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notthatcosta's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Although I found the plot difficult to grasp onto for the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's so rare to see Cypriot diasporic writers publishing novels, especially not Turkish Cypriots, so to see the dialect in print was very exciting to see (especially seeing common words with Cypriot Greek).
There were twist and turns that I was not expecting (i.e. the gay stuff) which were delightful to uncover. While other parts were more opaque for my liking, the parts I was able to grasp upon initial reading were very enjoyable. I rarely re-read novels but this is one I would consider revisiting.
There were twist and turns that I was not expecting (i.e. the gay stuff) which were delightful to uncover. While other parts were more opaque for my liking, the parts I was able to grasp upon initial reading were very enjoyable. I rarely re-read novels but this is one I would consider revisiting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, and War
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
I picked up Keeping the House after it was nominated for the Jhalak Prize and as part of the #literaryfifteen challenge. It’s part family saga, part coming of age, part crime novel and it takes place among North London’s Turkish Cypriot community over the span of just over a decade. It’s gritty, featuring poverty, the sale and use of drugs sexual and physical abuse. It’s also a tale of survival with strong women doing what they have to to keep themselves and their families afloat - even when that involves organising heroin to be smuggled into the UK via cabbages. It’s a story that demands the reader’s attention with a large cast of characters and jumping about in time and perspective. The writing style moves between prose and poetry, is often fragmentary and Turkish is incorporated in the text, although translations are provided. I loved the audio because it gave me the opportunity to hear the Turkish. The author brought the place and it’s people vividly to life by focusing on evocative details. While it could be a little chaotic at times I appreciated its fresh voice and it’s peek into a community I hadn’t read about before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
kirstym25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
hayleyc's review against another edition
reflective
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment