I did t know what to expect with this book. I’m not a huge fan of magical realism, so I was skeptical about whether or not I would enjoy it. The wording was poetically beautiful. The elements of fantasy were explained in a satisfying way at the ending. I was attached to the characters and felt the emotional turmoil they felt. I won’t say that it’s a perfect book for everyone, as it is quite heavy I the subject matter, but I thought it was absolutely beautiful.