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A review by venusinlove
Любов by Elif Shafak
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
finally, after 8 years of being recommended this book, I've read it!!
and i feel like a fool.
the idea of the book was so good! the equality between religions and different people and how the world treats those said differences was well delivered but! at the same time i have some icks with this book.
firstly, the whole story between ella and aziz felt a bit too childish to me, i can't even explain it. I'm trying not to judge it too hard since this book is from 2009 and i guess that's how a love story was used to be put into a book? but i didn't feel anything out of their relationship. the whole thing about how love is the only thing that we should follow and "god is in everything" felt a bit too pushed. i mean, i get it but also it was like an ongoing mantra in the entire book. and i kind of got tired of it, I'm sorry.
secondly, there were so many characters that if you were like me - listening to the audiobook more rather than reading it, it's hard to distinguish most of the people. i feel like this is a mistake on my part for listening to the audiobook... but at the same time, shouldn't it be clear on itself without wondering which person's turn it is to "talk"?
and i think my biggest problem with this book is entirely on me - i was not educated enough on their religion and traditions. i quite literally knew nothing about dervishes and Sufism which transpired to me being very confused. i thought that i could finish this book and learn about it and i partly did, it was really interesting to me but i would continue my learning experience and get into that part of the religion.
oh, i forgot to add - maybe be careful about adding ED into a book next time. :) also, the talk about gaining weight, because it's a touchy subject and it was used as something negative. i think these topics could have been skipped since they have nothing to do with the story.
all in all, the book was quite accessible even for a person who knows nothing about a certain lifestyle and traditions. i really liked rumi's last chapter, i felt it close to my heart. i hope my friend is proud of my for reading this book! he should be, it only took me 8 years after all. :)
and i feel like a fool.
the idea of the book was so good! the equality between religions and different people and how the world treats those said differences was well delivered but! at the same time i have some icks with this book.
firstly, the whole story between ella and aziz felt a bit too childish to me, i can't even explain it. I'm trying not to judge it too hard since this book is from 2009 and i guess that's how a love story was used to be put into a book? but i didn't feel anything out of their relationship. the whole thing about how love is the only thing that we should follow and "god is in everything" felt a bit too pushed. i mean, i get it but also it was like an ongoing mantra in the entire book. and i kind of got tired of it, I'm sorry.
secondly, there were so many characters that if you were like me - listening to the audiobook more rather than reading it, it's hard to distinguish most of the people. i feel like this is a mistake on my part for listening to the audiobook... but at the same time, shouldn't it be clear on itself without wondering which person's turn it is to "talk"?
and i think my biggest problem with this book is entirely on me - i was not educated enough on their religion and traditions. i quite literally knew nothing about dervishes and Sufism which transpired to me being very confused. i thought that i could finish this book and learn about it and i partly did, it was really interesting to me but i would continue my learning experience and get into that part of the religion.
oh, i forgot to add - maybe be careful about adding ED into a book next time. :) also, the talk about gaining weight, because it's a touchy subject and it was used as something negative. i think these topics could have been skipped since they have nothing to do with the story.
all in all, the book was quite accessible even for a person who knows nothing about a certain lifestyle and traditions. i really liked rumi's last chapter, i felt it close to my heart. i hope my friend is proud of my for reading this book! he should be, it only took me 8 years after all. :)