Reviews

Then the Fish Swallowed Him: A Novel by Amir Ahmadi Arian

gumnutcity's review

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

'Then the Fish Swallowed Him' by Amir Ahmadi Arian offers a perceptive and painful look at life in post-revolutionary Iran. The central character is Yunus, a largely apolitical bus driver who participates in a strike and quickly finds himself a prisoner under interrogation. This novel is an Iranian equivalent of Darkness at Noon, or even The Trial, in which a man finds himself fighting unjustified accusations that are never fully revealed to him.

Because he is kept in solitary confinement, Yunus comes not just to fear his interrogator, but also to feel an unsettling connectedness with him. His perspective on his small cell grows and diminishes during his imprisonment. At times, he can see the vastness his cell can contain and the freedom to think that it offers, and he uses these to strengthen himself. At other times, the space is claustrophobic and atemporal—time has stopped and Yunus is in surroundings so bare they can seem like nothingness itself.

The questions this novel asks about justice—in all the complicated senses of that term—make it an engrossing, rewarding read. I also appreciated the glimpse of ordinary life in Iran during and after the revolution, which challenges the "good guys-bad guys" narrative in which recent Iranian history is depicted in the West.

mmatti300's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

While I think that this was such an insightful look into bud rebellions and the prison culture of the time, I felt like the character development was lacking so much so that I don’t think I will remember much of this book in the future. 

nichoke's review

dark medium-paced

4.0

Not what I was expecting at all. Very different from the book description, especially in terms of character relationships - but still pretty good!

lmenz's review

challenging dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I found the author's description of Yunus' experience in solitary confinement captivating.

snoutsiru's review

4.0

not what i expected but still good

hi_jps's review

reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

yavin_iv's review

not working for me at the moment. might come back later

sarboush's review

sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jen_2109000's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

noushnoush's review

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75