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The Orchid
How would you feel if you would run away from an unbearable secret, hoping to start a new life, far, leaving it and all its weight behind... only to discover that it has caught up with you? Would you face it, or would you run again?
Lola, the main character of the book, has been in the exact same situation. What do you think she did? Did she face her secrets or did she run away?
Hear her, as she tells the story of her adventures here: https://ayachisahar.wordpress.com/201...
Read sample of the actual book, also available (the first 14 pages) on Barnes & Noble! Check it out ^^:
https://nook.barnesandnoble.com/produ...
Lola, the main character of the book, has been in the exact same situation. What do you think she did? Did she face her secrets or did she run away?
Hear her, as she tells the story of her adventures here: https://ayachisahar.wordpress.com/201...
Read sample of the actual book, also available (the first 14 pages) on Barnes & Noble! Check it out ^^:
https://nook.barnesandnoble.com/produ...
224 pages, Paperback
Published March 9, 2017
523 people want to read
About the author
Sahar Ayachi
1 book85 followersScientist by day, writer by night, dancer, traveler and coffee lover all day, all night!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 30, 2017
the Orchid by Sahar Ayachi , the first tunisian english novel , took my breath away and got me hooked from the very first page .
Throughout this book , we follow Lola's mysterious , confusing yet breathtaking journey , escaping a disturbing presence that will eventually find her , wherever she goes.
It's much more than Lola's story , it's about the feelings exhumed in this book. It will take you on a roller coaster of emotions , some are good : hopeful , optimistic and lively , others are dark , sad and they will leave you injured .
This book is so freaking deep that you will drown in the metaphors used , you will find yourself taken away by its meanings and explanations and eventually you will be blown away by the powerful messages the author is trying to deliver.
Never have i ever felt this related and this close to a book , as if Lola saw through me and described my internal chaos perfectly .
If you will ever get the chance to read this book ( which i highly recommend to be honest) , leave all your fears aside and dive into it with an open mind and heart and let it get through you , all the way to your heart .
To Sahar , the talented writer behind this masterpiece , i don't know you , I've only met you for a couple of hours , but i can never thank you enough for this masterpiece .
I genuinely adored this book !
Throughout this book , we follow Lola's mysterious , confusing yet breathtaking journey , escaping a disturbing presence that will eventually find her , wherever she goes.
It's much more than Lola's story , it's about the feelings exhumed in this book. It will take you on a roller coaster of emotions , some are good : hopeful , optimistic and lively , others are dark , sad and they will leave you injured .
This book is so freaking deep that you will drown in the metaphors used , you will find yourself taken away by its meanings and explanations and eventually you will be blown away by the powerful messages the author is trying to deliver.
Never have i ever felt this related and this close to a book , as if Lola saw through me and described my internal chaos perfectly .
If you will ever get the chance to read this book ( which i highly recommend to be honest) , leave all your fears aside and dive into it with an open mind and heart and let it get through you , all the way to your heart .
To Sahar , the talented writer behind this masterpiece , i don't know you , I've only met you for a couple of hours , but i can never thank you enough for this masterpiece .
I genuinely adored this book !
June 8, 2017
Oh my god my feelings are all over the place! This book is like nothing I have EVER read before. I devoured it all in two sittings! The most interesting thing about this book is (obviously) the character development, around which it is all built. It really showcases the complexity of the human character (on a way deeper and more twisted level here ofc), all written in such a prose that highlights it even more: the writing would get all poetic and embellished in a particular event, or intense and harsh in another.
I first thought that Lola was a coward (and a dumbass XD), listening to some made up people about life changing decisions, but then I realized that Lola is every single one of us but with an overactive imagination. She has the brash intuitive part, portrayed in a little girl, a more mature part, portrayed in an older wiser lady, and Orchid, who is none other than her own fears and self told lies pulling her down
So yeah, the book may strike you first as a mental health book (as it did me) but you'll soon find yourself relating ever so slightly to Lola.
I absolutely think this masterpiece should be a classic in the literary world (definitely not among the boring classics you read about in school tho XD) It has personally blew.me.away!
I first thought that Lola was a coward (and a dumbass XD), listening to some made up people about life changing decisions, but then I realized that Lola is every single one of us but with an overactive imagination. She has the brash intuitive part, portrayed in a little girl, a more mature part, portrayed in an older wiser lady, and Orchid, who is none other than her own fears and self told lies pulling her down
So yeah, the book may strike you first as a mental health book (as it did me) but you'll soon find yourself relating ever so slightly to Lola.
