في مدينة مطوقة تروع شوارعها الجرذان والعصابات، تقوضت فيها أركان السلطة الحاكمة، واستشرى العنف العقيم، يؤتى لامرأة متوسطة العمر والحالة الاجتماعية ب...
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reviews
Jul 30, 2010
Abi
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I really liked this book. It might have something to do with the fact that I read it all in one go, which tends to completely absorb you in the world, but I got really caught up in it. Finally, a dystopia which owes nothing explicit to Nineteen Eighty-Four, something original! A modern, British dystopia that actually addresses contemporary issues. Reading this, I imagine, was like reading 1984 within Orwell's time. Frightening because it seems so starkly possible, so relevent to the zeitgeist. I
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Feb 05, 2012
Nada
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من الكتب التي لم استطع اكمالها . اشعر ان اكثر من نصف الكتاب كتب فقط لملئ الفراغ فيه! وكأن الكاتبه تحاول اختبار مدى فلسفتها او مدى ثرثرتها!! لم افهم ماتقول في كثير من المقاطع لدرجه اني اقفز بين السطور لأعثر على جمله واحده مفيده او تتعلق بالقصه!!!! انها قصه تخلو من القصه نفسها.. لا انصح بتضييع الوقت في قرائته
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Nov 11, 2011
Emily
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Hrm. This book really didn't grab me. It's well written and describes a very believable not-far-future dystopia as civilization slowly decays, and I found that believable and interesting. However, Lessing also has a weird and never-explained parallel world that occasionally opens up, appearing through the wall of the narrator's flat. At first it seems like a heavy-handed metaphor but by the end of the book it seems as if it's genuinely real, a parallel dimension into which they can escape. Thi
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Jul 31, 2011
Okay, this is my first Doris Lessing, and I must say I'm not impressed. Apparently a lot of her books are sort of like this one, and I'm starting to see a pattern, when you also take into account J. M. Coetzee's books, specifically: white southern African writers often go for these dehistoricized, lean, spare, high-concept parables as a way of exploring human brutality. This kind of stuff is just red meat to comp. lit. majors and Nobel committees, and I'm sure that the writers themselves feel
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May 21, 2011
Lulu
rated it: 
An eerie reflection of the future.
Memoirs of a Survivor is a fantasy fable about the breakdown of the modern system. In this novel, the future is illustrated as chaotic and bleak - the government is corrupt and unresponsive, the air is polluted and the skies, as if representing the future, are usually dark. The streets are ruled by youth gangs as the disintegration of family units force the children to fight for their survival, making them heartless and roguish.
Still, readers More...
Memoirs of a Survivor is a fantasy fable about the breakdown of the modern system. In this novel, the future is illustrated as chaotic and bleak - the government is corrupt and unresponsive, the air is polluted and the skies, as if representing the future, are usually dark. The streets are ruled by youth gangs as the disintegration of family units force the children to fight for their survival, making them heartless and roguish.
Still, readers More...
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Nov 25, 2010
Dawn
rated it:
Having just moved overseas from the UK to Egypt, I knew it would be tough, so I thought some fabulous fiction by an amazing lady would be just the ticket, and what an aptly named book for dealing with a culture shock to the system... yes it's not all sandy beaches , palm trees and Western fast food joints and hotels ;)
Doris Lessing has really given us all something to think about, as she always does in her novels. She brings the 'not too distant future' crashing down in front of us, m More...
Doris Lessing has really given us all something to think about, as she always does in her novels. She brings the 'not too distant future' crashing down in front of us, m More...
Aug 15, 2009
Sarah
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ذكرتني في جوها المستقبلي المتنبئ بالمزيد من الحرب والضياع بشئ من جو 1984 لأورويل (التي هي علامة بحد ذاتها للتنبؤ أو تخيل الأوضاع وماستؤول إليه أحوال البشرية مع تطور السلطة وازدياد الظلم..الخ الخ)..
في الرواية رائحة من (يوتوبيا) لأحمد خالد توفيق..وأفلام عديدة تدور حول نفس الفكرة على اتساعها،إلا أن الرواية مختلفة تمامًا،من حيث الزاوية التي تكتب منها،فهي كما وصفتها المؤلفة فعلاً -محاولة لكتابة سيرة_ ،الراوية سيدة عجوز تعيش في شقة ضمن بناية مليئة بالشقق المسكونة بالناس أو الأثاث فقط..يُأتى More...
في الرواية رائحة من (يوتوبيا) لأحمد خالد توفيق..وأفلام عديدة تدور حول نفس الفكرة على اتساعها،إلا أن الرواية مختلفة تمامًا،من حيث الزاوية التي تكتب منها،فهي كما وصفتها المؤلفة فعلاً -محاولة لكتابة سيرة_ ،الراوية سيدة عجوز تعيش في شقة ضمن بناية مليئة بالشقق المسكونة بالناس أو الأثاث فقط..يُأتى More...
