woolgatherer's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
This impactful short story collection captures everyday life and experiences in contemporary Sudan (particularly in Khartoum), reflecting on different issues in the lives of each character (big and small), that sometimes gesture at greater systemic problems. I really need to emphasize that these stories are mere glimpses, with some of them only being a few pages long. While I was disappointed that some stories were too short for my taste (the collection itself is just over seventy pages, to give you an idea), I have to commend Mamoun (and, of course, the translator, Jaquette) for achieving a particular emotional depth in so few words. It wasn’t the case for every story, but there were a few that I found particularly impactful, such as “Edges” (which might have been my favorite).
Content Warnings
Minor: War and Death
sonne_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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
3.0
aggystacked_'s review
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
thatothernigeriangirl's review
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
jackiea's review
emotional
reflective
fast-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
3.0
nghia's review against another edition
3.0
Rania Mamoun is, apparently, the first Sudanese woman to ever be translated into English. This is her second collection of short stories to appear in English. (I haven't read the first.) Short story collections are always a mixed bag. That's sort of the appeal: the short form allows more creativity but when you're not playing it safe not everything will turn out to be a success.
One big thing I look for in translated fiction is how well it conveys the feeling of a different place, a different culture, a different mindset. And Mamoun is pretty hit-or-miss in that regard. In the titular story, "Thirteen Months of Sunrise" about a brief friendship between a Sudanese girl and an Etritrean boy it comes through nicely.
But in many of the other stories the feeling of place is much fuzzier and less satisfying. "A Week of Love" is an example of a forgettable weaker work that could take place anywhere in the world and is somewhat trite to boot. I'm not sure the playful experimentation (one story is written in a screenplay-ish format) mixed with the usually fairly grim content (one story is about a diabetic beggar going into insulin shock) really worked for me, either.
One big thing I look for in translated fiction is how well it conveys the feeling of a different place, a different culture, a different mindset. And Mamoun is pretty hit-or-miss in that regard. In the titular story, "Thirteen Months of Sunrise" about a brief friendship between a Sudanese girl and an Etritrean boy it comes through nicely.
He mispronounced my name for the first few days, calling me ‘Raina’ instead of ‘Rania,’ half-swallowing the ‘R’, while I called him ‘Kidane’.
Back home, Kidane is a woman’s name, he told me, ‘Call me Kidana.’
‘For us, Kidana is a woman’s name,’ I told him, ‘because it ends in an “a”.’
But in many of the other stories the feeling of place is much fuzzier and less satisfying. "A Week of Love" is an example of a forgettable weaker work that could take place anywhere in the world and is somewhat trite to boot. I'm not sure the playful experimentation (one story is written in a screenplay-ish format) mixed with the usually fairly grim content (one story is about a diabetic beggar going into insulin shock) really worked for me, either.
morebedsidebooks's review against another edition
emotional
3.0
I don’t know if our relationship had a starting point. Perhaps she had been born alongside me, an invisible twin. Or perhaps she emerged from me at a time I can’t recall. Perhaps she was me. Or perhaps like she said: that she was born from a story. If that was the case, I still don’t know if she emerged from someone else’s story or my own.
I had no interest in finding out or knowing for sure, her presence itself was enough for me. Beginnings and ending didn’t really matter nor did learning the real answer.
They say I can no longer distinguish between reality and fantasy, a polite way of saying that I’m delusional. They take me to doctors, and sheikhs and therapists, they make me take medicine and waft smoke over me from the sheikh’s incense papers.
They insist they don’t see her, but I see her as vividly as I see them. I see her sharing my solitude, making me laugh, quarrelling with me, interrupting my train of thought, messing up my writing. She’s there in every moment, helping me overcome disappointments in love, commiserating with me over my losses and sharing her strange, crazy self.
Who’s right, them or me?
Thirteen Months of Sunrise is a little award-winning collection of ten likewise brief short stories by Sudanese author Rania Mamoun, translated from the Arabic by Elizabeth Jaquette. Pieces often explore characters that are marginalized in one way or another and incorporate too a bit of whimsy. Those looking for little commitment who like vignettes about life may enjoy this.
The title story is a particularly nice story about friendship and cultural exchange.
‘Edges’ featuring a struggling writer and her mysterious muse was the one that greatly stood out for me. ‘Passing’ which also appeared in The Book of Khartoum about a daughter and the death of her father is also redolent. For more Sudanese literature that anthology is further worth trying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Chronic illness, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Death, Physical abuse, War, and Animal death
qomareads's review against another edition
3.0
Translated from the Arabic. Ten short stories, some were great, some just below average but honest to say I really loved the writing. First read for #ramadhanreadathon
bdania's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0