Domenica Antonini

A few interesting points, but boring overall

Revisado: 03-15-25

As another reviewer commented, I felt that I was taking a university class on the topic of reality TV. As a huge fan of many reality TV shows, I purchased this book, hoping for something far more intriguing, such as the impact that reality TV has had on the lives of, its participants, and although there was a little bit of this in some sections, overall, it got into a lot of nitty-gritty that was not interesting to me at all.

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Gripping and intriguing

Revisado: 11-10-24

Having lived in Syria for four years myself, and having visited the Middle Eastern locations the author went to to find Paul, I was intrigued by the story and curious about his interactions with these shadowy figures. I enjoyed the story overall, though it was difficult to listen to some of these monsters recite their tales of bloodlust and greed so gleefully. At any rate, overall, it is definitely a compelling read. I only removed one star because the narrator, while talented in other ways, mispronounced so many Arabic words that it started to get on my nerves. However, in general, I would definitely recommend the book, in the Audible edition.

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A captivating psychological portrait

Revisado: 09-14-24

Having lived in Syria for four years and then later watched its destruction in horror from afar, I have been captivated by stories of foreign ISIS brides, unable to comprehend how they could enter into such a brutal and doomed situation.
I have read several books on the topic and followed Sam’s story through the excellent Frontline documentary about her, Return from ISIS and the podcast, I’m not a Monster, by the same journalist, British director, writer and producer Josh Baker. This book fills in many of the gaps I had about her upbringing, relationship with her sister and general background, which answered some of the questions still lingering in my mind. The author does a great job of synthesizing details from various parts of her life to create a more complete narrative of what could have motivated her to make the worst decision of her life, both endangering her children and causing her imprisonment. My only complaint is about the narrator, who sounds rather robotic. Due to the compelling nature of the story, however, luckily, it did not ruin the experience for me.

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Another brilliant work of literary art from one of my favorite authors of all time

Revisado: 08-07-18

Thank you, Viet Thanh Nguyen, for these eloquent stories.
The Sympathizer is one of my favorite novels. While re-reading it a few weeks ago, I was absolutely blown away by your mastery with words. There is no doubt that this is a book I will return to again again throughout my life as there is so much magic, not only in the character portrayals, but also the transcendent depiction of both beauty and pain. As I am intrigued by Vietnam’s history, culture and people, I greatly appreciate the ways in which you strive (and succeed in) to share accurate glimpses of it from a wide variety of perspectives.
The stories in The Refugees are like little carefully crafted jewels. I cannot say that they touched me as profoundly as The Sympathizer, but there is no doubt they are excellent, and I would recommend them to anyone, with or without an interest in Vietnam, simply for their intimate glimpses into human nature.

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Riveting portrait of an extraordinary woman

Revisado: 05-30-18

I was so sad when this book ended because it captured my attention from the moment I began listening to it. Over several days, I have listened to it intently every single time I get ready in the morning, drive my kids to school and myself to work, and clean the kitchen. I cannot describe the admiration I have for Tara. Her self-discipline, amazing diligence, determination and exceptional self analysis blow my mind.

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A road leading nowhere in particular

Revisado: 02-18-18

Despite numerous negative reviews, I went ahead and purchased this book because of my interest in both Greece and Syria. However, I was quick to discover that they were absolutely right – the plot of this book is meandering and ultimately pointless. After about half of it, I felt like I had wasted my time, yet forced myself to listen to the end, all the while feeling sure that it wasn’t going to get any better, based on the careless way the author had developed the first part of the book.
First of all, there is a terrible lack of character development, especially of Faoud, and as such, the entire story struck me as completely preposterous. Having lived in Syria for four years, I can tell you that none of my Syrian friends found this particular story plausible in any way shape or form. It seems that the author simply drew on some current news and stereotypes about Syrian refugees to paint this picture of a mysterious character. This left me feeling extremely frustrated and dissatisfied. I regret wasting my time on this book. It’s a shame – so much more could have been done with this magical backdrop.
In the end, it’s not even really a book – just some thoughts and impressions of this amazing landscape and three physically attractive characters, all thrown together carelessly without any coherent story line.

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A heartwarming tale, beautifully told

Revisado: 12-02-17

I really, really enjoyed listening to this book. The narration is beyond outstanding. I looked forward to simply listening to the narrator's voice, and plan on searching for other titles he has read. The story itself, though at times a bit superficial, is lovely overall, and I found myself really liking the protagonists, a Cameroonian couple who each longs for the American dream in their own way. Hopefully, this will lead into a sequel. I would love to find out what happens to Nene and Jende once they are settled in Cameroon again, not to mention the lives of their children.

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More like a young adult book

Revisado: 11-26-17

I purchased this book hoping for an intriguing family story, something akin to The Corrections. However, I was really disappointed. The characters in this book come across as one dimensional and the story, black-and-white. From the beginning, the author's intent seems rather obvious, and I became quickly bored.

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One of the most inspirational books I have ever read

Revisado: 11-12-17

I cannot describe how much I admire Manal AlSharif. Her courage, honesty and sacrifices are helping to create progress in a backwards country whose cruel laws and customs serve to denigrate women, as well as exclude them from numerous important sectors of society. Thank you, Manal, For your bravery. You have inspired me and my daughters, not to mention the girls and women of Saudi Arabia.

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Brave yet whiny

Revisado: 11-12-17

Like numerous other reviewers, I agree that it took a lot of courage to discuss such a painful event in Ms. Gay's childhood. However, I found the book to be repetitive and whiny. In addition, I am tired of hearing her say, "I I am full of contradictions." This is a total cop out, a way to avoid facing the truth. It was frustrating to continually hear her longing for cute clothes, yet indignant to others who judge her on her appearance. Clearly, she judges herself on the basis of her appearance, so why shouldn't they? She experiences discomfort and even pain on a daily basis due to her weight, yet does not have the willpower to do anything about it. Therefore, why does she keep going on and on about it? It strikes me that she is spoiled, having grown up in such a wealthy family with parents who have always been there to catch her when she falls, even now as an adult. While it is wonderful to have such a strong support network, in this case, it seems to have led to entitlement rather than the ability to face the truth of the situation and actually do something about it.
Finally, I would like to say that I found the book overly abstract. Although there were a few specific examples about chairs, Airplanes and Blue Apron meals, her general ideas about being treated negatively as a fat person were vague, with few specific examples. One of the reasons I wanted to read this book was that my desire to understand what it feels like to be a fat person in American society, yet she never really gets to the heart of this point. She seems unwilling to share any details that bother her, With an attitude of "I don't feel like sharing that part of the story, so I won't." However, this is a memoir, so readers deserve a more richly drawn, complete story. If she is unwilling to share those details, why did she write this Book in the first place?

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