kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, and Colonisation
beatriks's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-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
3.0
I read in another review that the book is meandering, and I fully agree. I don’t think this is a good thing. While I enjoyed the read to a certain limit (otherwise I would have DNFed), the writing annoyed me.
There are a lot of matter-of-fact descriptions mixed with the attempt of being poetic.
Characters appear and disappear randomly.
There are lots of changes of perspective, also at times of minor characters.
What I liked was the insight into Moroccan life in the 1940s and 50s, the racism from French toward Moroccans and from Moroccans to former slaves.
There are a lot of matter-of-fact descriptions mixed with the attempt of being poetic.
Characters appear and disappear randomly.
There are lots of changes of perspective, also at times of minor characters.
What I liked was the insight into Moroccan life in the 1940s and 50s, the racism from French toward Moroccans and from Moroccans to former slaves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Animal death, and Infertility
Minor: Death of parent
amkclaes's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
a kind of meandering, but ultimately interesting account of a French woman adjusting to life with her husband in Morocco with a backdrop of the strengthening anti colonial movement
less plot, more vibes, it kind of finds a way to remain neutral in the face of pretty upsetting, tragic, otherwise incendiary content, so it leaves a fairly bland impression. The best scenes are at the end and through the eyes of the child, in my opinion.
less plot, more vibes, it kind of finds a way to remain neutral in the face of pretty upsetting, tragic, otherwise incendiary content, so it leaves a fairly bland impression. The best scenes are at the end and through the eyes of the child, in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, Misogyny, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Classism
kryptokristallin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Colonisation and Misogyny
cerilouisereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, Racism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia
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