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solaratmidnight's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
ascalun's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kingabee's review against another edition
4.0
The problems with child narrators is that they need to be authentic, because the reader wants to believe the story is told by an eight year old but at the same time the reader doesn't want to feel that the book was actually written by an eight year old. Here lies the catch-22, the book needs to be told by an eight year old but written by an adult.
Many authors resort to writing simple sentences and just dumbing down everything but that's not the way, of course. Nathalie Abi-Ezzi didn't fall into this trap. Her writing is exquisite but it is not done at cost of authenticity of her eight year old narrator, Ruba. Abi-Ezzie managed to capture the world as it is perceived by a child. There is a thin line between the real and the fantasy and the logical order of causes and consequences is often muddled.
We follow Ruba as she is trying to save her family in the midst of the civil war in Lebanon. Her father stopped speaking and caring for the world and spends most of his time sitting in his armchair and staring into space. Her mother cleans and cooks, cleans and cooks, as if afraid that if she stops she might realize the ruin that her family has come to. And her brother has secrets.
It is a beautiful story that analyses the madness of a civil war in a very interesting way. It raises an important question if you can (and should) lead a normal life when the world around you is falling apart. If you like poetic imagery and ephemeral style you should give "A Girl Made of Dust" a go.
Many authors resort to writing simple sentences and just dumbing down everything but that's not the way, of course. Nathalie Abi-Ezzi didn't fall into this trap. Her writing is exquisite but it is not done at cost of authenticity of her eight year old narrator, Ruba. Abi-Ezzie managed to capture the world as it is perceived by a child. There is a thin line between the real and the fantasy and the logical order of causes and consequences is often muddled.
We follow Ruba as she is trying to save her family in the midst of the civil war in Lebanon. Her father stopped speaking and caring for the world and spends most of his time sitting in his armchair and staring into space. Her mother cleans and cooks, cleans and cooks, as if afraid that if she stops she might realize the ruin that her family has come to. And her brother has secrets.
It is a beautiful story that analyses the madness of a civil war in a very interesting way. It raises an important question if you can (and should) lead a normal life when the world around you is falling apart. If you like poetic imagery and ephemeral style you should give "A Girl Made of Dust" a go.
amandabw425's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.25
katelynanton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
this is a beautiful novel of a young girl’s life during the war in Lebanon ignited by the Israeli invasion in the 1980s. it’s about the ways we move through grief and heartache, how we have no choice but to break under the weight of unimaginable atrocities. how we can pick each other up, how we can make space for love and care even when all seems lost
“but war isn’t only in the soldier’s heart[]. that’s what most people don’t see. it’s in the heart of the man in the suit - the man with the fat wallet, the smiling mouth and the sweet tongue - in his heart maybe most of all. perhaps he pulls more triggers than anyone, even though his finger never once touches a gun.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Injury/Injury detail
sebastianrutter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
isabelolsen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
pattydsf's review against another edition
2.0
This book was written with feeling and the desire to tell the world about her homeland. Abi-Ezzi obviously was deeply affected by the war in Lebanon.
Unfortunately she was not able to make me feel her emotions and experiences. I could not find a connection to her characters. I am sure that there are readers who will find this book fascinating. I had hoped to be one of them.
Unfortunately she was not able to make me feel her emotions and experiences. I could not find a connection to her characters. I am sure that there are readers who will find this book fascinating. I had hoped to be one of them.
whats_amelia_reading's review against another edition
3.0
this was an interesting read. it follows an eight-year-old girl growing up in 1980s lebanon. i found it gripping how the story starts at a time of relative peace and slowly the situation worsens. it was very effective, particularly because with the open-ended conclusion.
i also liked that even though the narrator was eight years old, the writing never came across as childish.
it took me a while to get into the book but once i did i enjoyed it. there were a few times where i was confused about who some of the side characters were - i feel like they weren't really explained and it took me a few pages of reading to figure out who they were lol
i also liked that even though the narrator was eight years old, the writing never came across as childish.
it took me a while to get into the book but once i did i enjoyed it. there were a few times where i was confused about who some of the side characters were - i feel like they weren't really explained and it took me a few pages of reading to figure out who they were lol