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katealane's review
4.0
While I really enjoyed some of these stories, others just didn't work for me. The stories I enjoyed were excellent in my opinion and I also enjoyed learning a bit more about Turkey. In general, I'm not a fan of short stories unless there is a common thread in the story line that ties them all together. However, I decided to read these because the book's description intrigued me and I have really enjoyed magical realism in the past. If you enjoy short stories or want to read stories set in this part of the world, give it at try. I received the e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
atuans's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.75
this is a really solid and beautifully written collection of short stories. my favorites were the stray of ankara, the muezzin, and the birdkeeper's moral. reading this makes me interested to see what orhan will write in the future.
missrerr's review
4.0
Vivid, quirky, humorous, tragic stories fearlessly written, depicting a country and its humans within the tangles of oppression and conflict and beauty.
abbyreads8's review
5.0
I wish I was able to rate this book more than five stars. Orhan's debut short story collection is breathtaking in every sense of the word, exploring resistance, community, and more. Absolutely one of the best books I've read in 2022 - looking forward to more coming from this author in the future.
Thank you to Random House for the advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to Random House for the advanced copy of this book.
vachette's review
4.0
I rarely read short stories as finding a cohesive collection can be difficult. I Am My Country and Other Stories has overall strong stories with a variety of interesting narrators and viewpoints. I don’t know much about the Turkish culture. Insights from these stories helped expand my understanding and has caught my interest in learning more.
cdesana's review
emotional
mysterious
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? No
3.5
internationalreads's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
buer's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am My Country is a collection of short stories featuring heavy doses of magical realism set against a backdrop of war-torn Turkey.
Kenan Orhan is an imaginative writer with a gift for beautiful, philosophical turns of phrase. The pacing is very slow. I enjoyed every story but found that one was enough to tide me over for quite some time whenever I was reading.
Kenan Orhan is an imaginative writer with a gift for beautiful, philosophical turns of phrase. The pacing is very slow. I enjoyed every story but found that one was enough to tide me over for quite some time whenever I was reading.