I absolutely think this masterpiece should be a classic in the literary world (definitely not among the boring classics you read about in school tho XD) It has personally blew.me.away!
June 8, 2017
I admit that I was thoroughly confused for the greater part of this book but in a rather good way as it kept me curious and intrigued from beginning to end. It was intentionally enigmatic and steeped in symbolism which gave it a sense of mystery and added a mystic vibe that I liked a lot. It kept me anxious, invested and wanting more than anything to know where it was all leading.
Though taken to extremes, Lola’s struggles were quite relatable and I loved how this was about fighting inner demons and facing fears and insecurities. It was painted in a very beautiful way, as disturbing as it got at times. The writing was so easy to read and it flowed smoothly and maybe the best thing about this book was the stunning imagery. It was evocative and vivid but not overly complicated, just a simple yet poetic style that worked so well in this context.
My only criticism is probably the contrast between the richness of Lola’s inner world and the one surrounding her, including her relationships with others. It felt strangely empty and didn’t hold the same level of depth. Lola managed to settle down in a totally foreign land, learn its language, fit among its people, build a strong friendship with Mora and develop a special bond with Rhys but, here’s the thing, most of this was told in passing, never shown in writing. I would have liked to get a glimpse of how this happened and how these relationships developed as I believe a lot could be learnt about a character in the way they interact with their environment and other people but it wasn’t the case here which left me a bit detached. For example, who was Mora and how did their friendship blossom? Similarly, I didn’t feel her connection with Rhys and how he came to be this great part of Lola's life. The time they supposedly spent bonding together was conveniently forgotten and for someone so curious, it didn’t feel like Lola knew that much about him. Who was he? What was his story? Why was he a loner, like her, and why did he live as an outcast? What was it that they shared that made their bond so special and unique to the point where losing him became the most devastating thing in Lola’s life?
Or. Maybe this was all in Lola’s head and nothing of it mattered and I missed the point. This is a psychological story where the lines between reality and imagination are all so blurry after all. It’s to say I really enjoyed reading this and for a first novel, this is quite the promising start. I’ll definitely be waiting for more from talented author Sahar Ayachi.
Though taken to extremes, Lola’s struggles were quite relatable and I loved how this was about fighting inner demons and facing fears and insecurities. It was painted in a very beautiful way, as disturbing as it got at times. The writing was so easy to read and it flowed smoothly and maybe the best thing about this book was the stunning imagery. It was evocative and vivid but not overly complicated, just a simple yet poetic style that worked so well in this context.
My only criticism is probably the contrast between the richness of Lola’s inner world and the one surrounding her, including her relationships with others. It felt strangely empty and didn’t hold the same level of depth. Lola managed to settle down in a totally foreign land, learn its language, fit among its people, build a strong friendship with Mora and develop a special bond with Rhys but, here’s the thing, most of this was told in passing, never shown in writing. I would have liked to get a glimpse of how this happened and how these relationships developed as I believe a lot could be learnt about a character in the way they interact with their environment and other people but it wasn’t the case here which left me a bit detached. For example, who was Mora and how did their friendship blossom? Similarly, I didn’t feel her connection with Rhys and how he came to be this great part of Lola's life. The time they supposedly spent bonding together was conveniently forgotten and for someone so curious, it didn’t feel like Lola knew that much about him. Who was he? What was his story? Why was he a loner, like her, and why did he live as an outcast? What was it that they shared that made their bond so special and unique to the point where losing him became the most devastating thing in Lola’s life?
Or. Maybe this was all in Lola’s head and nothing of it mattered and I missed the point. This is a psychological story where the lines between reality and imagination are all so blurry after all. It’s to say I really enjoyed reading this and for a first novel, this is quite the promising start. I’ll definitely be waiting for more from talented author Sahar Ayachi.
February 16, 2019
Well trust me I don't know from where I sould start talking about this book. Should I talk first about the story, or about the amazing writing style or maybe the feelings that Lola (the main character) has left in me.
