Reviews

Afrikalı Leo by Sevim Gündüz Raşa, Amin Maalouf

cardcaptorsena's review

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3.0

Would love to read a story like this from a woman's perspective.

mohmed_safwat's review against another edition

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5.0

ثلاث مدن عظيمة تسقط وتنهار في فترة زمنية متقاربة، غرناطة فالقاهرة فروما.
الأولي سقطت في أيد القشتاليين، الثانية سيطر عليها العثمانيين، والثالثة دمرها اللوثرين.
هذه الرواية رحلة في هذا الزمن وهذة المدن.
رحلة ممتعة للغاية.

stephbe96's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

drskaninchen's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective 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? No

4.25

varwalnej's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

fabrice44's review against another edition

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5.0

Leon l'africain a travers Granada, Fez, Cairo, and Rome.

estoycabezabajo's review against another edition

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adventurous informative inspiring 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? No

3.75

jm65's review against another edition

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3.0

Relato con un ritmo demasiado lento, que adolece de "la suerte del héroe".

ohmyhoven's review against another edition

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4.0

I really don't know what to think of this book. It is really really good but not of the quality of Maluf's other books. I am really having lots of opposing feelings concerning it.

itsokayitsofficial's review against another edition

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1.0

Right, so after having read Leo Africanus I've kind of confirmed what I've suspected for a while now. Maaloufs body of work that I've thus far read varies widely in subject, and I've found each of the books to read vary differently. That is to say that even when taking into account the diverse nature of these books I have not found in them a consistent voice and style specific to Amin Maalouf.
'Big deal' you say, right? Well it kinda pisses me off. 'The Rock of Tanois': simply amazing. 'In the Name of Identity': great shit. 'The Crusades Through Arab Eyes': yeah, okay, why not. 'Leo Africanus': WTF was that Amin? I'll tell you what: 360 pages of "meh", that's what. I literally just finished the book, went to the restroom, came back and said to myself "what the hell did I just read"?
Now, before I get you whipped into a frenzy, I believe I've identified the root of this devolution. Amin writes all of his books in French and they are subsequently translated into English (even though Maalouf is fluent in English). Further still, each of his books has been translated into English by a different person! This being said, I think the human we have to blame here is not Amin but rather a Mr. Peter Sluglett.
So, while in the end Leo Africanus is a boring read at best, we can't all go and blame Amin Maalouf for concussion inducing damage his book will do to your brain . Obviously the failing lies at Pete's feet.