bundy23's review against another edition
2.0
Despite the early promise it's just not very interesting.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘What was her story in the great swirling darkness of the world?’
Gilgamesh is about searching, for people, for adventure, for identity and for purpose. In 1937, Leopold and Aram visit Edith’s family in south-west Australia. They are on their way home, indirectly, after working on an archaeological dig in Iraq. They are aware that the world is on the brink of war. One of the stories they share is the story of Gilgamesh, the legendary king of Uruk, and his journey after the death of his friend Enkidu. This story will play a part in each of their lives.
In 1939 Edith and her young child set off from Australia to find the child’s father. Their travels take them to London to the Caucasus and the Middle East. The outbreak of war traps Edith and her child, disrupts their travel, raises more questions, and makes it much harder to find answers.
But are the answers there, so far from home? Are the answers external to the traveller, or are they contained within? Or is the journey itself more important than the destination? I finished this book restless for answers and wondering.
‘This too was home. This feeling of closeness, with nowhere else to go.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Gilgamesh is about searching, for people, for adventure, for identity and for purpose. In 1937, Leopold and Aram visit Edith’s family in south-west Australia. They are on their way home, indirectly, after working on an archaeological dig in Iraq. They are aware that the world is on the brink of war. One of the stories they share is the story of Gilgamesh, the legendary king of Uruk, and his journey after the death of his friend Enkidu. This story will play a part in each of their lives.
In 1939 Edith and her young child set off from Australia to find the child’s father. Their travels take them to London to the Caucasus and the Middle East. The outbreak of war traps Edith and her child, disrupts their travel, raises more questions, and makes it much harder to find answers.
But are the answers there, so far from home? Are the answers external to the traveller, or are they contained within? Or is the journey itself more important than the destination? I finished this book restless for answers and wondering.
‘This too was home. This feeling of closeness, with nowhere else to go.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
eavan's review against another edition
4.0
An Australian farm girl takes her unintended baby son across Europe in search of its Armenian father, as World War II begins. I loved this book for its smooth, understated writing style and the gentle sympathy London gives her characters. I loved the travel theme and its conclusion, the look at what motivates different people to undertake their adventures and how ultimately unromantic their adventures are.
bookthia's review against another edition
4.0
It is difficult to express how deeply this novel can touch you if you take the time to savour it. This is not an action filled book, although the actions of Edith, the main character, have profound consequences for herself and her son. This is a book that is introspective. Simply following the plot will offer only partial rewards. Yes, the plot winds through the Australian desert, and 1940's Middle Eastern countries (Armenia, Turkey, Persia, Syria) and is a fascinating tale of perseverance. But there are rewards beyond plot, the book is richly emotive and resonating questions of morality. Its lessons and observations made me think deeply about my preconceived notions of love, motherhood, loyalty and courage.
rebthack's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
This was a really interesting story. Youthful dreams and hopes of finding a better life are met with reality at every step of the way. A story of travel, naive love, and loss. So much happens, yet it is written in such a spare way that it feels mundane.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
abookishtype's review against another edition
1.0
When I read about this novel–about a young Australian woman who chases after her lost Armenian lover with their young son in tow–I was hooked. A nineteen year old girl looking for her lost lover in Soviet Armenia. It sounded fantastic, like it could be a rich story. But as I read it, it started to seem very anemic to me...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
clarissa80's review against another edition
3.0
Its a nice page turner of a book, very easy to read. Would make a good holiday book
jaxcote's review against another edition
5.0
It was awesome. Really awesome. Fascinating look into Armenia during WWII.