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Farewell, Damascus
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Ghada Samman's most recent novel, Farewell, Damascus is set in early 1960's Damascus – a city that now languishes in the grip of corruption and political oppression following the Baathist takeover in Syria. The book opens as Zain Khayyal, a university student and aspiring young writer, plots an early-morning escape from her house as her husband slumbers. Her mission: to ge
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Kindle Edition, 198 pages
Published
November 6th 2017
by Darf Publishers
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-47
Loved this book, although I did not think that the translation served it well. It could have been translated more beautifully, more lyrically. The use of the word 'pumped' to describe enthusiasm or excitement in 1960s Damascus just doesn't sound very authentic.
Despite the shortcomings of the translation, the book is well worth the read.
It's the first Kindle book that I really enjoyed and appreciated. It must be special to be able to work, even in this format.
Despite the shortcomings of the translation, the book is well worth the read.
It's the first Kindle book that I really enjoyed and appreciated. It must be special to be able to work, even in this format.
this is my second read of one of ghada's works. don't know why she likes tragic and midair finale. repetition makes for a good portion of the novel. I think the idea and its essence where thrown by the attitude. in all, it's interesting and "beatiful" well beyond the middle. then all loses sense.
one has to be related to the Syrian scene or highly loving to be fully immersed.
I have to admit I enjoyed it, and wasn't that awful of start for 2018.
one has to be related to the Syrian scene or highly loving to be fully immersed.
I have to admit I enjoyed it, and wasn't that awful of start for 2018.
Great premise, poor execution. There isn't much on Farewell, Damascus (in English) out there so I might have been unfair and it was just poorly translated. Either way, the structure was not necessarily confusing but mostly messy. The character's feelings and thoughts are just put out there matter-of-factly quite underestimating the reader.
Dec 21, 2017
georgia bookblast
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
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The struggle to be an independent woman living a fulfilled life in a world that doesn’t really care what happens to her is rendered with sharp-eyed clarity and unnerving charm.
Reviewed on The BookBlast® Diary 2017
Reviewed on The BookBlast® Diary 2017
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