Fine! I was about to stop reading this book in the first twenty pages because I felt kind of bored and because I'm not really a fan of fantasy and imaginary tales but thanks God I didn't. I just went with the mind-blowing style of this talented author . I've said to myself that couldn't be her first book (touch wood). Let me say that I was hugging the book after finishing it
The story is about Lola a girl suffering from a mental illness. It reminds me of Turtles all the way down and The minds of Billy Milligan but the way the author treated the topic was way different. I was fascinated by the descreption of Lola's land. My heart melted with her struggling. The message hidden within this story is very touching.
Finally, you should release all your anger and pain not go with it until life would be unbearable, because nothing worth it..
Fine! I was about to stop reading this book in the first twenty pages because I felt kind of bored and because I'm not really a fan of fantasy and imaginary tales but thanks God I didn't. I just went with the mind-blowing style of this talented author . I've said to myself that couldn't be her first book (touch wood). Let me say that I was hugging the book after finishing it
The story is about Lola a girl suffering from a mental illness. It reminds me of Turtles all the way down and The minds of Billy Milligan but the way the author treated the topic was way different. I was fascinated by the descreption of Lola's land. My heart melted with her struggling. The message hidden within this story is very touching.
Finally, you should release all your anger and pain not go with it until life would be unbearable, because nothing worth it..
July 12, 2019
أوركيد <3
تجربتي الأولى مع القراءة الانقليزية ..
رواية نفسيّة عميقة وعذبة، تتعرَّض للحديث عن الحبِّ الحقيقيّ الّذي لا يأتي ولا يتمّ إلّا بعد حسن المصاحبة والرّفقة والحبّ لأنفسنا .. و الّذي يجبُ أن يكون خالياً من الرّغبة في التّملّك مليئاً بالرّغبة في رؤية الآخرِ سعيداً بعيداً عن الأنانيّة .. و تغوص في أهمّيّة قبول الذّات بكلّ أجزائها و تناقضاتها ..
أحببت العبرة منها، وأحببت المجازات المعتمدة فيهاَ، وأستطيعُ القول أنّها نجحت في تشجيعي على الاستمرار في القراءة بهذه اللّغة ..
سحر قلمٌ تونسيّ، نشجّعه ونفخر به.
#اقرأ_تونسي
تجربتي الأولى مع القراءة الانقليزية ..
رواية نفسيّة عميقة وعذبة، تتعرَّض للحديث عن الحبِّ الحقيقيّ الّذي لا يأتي ولا يتمّ إلّا بعد حسن المصاحبة والرّفقة والحبّ لأنفسنا .. و الّذي يجبُ أن يكون خالياً من الرّغبة في التّملّك مليئاً بالرّغبة في رؤية الآخرِ سعيداً بعيداً عن الأنانيّة .. و تغوص في أهمّيّة قبول الذّات بكلّ أجزائها و تناقضاتها ..
أحببت العبرة منها، وأحببت المجازات المعتمدة فيهاَ، وأستطيعُ القول أنّها نجحت في تشجيعي على الاستمرار في القراءة بهذه اللّغة ..
سحر قلمٌ تونسيّ، نشجّعه ونفخر به.
#اقرأ_تونسي
July 15, 2017
love love love love
April 27, 2017
The Orchid by Sahar Ayachi was a fascinating page-turner. I was pulled in by the intensely vivid descriptions but was eventually captivated by the exquisite writing. Evocative imagery will only take you so far, right?
"They say the discovery of the unknown helps you discover yourself along the way." is one of my favorite lines from the book.
This isn't always an easy or a comfortable read, but it is always a beautiful one. I found this book to be similar to Oscar Wilde in that regard. The ending was not necessarily a surprise but it was appropriate and very gratifying. I took off one star due to some weird issues with jumpy tense but otherwise I can't recommend this book highly enough.
"They say the discovery of the unknown helps you discover yourself along the way." is one of my favorite lines from the book.
This isn't always an easy or a comfortable read, but it is always a beautiful one. I found this book to be similar to Oscar Wilde in that regard. The ending was not necessarily a surprise but it was appropriate and very gratifying. I took off one star due to some weird issues with jumpy tense but otherwise I can't recommend this book highly enough.
November 11, 2017
I had a great time reading this book, it was a much needed breeze among my TBR list for class.
I really liked the psychological tricks Sahar played on the reader to keep them confused about what's going on as well as on edge dying to find out what's gonna happen next.
the journey Lola goes through to discover herself and the mystery around Orchid were amazing but to be honest i was most blown away by the magic realism elements in the book. They were unusual to say the least and put right in place to make you feel and relate to the protagonist.
