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erinlcrane's review against another edition
2.0
Given the subject matter, I was weirdly /so bored/ reading this book. I think you can make a case for the things that caused my boredom, but it doesn’t change my boredom. The things that contributed were I think: detachment from the protagonist despite the first person perspective, random stories from other minor characters, and bad thing after bad thing happening.
Potentially the first thing was purposeful because of the disassociation the protagonist would have to experience to survive. For me, it made it difficult to connect with her in the way that I think this book wants me to connect with her.
The second might be a result of the author’s work interviewing so many people. She may have tried to include everything she learned in this book, but it’s only 200 pages so none of those stories are done any justice. They’re distractions from our primary story.
And the last thing is the most understandable. But focusing on only bad things over and over again made Maryam feel less like a real person. I think the one moment of joy she had (before the end) is maaayybe those fairy lights of her husband’s?? It just felt like very incomplete human experience, even in some of the worst circumstances. I’m not saying she should have been having a great time, not at all, but there could have been moments of joy when she’s just with the women. A contrasting story that comes to mind is Room by Emma Donoghue. I didn’t read the book, but assuming the film is similar, it did a good job showing us a full person with multiple kinds of experience in dire circumstances. I’m assuming that the reason this book is the way it is is because the message was overpowering good storytelling.
I would’ve ditched this before finishing it, but I read it for a book club read!
Potentially the first thing was purposeful because of the disassociation the protagonist would have to experience to survive. For me, it made it difficult to connect with her in the way that I think this book wants me to connect with her.
The second might be a result of the author’s work interviewing so many people. She may have tried to include everything she learned in this book, but it’s only 200 pages so none of those stories are done any justice. They’re distractions from our primary story.
And the last thing is the most understandable. But focusing on only bad things over and over again made Maryam feel less like a real person. I think the one moment of joy she had (before the end) is maaayybe those fairy lights of her husband’s?? It just felt like very incomplete human experience, even in some of the worst circumstances. I’m not saying she should have been having a great time, not at all, but there could have been moments of joy when she’s just with the women. A contrasting story that comes to mind is Room by Emma Donoghue. I didn’t read the book, but assuming the film is similar, it did a good job showing us a full person with multiple kinds of experience in dire circumstances. I’m assuming that the reason this book is the way it is is because the message was overpowering good storytelling.
I would’ve ditched this before finishing it, but I read it for a book club read!
bastiliest's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
So oder so ähnlich passiert es sicher öfter als man denkt ich habe immer mit gefiebert ob sie wieder ein normales Leben bekommt nach dem sie entführt wurde.
hiitssimone's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tyras_bookshelf's review against another edition
This book is obviously very dark and traumatizing as it deals with real life trauma, even if it’s fictionalized. It was really hard to read due to the explicit horror of what happened to these girls. I picked it up to try something new and learn about something I have little knowledge on but I just couldn’t stomach it.
Perhaps it was even a little gratuitous in the author’s description since she (seemingly) has no connection to the real people this happened to. Im making some assumptions without research so there’s that but I found it interesting and potentially problematic that this Irish author is writing Nigerian fictional stories. Race shouldn’t limit what stories you tell but something about it sets me on edge just a bit. Idk, it’s complicated.
And according to some other reviews, O’Brien traveled to Nigeria to interview women and girls victimized by Boca Haram and so there is critique about why she didn’t just do an autobiography or something more factual and I think that’s what I’m getting at to. For this to have been a reality of some many girls, it felt so much like O’Brien was hamming it up to give us this gorey, fantastical story—she could have just given us the unfiltered truth. Or maybe I’m missing the point—it was a gorey and unbelievable thing that occurred but something about this book was just off for me.
Anyway, maybe I’ll try again with this one but also most likely not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
lukakay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
fiona_claffey_kelly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and War
a_smile's review against another edition
4.0
I usually don’t read to give my nightmares new material, but here we are. The book is well written. I read some reviews that pointed out issues with the style, but it all felt natural to me. The strength of the story lies with the complete and utter lack of control (or say in) the main character has over her body, her future, her life. This is the heartbreaking reality of many woman in combat zones. You read this not for fun but for reflection and education, because to turn away does not make it go away.
The story is important. Yes there are other authors that can tell these stories, but O’Brien has a platform and she chose to use it. Truth is that there are people that would never read about this story had it not been for a (to them) known author publishing a new book, this book. And people who read it know what they are reading, they know the story from the blurb and the author. There is no deceit.
That being said, if you prefer to read about this (for lack of better word) event from an author from Nigeria or who has personally lived through it, these books exist and are only a google session away. Other reviewers have named some of the better written ones by name. I haven’t read these so can not give recommendations on that account, but I invite you to read a few more reviews, you’ll come across them pretty soon.
An end note to future me, do not ever think about rereading this book. I am not joking, put it back on the shelves. Remember you have a vivid imagination and you don’t handle torture well.
The story is important. Yes there are other authors that can tell these stories, but O’Brien has a platform and she chose to use it. Truth is that there are people that would never read about this story had it not been for a (to them) known author publishing a new book, this book. And people who read it know what they are reading, they know the story from the blurb and the author. There is no deceit.
That being said, if you prefer to read about this (for lack of better word) event from an author from Nigeria or who has personally lived through it, these books exist and are only a google session away. Other reviewers have named some of the better written ones by name. I haven’t read these so can not give recommendations on that account, but I invite you to read a few more reviews, you’ll come across them pretty soon.
An end note to future me, do not ever think about rereading this book. I am not joking, put it back on the shelves. Remember you have a vivid imagination and you don’t handle torture well.
zellreads's review against another edition
3.0
Parts of this book are brutal and hard hitting, but other parts feel vague and not well explained or fleshed out. It is obvious the author has done her research, but I feel like many details are skipped over or told extremely quickly, possibly to avoid scrutiny on lesser known parts of the narrative. I would love to see a book like this written from a Nigerian author.
emmavardy2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
An important story about the kidnapping of Nigerian school girls by Boko Haram. Told from perspective of main character Maryam. It's a tough read but so well written and such an important topic. Some have criticised this book being written by an older, Irish, white lady. However Edna O'brien did huge amounts of research for the book, writes sensitively and brings these events to a wider audience. So for me this isn't a negative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
tonyf111's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25