ricksilva's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

Fatou, an immigrant to London from the Ivory Coast, finds a bit of solace from her housekeeping job in using her employer's guest passes to the local swimming pool. The pool is located next to the Embassy of Cambodia, with its ongoing badminton game the only sign of activity visible over its walls.

This short story does a lot with a relatively simply plot and its two main characters. The author makes great use of small details to provide depth, and to echo the inescapable thoughts of genocide that the local residents bring to mind as they contemplate the Embassy.

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allyjshand's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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? No

5.0

I’ve been meaning to read Zadie Smith’s work for a long time, particularly after reading Open Water. This short story certainly did not disappoint. I was surprised at how attached I felt to the protagonist and how moved it was by her journey. Incredible writing. 

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kstericker's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75


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kingorgan's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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