Also, i found Lola's internal conflict presented in small clips of dialogue a great technique to truly present her dilemma and mental status to the reader.
If i could choose one word to describe this book it would be weird, a sublime kind of weird.
I highly recommend you check it out.
I really liked the psychological tricks Sahar played on the reader to keep them confused about what's going on as well as on edge dying to find out what's gonna happen next.
the journey Lola goes through to discover herself and the mystery around Orchid were amazing but to be honest i was most blown away by the magic realism elements in the book. They were unusual to say the least and put right in place to make you feel and relate to the protagonist.
Also, i found Lola's internal conflict presented in small clips of dialogue a great technique to truly present her dilemma and mental status to the reader.
If i could choose one word to describe this book it would be weird, a sublime kind of weird.
I highly recommend you check it out.
May 16, 2017
This book is full of beautiful imagery! The way the author described the scenes was phenomenal. It's very easy to read for the most part. There were a couple of spots where I had to reread to figure out what was taking place. I don't think the story had a lot of depth to it, either. It was very simple, and really not much happens in my opinion. The ending was just 'eh'. I did like the internal struggle the main character dealt with, but overall the book was just okay.
August 4, 2017
'The Orchid' by Sahar Ayachi is a thrilling adventure into the nature of the human psyche. It is centered around Lola, a woman who endures revelations that leave her questioning the people around her, as well as herself.
To break off from the standard 'critic' reviewer talk, I will say what I like and what I don't like about the book, instead of being ambiguous and crack off a myriad of jokes to enter this year's pretentious book reviewers' ball.
I loved the symbolism around the book. The author describes objects and surroundings in vivid detail, leaving little to the imagination of the reader. While this may sound like a bad thing to praise, it is essential to plant in the mind of the reader exactly what each object looks like, so that they can imagine it and quickly wonder what it signifies. It leaves little mystery as to the structure of each object, yet it adds mystery as the story continues along it's thread.
The story is quite linear, yet it serves it's purpose well. It's not a sprawling epic, with side plots and deep characterisation of each man and woman in the book. Instead, it is focused around a few choice people, and their character is slowly built as the book progresses - though especial mystery is put to the protagonist's past, and is done very well. To put this in another way, the book is tight. It neatly encapsulates everything it wishes to be, and leaves very little room for loose ends, or sequels. The protagonist learns as we learn of the things that haunt her, as the mysteries behind certain actions (really not trying to spoil) are slowly unraveled. All in all, this makes for a book that is thrilling to read, even from a lover of long fantasy epics like me.
However, why is my rating not five-star? Well, there are faults to the book, which I'm going to discuss now.
One of the problems that I'd like to raise is that of characterisation. See, while the characters are well characterised, there was little given to the protagonist that gave me an incentive to want her to have some closure. Of course, I wanted the mystery to be somewhat explained, but I didn't feel anything for the character when it was explained. It's hard to articulate why, but maybe it's because characters that I feel for (like John McClane from Die Hard) are made out as human. They have faults, are not superheroes, and are very human, and consequently very easy to empathize with. With the protagonist, I never felt for her when she suffered. It seemed that these things were problems that she was merely going through, as she followed a bread-crumb trail that led to more revelations. While she did have a few 'do x or y' decisions to make, they all followed a similar trail of 'do this or go away'.
Perhaps I'm being overly-harsh of this minor niggle. It is difficult, I find, to create a character and still keep the mystery to them whilst simultaneously being sympathetic to them. The niggle is small, and easy to iron out. Perhaps this is coming from someone who is a fantasy novel lover, and I haven't been properly exposed to who mystery novels operate with their characters. If that is the case, then you can take this half of the review as the ignorant hate speech that it is!
Overall, I enjoyed the Orchid. Again, coming from someone who loves fantasy, I was enthralled by the amount of work that went into it, and it left me with an ending that put a smile on my face - which is ironic, because, without wishing to dish out the kind of spoilers that get me spat on in the street - the ending is not exactly something to be happy about. There are a few wording mistakes, but even I, the meticulous grammar-Nazi that I am, didn't consider them a detraction from the main focus of the story.
