Scan barcode
A review by rebeccarennerfl
Chronicle of a Last Summer: A Novel of Egypt by Yasmine El Rashidi
5.0
While the content of this novel is certainly interesting, the choice of narrator occludes important details. There is no real narrative force that pushes the beginning forward. Honestly, for such a short novel, Chronicle of a Last Summer really drags.
Time goes on, and the narrator ages, but the narration remains rather bland. For a literary novel, there is no extra special care for the detail of the prose. For me, if a novel doesn't have a strong plot, interesting characters, or stellar prose - really, none of these - what's the point in reading?
The only thing I came away from this novel with is the reminder that I don't know that much about Egypt in that part of history. I would love to read an exciting novel about that, one with interesting characters and lively prose. Basically, I want a different book.
Time goes on, and the narrator ages, but the narration remains rather bland. For a literary novel, there is no extra special care for the detail of the prose. For me, if a novel doesn't have a strong plot, interesting characters, or stellar prose - really, none of these - what's the point in reading?
The only thing I came away from this novel with is the reminder that I don't know that much about Egypt in that part of history. I would love to read an exciting novel about that, one with interesting characters and lively prose. Basically, I want a different book.