tatianamgriffin's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this story! It was fascinating to read the transformation that took place for the main character, Hana, and how she navigated the challenges in her life while also being brave in her pursuit of who she knew she could become. I was very intrigued by this tradition, and the story highlights many of the reasons why one might choose to adhere to it. Highly recommend the read! It is so engrossing that I couldn’t put it down.
madleina's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ohlhauc's review
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
snoakes7001's review
5.0
Books take you on a journey, telling you tales, entertaining you, transporting you to new worlds and the very best ones also teach you something - whether it's some thing about yourself or the world we live in. This one is just that. It's absolutely fascinating - Hana has lived as a man Mark for most of her life in the mountains of northern Albania. She has come to America to be reborn as the woman she once was. How she comes to terms with herself, her past and her body and her sexuality is explored in a gorgeous and tender page-turner of a story.
drlucyc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
5.0
shelleyanderson4127's review
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This novel by well-known Albanian writer Elvira Dones tackles gender, women's sexuality and immigration. Its starting point is the real phenomenon known as sworn virgins. Some women in northern Albania, to escape the subservient and restricted life of women, cut their hair, don men's clothing, and swear off sex and marriage. They are treated with pride by their family and with respect from other men.
Hana Dodas has escaped a suffocating rural village and gone to university in the capital. an orphan, she's been adopted by her beloved uncle Gjergy and his wife Katrina. When Gjergy becomes terminally ill, she returns to the village to care for him. As a single young woman, her life is threatened with sexual assault. To protect her, her uncle arranges marriage to a stranger. Hana rebels and becomes Mark, a sworn virgin.
Almost 15 years later she immigrates to the US to build a new life for herself. Her discovery of her as a woman, and her exploration of her sexuality, is fascinating and convincing. This is a well-written exploration of a woman's struggle to survive with her integrity intact. I had heard of sworn virgins before and enjoyed this literary account of the historical reality.
Hana Dodas has escaped a suffocating rural village and gone to university in the capital. an orphan, she's been adopted by her beloved uncle Gjergy and his wife Katrina. When Gjergy becomes terminally ill, she returns to the village to care for him. As a single young woman, her life is threatened with sexual assault. To protect her, her uncle arranges marriage to a stranger. Hana rebels and becomes Mark, a sworn virgin.
Almost 15 years later she immigrates to the US to build a new life for herself. Her discovery of her as a woman, and her exploration of her sexuality, is fascinating and convincing. This is a well-written exploration of a woman's struggle to survive with her integrity intact. I had heard of sworn virgins before and enjoyed this literary account of the historical reality.