Summary: If you're a hardcore mystery lover, or even a casual reader that wants to get into the genre, then 'The Orchid' is certainly a great start. It is a great novel. If even I enjoyed the book, then so would you. I look forward to seeing what else this author has up her sleeve.
Jack Tavington.
To break off from the standard 'critic' reviewer talk, I will say what I like and what I don't like about the book, instead of being ambiguous and crack off a myriad of jokes to enter this year's pretentious book reviewers' ball.
I loved the symbolism around the book. The author describes objects and surroundings in vivid detail, leaving little to the imagination of the reader. While this may sound like a bad thing to praise, it is essential to plant in the mind of the reader exactly what each object looks like, so that they can imagine it and quickly wonder what it signifies. It leaves little mystery as to the structure of each object, yet it adds mystery as the story continues along it's thread.
The story is quite linear, yet it serves it's purpose well. It's not a sprawling epic, with side plots and deep characterisation of each man and woman in the book. Instead, it is focused around a few choice people, and their character is slowly built as the book progresses - though especial mystery is put to the protagonist's past, and is done very well. To put this in another way, the book is tight. It neatly encapsulates everything it wishes to be, and leaves very little room for loose ends, or sequels. The protagonist learns as we learn of the things that haunt her, as the mysteries behind certain actions (really not trying to spoil) are slowly unraveled. All in all, this makes for a book that is thrilling to read, even from a lover of long fantasy epics like me.
However, why is my rating not five-star? Well, there are faults to the book, which I'm going to discuss now.
One of the problems that I'd like to raise is that of characterisation. See, while the characters are well characterised, there was little given to the protagonist that gave me an incentive to want her to have some closure. Of course, I wanted the mystery to be somewhat explained, but I didn't feel anything for the character when it was explained. It's hard to articulate why, but maybe it's because characters that I feel for (like John McClane from Die Hard) are made out as human. They have faults, are not superheroes, and are very human, and consequently very easy to empathize with. With the protagonist, I never felt for her when she suffered. It seemed that these things were problems that she was merely going through, as she followed a bread-crumb trail that led to more revelations. While she did have a few 'do x or y' decisions to make, they all followed a similar trail of 'do this or go away'.
Perhaps I'm being overly-harsh of this minor niggle. It is difficult, I find, to create a character and still keep the mystery to them whilst simultaneously being sympathetic to them. The niggle is small, and easy to iron out. Perhaps this is coming from someone who is a fantasy novel lover, and I haven't been properly exposed to who mystery novels operate with their characters. If that is the case, then you can take this half of the review as the ignorant hate speech that it is!
Overall, I enjoyed the Orchid. Again, coming from someone who loves fantasy, I was enthralled by the amount of work that went into it, and it left me with an ending that put a smile on my face - which is ironic, because, without wishing to dish out the kind of spoilers that get me spat on in the street - the ending is not exactly something to be happy about. There are a few wording mistakes, but even I, the meticulous grammar-Nazi that I am, didn't consider them a detraction from the main focus of the story.
Summary: If you're a hardcore mystery lover, or even a casual reader that wants to get into the genre, then 'The Orchid' is certainly a great start. It is a great novel. If even I enjoyed the book, then so would you. I look forward to seeing what else this author has up her sleeve.
Jack Tavington.
June 5, 2017
Thank you so much to the author for sending me this book, as I won the Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoyed this book in a strange but good way. I felt a crazy mixture of different emotions by the end of this book which left me feeling amazed and confused. I loved the message this book had to give although I'm not a hundred percent certain I understood it fully as it was very deep. From what I did understand about the message I enjoyed. This book is definitely quick to read but by no means is it simple (which is a good thing - I like books that make me stop and think). The writing style was very different and unique. There were so many beautiful images that I really loved. I could relate to Lola as she was running away from her demons and I'm sure all of us have those inner demons inside or even a part of ourselves that we don't really like.
I felt that the only thing missing in this book was the plot although I feel like the style of writing and the way it was written sort of combined well with the story almost making it feel like a long poem which made the missing plot line element still work, regardless. Despite this I still found it to be a page turner and I read the book in one day. You see, it was completely unique and unlike anything I've ever read. (Sorry for the late review)
I recommend this book to everyone and anyone. It's definitely worth the interesting read.