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Jun 16, 2009
Daniel
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When I tell others that I am reading Doris Lessing, most people give me a blank stare. Either they have never heard of her, or they have. But, never anything more. I only know one other person who has read Lessing, and that is my my professor of Practical Criticism. And, she is the one that recommended her to me. I was studying post-apocalyptic fiction at the time, and my professor, during one of our conferences about my essay, said that I should try Lessing's work in that sub-genre.
So, I
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Nov 26, 2008
Chris
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I am ridiculously stalled out on this... the writing is just stupidly dense in some ways, and I'm having some problems identifying with the author and her subject. I asked the person who gave me the book for any suggestions, and she told me to just read it, enjoy it, and then read it again to get a feel for some of the heavier subject matter.
Now, seriously, it's not a bad novel, but I'm not going to read it twice. Not in a row, and not twice at all. I'm kind of frustrated - this was one of More...
Now, seriously, it's not a bad novel, but I'm not going to read it twice. Not in a row, and not twice at all. I'm kind of frustrated - this was one of More...
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Jan 16, 2011
Very much like Doris to write a book that speaks for itself.
Many layers of understanding. Easy read but at the same time, satisfying
the inner need for more. The character is not unfamiliar.
Sneak previews of one's mind about another. The cynic in every mind cannot escape
the clutches of one's self pitying state of wanting to emerge the winner in all things regardless of circumstances that prevail.
The mind never ages for some. Physical changes do not always deter one More...
Many layers of understanding. Easy read but at the same time, satisfying
the inner need for more. The character is not unfamiliar.
Sneak previews of one's mind about another. The cynic in every mind cannot escape
the clutches of one's self pitying state of wanting to emerge the winner in all things regardless of circumstances that prevail.
The mind never ages for some. Physical changes do not always deter one More...
Apr 01, 2011
James
rated it:
I understand why people would like this book but it just did not work for me. The observations of the narrator as she watches civilization crumble around her and watches over her unexpected ward is in parts beautifully written and thought provoking. However I could not get into a routine of reading the book and felt like I had to slog through the narrators dense prose with unremiting focus to keep up with her meandering passive voice. At the end of the day it was to much work and philistine that
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Feb 05, 2012
ميّ أحمد
rated it:
تجري أحداث الرواية في إحدى المدن ,( لم يكن لها اسما كما لم تُمنح بطلة الرواية اسما )
هذه المدينة من المدن التي نالها نصيب من آثار حرب ما ( المكان غير معروف ) وكما يحدث في الحروب غابت عنها الخدمات الضرورية للحياة , الماء , الكهرباء , الطعام , مما نتج عنه رحيل أغلب سكانها بينما سيطرت العصابات التي تكونت من المراهقين والأطفال على الشوارع فانتشرت الفوضى واستبيحت المساكن والمرافق وعمّ العنف , بطلة الرواية هي أنثى متوسطة العمر انزوت في شقتها ، مترددة في قرار مصيرها مايحدث أنها فجأة تُكلف برعاية More...
هذه المدينة من المدن التي نالها نصيب من آثار حرب ما ( المكان غير معروف ) وكما يحدث في الحروب غابت عنها الخدمات الضرورية للحياة , الماء , الكهرباء , الطعام , مما نتج عنه رحيل أغلب سكانها بينما سيطرت العصابات التي تكونت من المراهقين والأطفال على الشوارع فانتشرت الفوضى واستبيحت المساكن والمرافق وعمّ العنف , بطلة الرواية هي أنثى متوسطة العمر انزوت في شقتها ، مترددة في قرار مصيرها مايحدث أنها فجأة تُكلف برعاية More...
Jun 02, 2008
Karen
rated it:
Doris Lessing and I... we don't mix too well. I can see her excellence as a writer--she creates the most vivid, extraordinary yet believable worlds. Reading her work is the closest I can think of to dreaming while awake.
But in the two Lessing books that I have read, I could not see where she was taking me, or I did not agree with where we were going. It's hard to say, really, as I admit I don't remember this book very well. I just recall a sense of disappointment and even incredulity a More...
But in the two Lessing books that I have read, I could not see where she was taking me, or I did not agree with where we were going. It's hard to say, really, as I admit I don't remember this book very well. I just recall a sense of disappointment and even incredulity a More...
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Aug 08, 2011
Fiona
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This is a really interesting and unsettling book about the remnants of a society which has fallen into disorder for an unspecified reason. Maybe because times are unpredictable and the news is always bad at the moment, this book has more resonance at the moment. I did find the parts where time and space are "inerrupted" confusing at first but felt that they made more sense as the story went on. This was one of those books which I have kept thinking about since I finished it which me
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Jan 05, 2012
Xian
rated it:
Memoirs of a Survivor is the first of Doris Lessing I've read,and it's pretty good. It's well written for sure, and there are passages that one can read and then instantly reread two, three, four times, because they make you ponder and reconsider everything that's been presented so far.
