It is easy to read a book that is set in a war-torn country safe in your warm cosy home knowing no harm is coming to you, but it's harder when you reaIt is easy to read a book that is set in a war-torn country safe in your warm cosy home knowing no harm is coming to you, but it's harder when you realise these fictionalised charcters and their situations are real for those people who go through it every minute of every day.
In this story we are introduced to Salama's story a teen who's dream is to work in pharmaceuticals yet because of war is plunged into the frontline as a makeshift surgeon trying to save people from death.
I can't imagine living in a war country let alone also serving in the front line in a war country. Her story was so heartfelt and real. Her loyality to her country and wanting to fight for it vs getting out and having a chance at survival and finding happiness again.
She fights with PTSD witnessing her family being killed/taken seeing children, men, women dying and not to mention having to live with the threat of bombs and missiles and snipers. Honestly I would have preferred this being in Kenan's p.o.v because him documenting the horror and his story was so powerful. Also side note hugely shocking (but not surprising) how to this day there is so less coverage of war not just in Syria but over Middle East/South Asian countries and if we compare that to the war in Ukraine and the coverage they had I mean just speaks volumes.
When Salama takes the boat is probably what cut me the most. Having to leave your country and everything you have ever know just for your own safety and a chance to live hits hard. Just today in the news 6 people died trying to cross the boarder and this story just reminds me how important it is to remember and honour these people.
The biggest thing I took from this book is hope! Salama and Kenan are a reminder that hope exists. By fighting for your country no matter how far away you are, by highlighting stories, by donating, by volunteering at hospitals, by protesting, by amplifying voices and stories. By loving. Syrians deserve their country back and we need to do our absolute best to help those people just like Salama and Kenan go back to what was theirs. It's not only a human right. Also loved and appreciated the Islam/halal romance rep! ❤
Please go read this book and after that educate yourselves with what is happening not just in Syria but all those countries who have been affected too.
Quotes/
'To all the Syrians who loved, lost, lived and died for Syria. We will come back home one day.'
'Death is an excellent teacher.'
'Life is more than just survival.'
Arab proverb- 'the worst of outcomes is what is most hilarious.'
Ahmad's voice- I'll tell God everything' (literal chills ...more
The collection of Grimm’s stories has just reignited my passion of love for fairy tales. These fairy tales aren’t as familiar to me as some others thaThe collection of Grimm’s stories has just reignited my passion of love for fairy tales. These fairy tales aren’t as familiar to me as some others that I have grown up with, but this is why I love reading collections because now I have found some favourites. I also loved coming back to it and reading the originals and seeing how they differ from the adaptations (mostly done by Disney), I loved reading it in all its gory, in its anticipation of happily ever after, and of course the adventures and quests along the way.
I was actually surprised at the horror and the adult themes, because of Disney watering it down you forget just how ‘grown up’ they actually read which I did enjoy. This is a collection of tales I will be for sure re-visiting time and time again, and I am already telling some stories to my nieces and nephews (adapting them and putting my own spin on them). I especially loved this edition (Oxford World’s Classics) it had a preface describing how the stories were collected, the importance of preserving stories and customs of oral storytelling, all of which I'm hugely fascinated by so was so happy to find this in there.
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is that these tales are outdated, and it is important to recognise and acknowledge the misogynistic/sexist and often offensive remarks. ...more
Re-visiting Perrault’s fairy tales is like dipping into childhood and watching Disney movies back-to-back, and the Disney books box set of animated piRe-visiting Perrault’s fairy tales is like dipping into childhood and watching Disney movies back-to-back, and the Disney books box set of animated picture books, (distinctly remember having Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and funnily enough, Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmatians- which I know are not fairy tales, but I remember these side by side).
I was actually really surprised to find that the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty was re-written by the Brothers Grimm as Briar-Rose it was really interesting comparing and analysing them both seeing the similarities and differences. But also seeing how Disney take the fairy tale and adapt it. I was also surprised reading Perrault had written Puss in Boots (I don’t know why I always used to think Hans Christian Anderson wrote it). I am actually so surprised at how Perrault’s fairy tales are gorier and scarier they are than the adaptions portray them. I actually (depending on which fairy tale) prefer them in their original form because it makes the ending that much more satisfying.
Overall, I loved it, and would highly recommend it. ...more
'When you saw the cruelty of the world firsthand, you became a little cruel yourself.'
This book grew on me! A little slow to start with but I was righ'When you saw the cruelty of the world firsthand, you became a little cruel yourself.'
This book grew on me! A little slow to start with but I was right there with a part of the Casimir gang. Just imagine Peaky Blinders and a vampire mafia type crossover. Loved Arthie and Jinn's backstory and how they came to be. I liked the way she wrote about colonialism and how it affects the characters and that is one of the basis of the US and THEM mentality. Loved the heist, loved/broken/is this really happening at the ending. Would I carry in this series... yes I would. 3.85 the cover for this book is amazing!
I really wanted to love this book, but I really couldn't get into it. I loved the setting, the world building, loved the representation, but that was I really wanted to love this book, but I really couldn't get into it. I loved the setting, the world building, loved the representation, but that was about it. I don't know why I am so picky when it comes to fantasy novels, because had I read this a year or two ago I think I would have loved this book but sadly I was glad to be done with it. It is pretty similar-in terms of tropes- with other children's fantasy/ young adult fantasy sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It was a predictable plot like with The Woven Kingdom it was a predictable plot with similar tropes but it works so does the Ember series however with this I felt bored reading it (I feel so bad for saying because I so wanted to love it). Definitely Arabian Nights vibe and I think because this is for the audience of children maybe that is a factor as to why I didn't overly enjoy it. Sadly didn't enjoy this book. The best thing I would say is probably the author's note and the starting when Zafira is in the forest type thing and the imagery of nature.
Quotes/ 'Pride was a dangerous thing' 'His mother used to say that a person without hope was a body without a soul.' ...more
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