I really enjoyed this book in a strange but good way. I felt a crazy mixture of different emotions by the end of this book which left me feeling amazed and confused. I loved the message this book had to give although I'm not a hundred percent certain I understood it fully as it was very deep. From what I did understand about the message I enjoyed. This book is definitely quick to read but by no means is it simple (which is a good thing - I like books that make me stop and think). The writing style was very different and unique. There were so many beautiful images that I really loved. I could relate to Lola as she was running away from her demons and I'm sure all of us have those inner demons inside or even a part of ourselves that we don't really like.
I felt that the only thing missing in this book was the plot although I feel like the style of writing and the way it was written sort of combined well with the story almost making it feel like a long poem which made the missing plot line element still work, regardless. Despite this I still found it to be a page turner and I read the book in one day. You see, it was completely unique and unlike anything I've ever read. (Sorry for the late review)
I recommend this book to everyone and anyone. It's definitely worth the interesting read.
February 20, 2022
Orchid by Sahar Ayachi
“Single-handedly dragging her one-man ship, Lola slowly drew her escape route towards where the sand and sea met.”
This book was beautiful. It deals with depression, getting lost in the tide and then clawing your way back to acknowledgement and finally acceptance. I was deeply moved while joining our main character, Lola, on her journey. I sat in her little boat along side her as sailed unfamiliar waters. I clasped her hand as she explored the tower. And I held her heart as she found the orchid.
I have never personally dealt with depression but I have friends and family that have and this book has helped me to understand them a little bit more. Lola’s journey is her own but also felt personal to me. I actually had to read this book with breaks in between because it made me so emotional.
So if you decide to take this journey with Lola, then please go with and open mind and heart.
“Please take care of your orchid before it withers”
5⭐️
“Single-handedly dragging her one-man ship, Lola slowly drew her escape route towards where the sand and sea met.”
This book was beautiful. It deals with depression, getting lost in the tide and then clawing your way back to acknowledgement and finally acceptance. I was deeply moved while joining our main character, Lola, on her journey. I sat in her little boat along side her as sailed unfamiliar waters. I clasped her hand as she explored the tower. And I held her heart as she found the orchid.
I have never personally dealt with depression but I have friends and family that have and this book has helped me to understand them a little bit more. Lola’s journey is her own but also felt personal to me. I actually had to read this book with breaks in between because it made me so emotional.
So if you decide to take this journey with Lola, then please go with and open mind and heart.
“Please take care of your orchid before it withers”
5⭐️
May 3, 2019
2.5 stars
To be honest, I was never one to dive deep into a book and dig up it's hidden meanings and symbols. I tend to focus more on the the plot, the characters and, when there is, the world building. As a result, Orchid by Sahar Ayachi was not really my cup of tea as it focused so much on the message it wanted to deliver in a mysterious and poetic way that it neglected the story side of this book even on a basic level.
First of all, where and when does this story take place? Saying it's on an island is not enough. Is it a fantasy world or the real world? What time period is this? There was no mention of any modern device in the whole book but on page 189 :" That night, I called his name and he answered the call immediately '' How did she do it? Did she repunzel him?! The only description of clothes in this entire book are those of 2 simple dresses and there is a mention of "an internationalised pallet''. We don' t even get to visit the island except for the tower and Lola's house that is not described so we can't have any understanding of the setting of this story and that really frustrated me.
There is no actual plot. This book is supposed to be about Lola's quest to escape a strange presence and find her way through somewhere(I'm not sure). But this isn't really what it's about since the main character didn't really seem to care about that thing '' following '' her until it caught up to her and all she was interested in for 90% of this novel was a tower and a dude. It would have been better if one of those two things were relevant at the end but none of the mysteries in this book were solved, like why the tower was feared, except the ones that were connected to the message of the book. The side characters (the only 2 that actually appear) were super generic and flat and their relationships with Lola were either poorly developed or just mentioned in just literally 2 lines. We don't know anything about Lola either, why she left? How she was acting before she left? The only information we got about her was the one we understood, again, 🙄 from the message. So saying that there was little character development would be putting it lightly.
I would still like to end on a positive note by saying that I really liked Sahar Ayachi's writing style. It was flowery and delicate and was what kept me going at the beginning of this novel. It was also really easy to understand but not in way that was super boring and simplistic. The other thing that I really enjoyed about this book was its message and how it was presented in an interesting way . As someone who suffers from mental illness, I found myself relating to Lola at some points but that's about it.