If I could, I would give it a 3.5, and a high one at that, but the never fully explained parallel world leaves me dissatisfied, and I can't bring myself to give it a four.
If I could, I would give it a 3.5, and a high one at that, but the never fully explained parallel world leaves me dissatisfied, and I can't bring myself to give it a four.
Sep 18, 2010
Helen
rated it:
Strangely readable story of the descent of a society. Had not read Doris Lessing before and did not know what to expect. Amazed by her ability to generate the atmosphere and characters. Personally, I did not care too much for the fantasy sequences (if you can call them that) but I get her point and it's a different way of telling the story I guess.
Jan 25, 2012
Katie
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I think I would really give this 3.5 stars. The language is magnificent. I love the way Lessing writes. I was sort of, "eh" about the story. It is sort of a domestic dystopia, which I actually thought was a really cool idea, but it did not pull me in. There were some really beautiful and creative elements though. I want to say this all probably had more to do with my mood than the actual book. I wanted to really like it, which is why I rounded the 3.5 up and not down.
May 20, 2009
Mom
rated it:
Futuristic novel by Ms. Lessing. It's my first experience with her.
It's confusing with its switch between fantasy and reality.....but it gives a vivid picture of a society which has destroyed itself. Smacks a little bit of Lord of The Flies.....People become savages when law and order disappears.
It's confusing with its switch between fantasy and reality.....but it gives a vivid picture of a society which has destroyed itself. Smacks a little bit of Lord of The Flies.....People become savages when law and order disappears.
Aug 02, 2009
Fernanda
rated it:
In a post-apocalyptic world, a grown-woman, a girl and the girl's lover learn how to survive by escaping to an "inner" world in which they can explain themselves and the dreadful situation around them; however, in order to achieve that they have to learn to accept and love one another first.
Aug 05, 2011
Elcin
rated it:
I'm very satisfied to meet with Lessing again, after two years!, via this book. "Mara and Dann" was a real masterpiece and Lessing has not disappointed me once again. I like the themes she likes to write about such as relations, loneliness, polution and our contemporary world..
Sep 03, 2010
Ashy
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Did not finish this - got to page 60 ish and still was not really sure what was going on and got fed up. Think the rambling style is just not my taste and the slightly surreal elements did not seem to mean anything even by this point - I perhaps am missing something but I have a policy of not battling on with books that are not making me tick after giving them a fair go!
Apr 05, 2011
Leighana
rated it:
The catastrophe is never seen or explained, but it's always there. You never learn if it was a single event, or a slow crumbling over time. What is certain is that things are falling apart, and people are left living in the remnants. I loved this book.
Nov 29, 2009
Kathleen
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Couldn't read this book at all when it was assigned to me in univ. Then some years later when i suppose my mind was ready for it i read it avidly. And have since reread it.
Feb 14, 2011
Nenette
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It may not be fair for me to rate this book as I was not able to finish it. I even thought of just deleting it from my book list - that's how I don't like it. Tried to read it at different times of the day but I can't help but fall asleep over it, every time! Much as I hate to leave a book unfinished, this isn't just worth my time and effort. I won't mind if people will think of me as shallow, but in my opinion, deep subjects such as the one tackled in this book can be presented in a more in
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Jan 26, 2009
Odai
rated it:
دوريس ليسينج الحائزة على جائزة نوبل للاأدب في لعام 2007 تصدر روايتها الجديدة مؤخرا بطابع أقرب الى السرة الذاتية لها...رغك ما تخللته الرواية من سرد مطول بدى بنكهة انجليزية صرفة فهمي مطعمة ومغلفة بالبرود الذي يشتهر بها اهلها الا انها وبنفس الوقت تحمل في طياتها طابع يرغبك في اكمال ما تقرأه للنهاية ..الراوية لها اسلوب خاص ممتع مختلف عن غيرها ..جيدة
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Jan 03, 2012
Christine
rated it:
Such a hopeless and dark book. Why go on living? What's scary is that Lessing's version of the future feels true and not far off.
Jan 24, 2012
Cage
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I remember hearing someone read this book on the radio, and i was thinking, who is that awesome writer? This book is highly recommended.
Nov 30, 2011
Kristi
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This just wasn't my type of book. I stopped reading it halfway through. Nothing against the book, just not my style.
Mar 28, 2011
Sera
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This novel is a dystopia but very different than the other well-known dystopian novels. It is narrated by a middle-aged woman and the novel may be considered more like impressions rather than destructive events. Lessing is mostly focused on the depletion of natural sources. Modern culture turns into a pillage culture in abandoned cities via abandoned children.
Lessing also depicts the story of a girl named Emily but she does that very discreetly. The book didn't move me like the Gras More...
Lessing also depicts the story of a girl named Emily but she does that very discreetly. The book didn't move me like the Gras More...
Aug 28, 2010
Catharine
rated it:
I tried and tried to like Doris Lessing's books, but never could "get" her. Maybe its time to try again.
