menniemenace's review against another edition
5.0
At the risk of being super cheesy, I'll put that quote at the start of my review. I need this, so let me have it.
This book is written by a Slovenian Author in the 20th century. It's about the Sunni/Shia and the Shia/Shia wars in the 11th century in Iran. Talk about going WAY out of your comfort zone.
This book is pretty well-written. It has poetry battles (no idea if that's what they call it in English), false prophets, and nihilism!
It's very deep and contemplative. very insomnia-inducing.
(I'll be back with an actual review later when the whole book is absorbed.)
"Nothing is true, everything is permitted"
This book is written by a Slovenian Author in the 20th century. It's about the Sunni/Shia and the Shia/Shia wars in the 11th century in Iran. Talk about going WAY out of your comfort zone.
This book is pretty well-written. It has poetry battles (no idea if that's what they call it in English), false prophets, and nihilism!
It's very deep and contemplative. very insomnia-inducing.
(I'll be back with an actual review later when the whole book is absorbed.)
pryme's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
binstonbirchill's review
5.0
Alamut offers half a dozen easily identifiable situations that it could be referring to, besides the one that the story is literally about, including several that hadn't even happened at the time he wrote the book. If you didn't know better you would assume this book was written in response to 9/11, it wasn't, it was written in 1938. If every person in the world read this book we would be so much better off. It does not offer solutions, it shows you things and is open to interpretation.
muzykan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hackjuber's review
3.0
I'm torn on how I feel about this book. The story and setting are fascinating and there is an ever relevant statement behind it all about tyrants and radicalization. However, the translation I read was terrible. The dialogue seems off. The characters speak in such a modern way that I had to remind myself that the book takes place in nearly 1000 years ago. Despite the clunky writing, the plot and underlying themes held up the novel, and I enjoyed my time with it.
A note on this book's relation to the Assassins Creed videogame franchise: Apparently this is the book that inspired the Assassin's Creed series of games, which is how I heard about it. I must say if you are a fan of those games, do not expect this book to be anything like them. There are only two 'assassinations' near the end and the core of the book is about the deception of the initiates and the "paradise" scheme that Hasan masterfully concocted. It's a shame honestly. Imagine how cool Assassin's Creed would've been if it followed the plot of the book a little closer: stealing people's outfits to infiltrate enemy strongholds, dream sequences in paradise, and perhaps (deviating from the book) a final encounter with Hasan when you learn the truth. Now that would've been a truly excellent game.
A note on this book's relation to the Assassins Creed videogame franchise: Apparently this is the book that inspired the Assassin's Creed series of games, which is how I heard about it. I must say if you are a fan of those games, do not expect this book to be anything like them. There are only two 'assassinations' near the end and the core of the book is about the deception of the initiates and the "paradise" scheme that Hasan masterfully concocted. It's a shame honestly. Imagine how cool Assassin's Creed would've been if it followed the plot of the book a little closer: stealing people's outfits to infiltrate enemy strongholds, dream sequences in paradise, and perhaps (deviating from the book) a final encounter with Hasan when you learn the truth. Now that would've been a truly excellent game.
mayarelmahdy's review against another edition
5.0
At the risk of being super cheesy, I'll put that quote at the start of my review. I need this, so let me have it.
This book is written by a Slovenian Author in the 20th century. It's about the Sunni/Shia and the Shia/Shia wars in the 11th century in Iran. Talk about going WAY out of your comfort zone.
This book is pretty well-written. It has poetry battles (no idea if that's what they call it in English), false prophets, and nihilism!
It's very deep and contemplative. very insomnia-inducing.
(I'll be back with an actual review later when the whole book is absorbed.)
"Nothing is true, everything is permitted"
This book is written by a Slovenian Author in the 20th century. It's about the Sunni/Shia and the Shia/Shia wars in the 11th century in Iran. Talk about going WAY out of your comfort zone.
This book is pretty well-written. It has poetry battles (no idea if that's what they call it in English), false prophets, and nihilism!
It's very deep and contemplative. very insomnia-inducing.
(I'll be back with an actual review later when the whole book is absorbed.)
anaelle2rt's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5