As You Read - What is your initial reaction to the book?

[Cait]

I thought we could try some ongoing discussion as we read. What is your initial reaction to the book? Did it hook you immediately, or take some time to get into?

[Cait]

So, not hooked immediately thus far. Probably not fair that I started this while still reading Americanah, which did hook me immediately. I'm finding the diary style interesting, but too easy to put down after I finish a 'day' - that and that fact that it's obviously super depressing. How is everyone else doing?

[Elizabeth]

I've just started but so far I feel similarly. Not hooked anywhere near like with Americanah (also a recent book I read a few weeks ago, couldn't put it down). I think this has a lot to do with the fact it's real life, based on random events, not structured to have a tight plot. And yes, it's really depressing. Knowing that everything is real, that these people who are being beaten or put in refrigerators actually exist, makes it even harder to read.

[Cait]

(Unsurprisingly) it keeps getting more and more depressing... all the events are pretty hard to deal with, but I'm finding it the saddest when she's hopeful in that we-will-succeed-because-we-must way. Because we know that five years later the horrors continue.

[Becki]

I loved Americanah too so I agree with all those statements

[Elizabeth]

I'm not sure exactly which thread this goes in, but I wanted to mention that I was struck by Yazbek's tone: very flat, matter of fact, removed. Even as the most unimaginable things are happening. This threw me a little bit, although I got used to it. I wonder the reason for it. Is it an artifact of the translation? That she views her role as more of a fact collector? Another thought is that it is a symptom of the trauma, sort of like the way she chain smokes and describes herself shaking and crying continuously and on the border of losing her mind; the only way to survive is to (whether intentionally or not) keep herself somewhat removed from it all.

[Elizabeth]

Also, I think I've said this already (and have seen you both say the same) but it's worth pointing out again in case anyone is just starting that this is a really, really hard book to get through. It's basically a series of continual human rights abuses without even any gaps in between. I'm close to finished now (not all the way finished still). I had to put it down for a week, and even after that I couldn't read too much of it in any sitting. So it's much slower progress than I was expecting, and I didn't completely finish in time for the discussion. I will certainly continue to the end though.

[Cait]

Yeah I read her flat tone as trauma as well. Kind of a numb / not numb mood throughout, which as we've said is completely understandable. I honestly don't know how she could have written it all down without that flat tone, again as we all agree, she was amazing!