A review by smokeyshouse
In the City by the Sea by Kamila Shamsie

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The writing was not to my taste - Shamsie tried to make word-plays that weren't successful (unlike Tomb of Sand, where it was done brilliantly in the English translation).  In addition, the level of word-play did not seem to fit the age of the child protagonists (there were two).  Also, the use of a pre-teen narrator was not a good choice for conveying political ideas.  As one review noted, the interspersing of fantasy-scapes in the mind of the narrator was reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes; but in this case it just made the scenes disengaging.  However, the story had enough interest, and was a good debut novel.  I will continue with my Shamsie reading project and read her subsequent books in order of publication.