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audreyxwg's review against another edition
2.0
i think it raised a lot of interesting topics that i wish were more nuanced with a more structured plot? But I guess with the structure and the twist it makes sense though I think the outright statement of beliefs and prose just not for me!
maddi_paige's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I really wanted to like this book. The concept is something I still want to read… by another author. That pains me to say, because this space (especially in horror/thriller) needs more Arab voices, but with a plot so ripe with potential for meaningful commentary, the power of language, that could have easily incorporated some fantastic horror elements, Siddiqi failed to do anything with it. The main character spends the book pacifying sadistic authorities and letting life happen to her instead of being an active participant. We don’t even get a satisfying ending as this book falls off a cliff. I thought for a moment my copy was missing pages! It was so abrupt and unfulfilling. The Centre felt rushed and surface level, and I feel cheated out of what should have been an amazing story with tension and introspection. So disappointing.
keilalaalaaa's review against another edition
mysterious
2.5
it was interesting and kept me reading but i was like “why?” often and not in the way i like to be questioning. perhaps just not the book for me. the end also was not my fave.
sejalyse's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
bookworm1912's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
alliedudley's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rubius_pepperwood's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
izzyvb023's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I think more people need to be worried about prions diseases.
I liked this book well enough. It was paced pretty slowly, but the reveal was good. The narrator was unreliable and oftentimes even unlikeable, but I still wanted her to succeed.
There was also some very thoughtful commentary about translation, colonialism, and feminism. I was especially interested in the way the author described the act of translation and compared it to prayer.
The ‘meta’ bit at the end was good. It definitely achieved its goal and had me questioning the author and her lived experiences.
Overall, it was a good mild horror read. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for any of the following:
- dark academia
- plot twists
- mild body horror
- unreliable narrator
- meta
- translation/linguistics/language learning
I liked this book well enough. It was paced pretty slowly, but the reveal was good. The narrator was unreliable and oftentimes even unlikeable, but I still wanted her to succeed.
There was also some very thoughtful commentary about translation, colonialism, and feminism. I was especially interested in the way the author described the act of translation and compared it to prayer.
The ‘meta’ bit at the end was good. It definitely achieved its goal and had me questioning the author and her lived experiences.
Overall, it was a good mild horror read. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for any of the following:
- dark academia
- plot twists
- mild body horror
- unreliable narrator
- meta
- translation/linguistics/language learning
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism