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2016-19 Activities & Challenges
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Buddy Read for Map of Salt and Stars
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message 51:
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Jemima
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Jul 11, 2019 12:04AM
I loved Nour’s story the best for sure.
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Nikki makes Five! Nour's felt real-er for sure.
I felt like the other was more like an epic story told and passed down through generations a little like some of the Viking, Greek, Briton and Germanic Sagas I have heard told where the people are real but their history has become the stuff of myths and legends, embellished with fantastic beasts, fearsome enemies and impossible sounding deeds. Each told in a special cultural manner by the story tellers. In Australia, the stories of the Dreamtime are passed down by oral tradition only by special persons, whose job is to ensure that the stories are passed to each new generation intact, to preserve their oral history and heritage.
Nikki wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Just finished. I haven’t been able to put the book down all. Day. The kids are hungry, the house is a mess and I have to get clothes washed dried and packed before we go overseas on ..."Nikki, although I am enjoying both stories, Nour's life has me more captivated.
I just started the 2nd chapter of part 2, hopefully I can get more reading in this afternoon. Been shuttling between Dr. appts -It is difficult for me to stay in any one position right now, so I move from the couch, to the computer chair continuously. I will really try to make this book my first priority for reading so it can be properly discussed-it so deserves that! I hope I am not the last one reading-anyone else? Let me know if I am and I will bow out of the discussion until I finish
I finished the book. Really enjoyed it also.
Kelly makes Six! Interesting to see how many people will join in by months end...
I finally managed to post my review (I won't copy it here as it got a bit looong, but the thread is here). I’d have given 5 stars to the parts of the book that deal with Nour’s story, but I rounded down to 4 overall.
I was thinking about that too. But it’s harder to relate to the older story Rawiya because of the fantastic beasts and where the epic nature of it, it was actually fantastical! But the mirror of the tail that was told to her by her father, gave so much insight and strength. And I agree that the synesthesia made Nour’s story come more alive.
Amy, I agree about the many parallels between the tales and the insight and strength that Nour could draw from Rawiya's tale. I wondered whether I'd have found it more meaningful if there was a sense that these links were intentional, but I felt that her father couldn't have purposely told the original story that way (because he didn't know what was in Nour's future), and there wasn't any explicit mention of her reshaping his tale while retelling it.
That’s what sort of added to the power of the tale. The prescience and parallel of the old tale gave it a haunting spiritual quality.
Finished! What a beautiful read. My review is in both Culture and Other books-no sense posting it 3 times.The sensual descriptions from Nour were what grabbed at me most. Her story will stay with me.
The journey into the 12th century reminded me of something. I could not put a finger on what...then I read the author note (view spoiler)-Did anyone else pick up on that?
I had no idea who al-Idrisi was-there in laid the confusion I had with the map being upside down....I will read more about him now that I have been introduced.
You guys tempted me... I’m reading as well. At 10% at the moment. Enjoying it a lot. It’s very well written and I’m always for a coming of age and legends
Joanne makes seven, Olivermagnus makes eight! Idit and Nicole coming in at nine and ten? So glad people are picking this gem up!
I finished it last night. Stayed up til 1:30 am because I couldn't put it down. I was concerned about reading yet another tragic, war-torn story, but despite the difficult moments, the book is hopeful. I enjoyed it very much.
I am listening to this and I need help from people who read the print version:How do you spell the name of the mythical bird beast that Rowiya fights? It sounds like “Rook.” Is that how it is spelled?
#audiobookstruggles
Nicole R wrote: "I am listening to this and I need help from people who read the print version:How do you spell the name of the mythical bird beast that Rowiya fights? It sounds like “Rook.” Is that how it is spe..."
ROC
Nicole R wrote: "Joanne wrote: "ROC"Thanks! Now I can read more about it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roc_(my...
:)"
No, thank you because I was pronouncing it ROCK-always have...guess I should have looked it up
Joanne wrote: "No, thank you because I was pronouncing it ROCK-always have...guess I should have looked it up"Hahahaha! Honestly, the way the narrator pronounces it, it sometimes sounds like "rook" and sometimes like a blend between the two. Like "rock" but with an accented "o" and softer "ck" sound.
Actually, looking back at Wikipedia, she pronounces it just it describes: rukh.Kind of like rucksack -- rukh.
I listened to the audiobook too. The narrator had such a lovely accent and way of telling the story which added to my enjoyment. It felt very authentic
Finished!! Amazing book! I don’t know what I was expecting. I thought the writing was fantastic and there were a couple of time I struggled with how graphic it was. I’m at an airport now, so I’ll write my review and comment more when I get settled at the hotel later. On to my trim book!!
Shelly makes Nine and Charlotte makes Ten! Nicole and Idit still working on it. So glad so many of us are enjoying this one. I was away for the weekend, but now I am back to join in the fun.
Done! It was a good read that I read at just not a great time. I still gave it 4 stars, but I think it could have been a 5 star read at another time when I had the brain power to really contemplate the parallels in the storyline and reflect on the refugee experience. But, it is what it is....
