A review by rgoth
All That's Left to You: A Novella and Short Stories by Ghassan Kanafani

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

The book is truly one of a kind. I feel like it would have an even greater impact if I could read it in its original language. At first, I was concerned about keeping up with the different storylines in the novella, but I found the experience to be incredibly engaging. Overall, the writing is intelligent and thought-provoking.

Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the short stories in the book more than the novella. They were fast-paced, cunning, and evocative. In particular, the story about the cake vendor was absolutely brilliant and will continue to occupy my thoughts for a long time.

I don't think this book is suited for everyone, and it's definitely not an easy read. I believe the stories are less about the plot and more about the symbolism woven throughout the text.