Review of Sketches from the Periphery
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Sindhu Manivannan
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Review of Sketches from the Periphery
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sketches from the Periphery" by MP Summers.]
Sketches from the Periphery by MP Summers is a historical fiction book that takes place during the Darfur Conflict in Sudan in 2006. The story follows Alexander Barr, a young American man who embarks on a mission to find his purpose in life in one way or another. As he questions what he is meant to do on this planet, he finds himself working as a work order clerk in Sudan and meets several people along the way, including the amorous and bright journalist Cassandra. As the story progresses, he learns more about the people of Sudan and the intricacies of the war that rages around him.
This book is very intriguing! I initially expected this book to only discuss war and its bloody, gory details; however, the author pleasantly took me by surprise. The story speaks about the morality of war, the fine line between good and evil, and many more ethical struggles such as these, and I think that this really sets this book apart from other books centered around war. It is very clear to read that the author is very passionate about the ethics of war, as there are several discussions about the topic in various forms, including that of Francisco de Carvajal (an instrumental man in the conquest of Peru from the Incas) and the war that ravaged Romania. I also particularly enjoyed having the translations for the many Arabic phrases used throughout the story, as I felt that the inclusion of these phrases really portrayed the authenticity of the story as well as Alex’s genuineness in getting to know his teammates.
While I enjoyed reading about the different aspects of war, this ended up being what I disliked about the book. The author’s passion for the topic is very clear and brings enthusiasm; however, I felt that these long discussions about war, the intricacies of what may or may not work for the Darfur Conflict, and other such commentaries took away from the overall enjoyment of the book. These topics were understandably the underlying theme of the book, but it would have been nice to have them more interspersed throughout the book instead of having them laid out in long runs of paragraphs. Despite these long runs of commentary, the author was still able to progress the plot along in a well-timed fashion, and thus, this was not heavy enough of a dislike to deduct points.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. It was a refreshing read and provided a lot of insight into heavy topics that I may not have engaged in otherwise. In fact, I felt that I learned quite a bit about history from reading this book! I would thus rate this book a 4 out of 5 with points deducted for lack of professional editing. There is profanity and sexual content in this book, as well as several descriptions of violence. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good historical fiction book with social commentary on the Darfur Conflict.
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Sketches from the Periphery
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Sketches from the Periphery by MP Summers is a historical fiction book that takes place during the Darfur Conflict in Sudan in 2006. The story follows Alexander Barr, a young American man who embarks on a mission to find his purpose in life in one way or another. As he questions what he is meant to do on this planet, he finds himself working as a work order clerk in Sudan and meets several people along the way, including the amorous and bright journalist Cassandra. As the story progresses, he learns more about the people of Sudan and the intricacies of the war that rages around him.
This book is very intriguing! I initially expected this book to only discuss war and its bloody, gory details; however, the author pleasantly took me by surprise. The story speaks about the morality of war, the fine line between good and evil, and many more ethical struggles such as these, and I think that this really sets this book apart from other books centered around war. It is very clear to read that the author is very passionate about the ethics of war, as there are several discussions about the topic in various forms, including that of Francisco de Carvajal (an instrumental man in the conquest of Peru from the Incas) and the war that ravaged Romania. I also particularly enjoyed having the translations for the many Arabic phrases used throughout the story, as I felt that the inclusion of these phrases really portrayed the authenticity of the story as well as Alex’s genuineness in getting to know his teammates.
While I enjoyed reading about the different aspects of war, this ended up being what I disliked about the book. The author’s passion for the topic is very clear and brings enthusiasm; however, I felt that these long discussions about war, the intricacies of what may or may not work for the Darfur Conflict, and other such commentaries took away from the overall enjoyment of the book. These topics were understandably the underlying theme of the book, but it would have been nice to have them more interspersed throughout the book instead of having them laid out in long runs of paragraphs. Despite these long runs of commentary, the author was still able to progress the plot along in a well-timed fashion, and thus, this was not heavy enough of a dislike to deduct points.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. It was a refreshing read and provided a lot of insight into heavy topics that I may not have engaged in otherwise. In fact, I felt that I learned quite a bit about history from reading this book! I would thus rate this book a 4 out of 5 with points deducted for lack of professional editing. There is profanity and sexual content in this book, as well as several descriptions of violence. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good historical fiction book with social commentary on the Darfur Conflict.
******
Sketches from the Periphery
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Mary John 10
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"Sketches from the Periphery" by MP Summers is a compelling historical fiction novel that intertwines personal discovery with the harrowing backdrop of the Darfur Conflict, as Alexander Barr navigates his purpose amid war and human connection.
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Yin Jiang
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This sounds like an interesting book. As someone who is interested in conflict and development, this sounds like a good book to read. Thank you for your review!
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Williams Jaden
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Sketches from the Periphery by MP Summers is a historical fiction set during the 2006 Darfur Conflict in Sudan. The story follows Alexander Barr, a young American searching for his purpose in life. His journey leads him to Sudan, where he works as a clerk and meets various individuals, including the ambitious journalist Cassandra.
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Naimah Agboluaje
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Well, ain't that an interestin' review! From what I can gather, Sketches from the Periphery by MP Summers sounds like a thought-provokin' historical fiction book set during the Darfur Conflict. The reviewer mentioned how the author's passion for discussin' the ethics of war really shines through and adds a unique aspect to the story. They also appreciated the inclusion of Arabic phrases, which gave the book an authentic feel. However, they did mention that the lengthy discussions about war took away from their enjoyment a bit. Overall, they gave it a solid 4 out of 5 rating.
Based on this review, I reckon this book could be a good read for folks who enjoy historical fiction with a focus on the moral complexities of war. The reviewer mentioned learnin' quite a bit about history from readin' it, which is always a plus. Now, keep in mind that there's some profanity, sexual content, and violence, so it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
All in all, I reckon Sketches from the Periphery is worth a gander if you're anythin' like the reviewer described. So grab yerself a copy and delve into this thought-provokin' tale. Happy readin'! Y'all stay safe now, ya hear? 4 outta 5 stars! Dynamic relationships, felt nuanced and realistic.
Based on this review, I reckon this book could be a good read for folks who enjoy historical fiction with a focus on the moral complexities of war. The reviewer mentioned learnin' quite a bit about history from readin' it, which is always a plus. Now, keep in mind that there's some profanity, sexual content, and violence, so it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
All in all, I reckon Sketches from the Periphery is worth a gander if you're anythin' like the reviewer described. So grab yerself a copy and delve into this thought-provokin' tale. Happy readin'! Y'all stay safe now, ya hear? 4 outta 5 stars! Dynamic relationships, felt nuanced and realistic.