The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar
4 stars
I really enjoyed this book, but my brain is currently mush because I am studying for the bar exam, so my review probably won't be super insightful...
This book takes the (bit overused) dual storyline plot, alternating between Nour and her family's flight from war-torn Syria in search of a country that will take refuges and Rawiya who lived 800 years before and traveled the same path with a famous mapmaker.
Rawiya's story is the one that I devoured. I wanted to read more and more to hear her tale of adventure. She left home, disguised herself as a boy, and accompanied a real-life famous mapmaker Al-Idrisi around seven countries to document the area for King Roger II of Sicily. She was fearless and badass, and a killer with the slingshot.
Nour's story was good for other reasons. It shed important insight to Syrian refugees, but I just wasn't as invested in her story despite there being characters that were wonderful (Abu Sayeed was maybe my favorite). That is until the last quarter of the book. The weaving in the importance of maps and sense of place was brilliant. And I did love that Nour's path mirrored that of Rawiya's.
A solid read for my year and I am glad I picked it up, but I probably would have gleaned more from it if I picked it up at a different time....
Nicole makes 11. You know I was also taken with Rawiya's story too. Her courage and determination, and alacrity. She just had a smartness about her that allowed her to perceive through situations and act. It was quite wonderful how that story illuminated something for 12 year old Nour. And that she was able to take something from both her mother and her father to guide her home. I also thought the weaving in of map making and sense of place was brilliant. And the power of what's inside you. Her synesthesia was all about bringing a deeper quality and texture and interconnected ness to experience and place. So well done.Speaking of well done, congratulations on all of your recent achievements. What a powerful and profound summer for you, especially thinking of "place, perception, movement, and strength." There is a saying in Judaism that simply states, "May you go from strength to strength." And that is my blessing for you on your journey and arrival. Congratulations on your hard work - your journey is well appreciated and just beginning.
Amy wrote: "Her synesthesia was all about bringing a deeper quality and texture and interconnected ness to experience and place. So well done."I loved this part! I loved that her mom made the map specifically for her because she knew that Nour would remember he father's story of Rawiya.
While I think the dual storyline HF is a bit overplayed, I will say that this was a bit of a twist on that. Nour and Rawiya were not related, one wasn't looking into the past of the other, or anything like that. Instead, they were really two separate stories told in parallel. I really appreciated that.
And thank you for the kind words, Amy. I am not out of the woods yet, the bar exam is in one week, but I can see the light! The one at the end of the tunnel, not the one signally the end of my time here. lol. I am really looking forward to having this behind me (to my lawyer PBT friends, this is possibly the worst experience of my life and I applaud you all for making it through!). Next step: find a place to live in Hartford. One step at a time.
And she still has time to read and review books, and moderate the crazy lot of us! (And exercise). You are going to do great on the bar exam! Raining today, maybe that will help take the pressure off the pull of the outdoors and provide some focus. Keep us all posted, we are behind you %100.
Amy-I love that Jewish Blessing, I am filing it away for use!Nicole-I was turned off when I saw it was another dual story-line-I have read more of those this year then I care to count. But I agree this one was different and I loved it!
I also wish you the best! Keep your eye on the light, you are nearly there. Imagine all your PBT friends surrounding you with goodness as you sit down for that final exam!
I finally, finally finished this one. So beautifully written, but some of the Nour story-line was heart breaking and hard to read. I kept putting this one down, only to pick it up again because of the writing.I really loved the dual stories, although I have to agree with the majority that the Nour story felt more relatable.
I'm so glad I pushed through and finished this one!
Sue makes 12! So glad you picked this up too!
I am at page 210, so with a bit of luck will finish it this month. And I saw another person has it as currently reading in my friend list Might be 13-14 people :)
Just wanted to add, Idit makes 13, Book and Blues makes 14, and Annapi makes 15. There many even be a few more that I missed and/or are out there.... Very proud we had 15 people reading this incredibly special book.
Amy wrote: "Just wanted to add, Idit makes 13, Book and Blues makes 14, and Annapi makes 15. There many even be a few more that I missed and/or are out there.... Very proud we had 15 people reading this incred..."16. I read it, too. I'm catching up on these comments now that I've finished it. I struggled with it, but I didn't want my opinions to spoil anyone else's enjoyment.
# 17 .... I read it, also. I was struck by how both girls were disguised as boys for part of their journey, though Rawiya did this purposefully to allow her to apprentice to al-Idrisi, while Nour's "disguise" was imposed on her.
Book Concierge wrote: "# 17 .... I read it, also. I was struck by how both girls were disguised as boys for part of their journey, though Rawiya did this purposefully to allow her to apprentice to al-Idrisi, while Nour..."
yes. it was interesting - especially together with the later transitioning of the author to male
JG and BC; 16 and 17! I enjoyed so many of the parallels. But that one was also quite striking!
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Map of Salt and Stars (other topics)The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria (other topics)
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic—and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World (other topics)
One Thousand and One Nights (other topics)