Overall Orchid by Sahar Ayachi was a miss for me and I feel bad about it because this is the first English book written by a Tunisian author and I wanted to enjoy it. However, I wish Sahar the best and I will consider reading her future work if she ever publishes it.
To be honest, I was never one to dive deep into a book and dig up it's hidden meanings and symbols. I tend to focus more on the the plot, the characters and, when there is, the world building. As a result, Orchid by Sahar Ayachi was not really my cup of tea as it focused so much on the message it wanted to deliver in a mysterious and poetic way that it neglected the story side of this book even on a basic level.
First of all, where and when does this story take place? Saying it's on an island is not enough. Is it a fantasy world or the real world? What time period is this? There was no mention of any modern device in the whole book but on page 189 :" That night, I called his name and he answered the call immediately '' How did she do it? Did she repunzel him?! The only description of clothes in this entire book are those of 2 simple dresses and there is a mention of "an internationalised pallet''. We don' t even get to visit the island except for the tower and Lola's house that is not described so we can't have any understanding of the setting of this story and that really frustrated me.
There is no actual plot. This book is supposed to be about Lola's quest to escape a strange presence and find her way through somewhere(I'm not sure). But this isn't really what it's about since the main character didn't really seem to care about that thing '' following '' her until it caught up to her and all she was interested in for 90% of this novel was a tower and a dude. It would have been better if one of those two things were relevant at the end but none of the mysteries in this book were solved, like why the tower was feared, except the ones that were connected to the message of the book. The side characters (the only 2 that actually appear) were super generic and flat and their relationships with Lola were either poorly developed or just mentioned in just literally 2 lines. We don't know anything about Lola either, why she left? How she was acting before she left? The only information we got about her was the one we understood, again, 🙄 from the message. So saying that there was little character development would be putting it lightly.
I would still like to end on a positive note by saying that I really liked Sahar Ayachi's writing style. It was flowery and delicate and was what kept me going at the beginning of this novel. It was also really easy to understand but not in way that was super boring and simplistic. The other thing that I really enjoyed about this book was its message and how it was presented in an interesting way . As someone who suffers from mental illness, I found myself relating to Lola at some points but that's about it.
Overall Orchid by Sahar Ayachi was a miss for me and I feel bad about it because this is the first English book written by a Tunisian author and I wanted to enjoy it. However, I wish Sahar the best and I will consider reading her future work if she ever publishes it.
January 16, 2020
"Ending this journey, I would like to say to you: please take care of your Orchid before it withers and fades away; for if it does, it will be taking a part of you with it. If you think the path you're drawing for yourself starts to match the one you just read about, please reconsider your painting palettes."
Oh god, I got goosebumps all over my body reading this very final passage! The whole book gave me goosebumps actually.
I was totally sucked into it. It was relatable, every word in this beautiful piece of art was so relatable. It felt like it was describing me, the inner me, like it was looking through my soul and into my head. Lola is me, and is every and each one of us. I just cannot put my feelings into the right words, but one thing I can guarantee you, is that this book will be well worth the read.
Oh god, I got goosebumps all over my body reading this very final passage! The whole book gave me goosebumps actually.
I was totally sucked into it. It was relatable, every word in this beautiful piece of art was so relatable. It felt like it was describing me, the inner me, like it was looking through my soul and into my head. Lola is me, and is every and each one of us. I just cannot put my feelings into the right words, but one thing I can guarantee you, is that this book will be well worth the read.
April 14, 2019
"Ending this journey, I would like to say to you : please take care of your Orchid before it withers and fades away ; for if it does , it will be taking a big part of you with it . If you think the path you're drawing for yourself starts to match the one you just read about , please reconsider your painting palettes .
Gracefully yours , Lola . "
This book became one of my favourites . It's not just a story . It's a journey ! A mood ! It keeps you curiously questioning yourself ! I think it's a book that would reveal itself differently to every reader . My understanding of it now with who I am today won't be the same in a year , or a month or even a week . I will certainly and definitely re-read it again !
Gracefully yours , Lola . "
This book became one of my favourites . It's not just a story . It's a journey ! A mood ! It keeps you curiously questioning yourself ! I think it's a book that would reveal itself differently to every reader . My understanding of it now with who I am today won't be the same in a year , or a month or even a week . I will certainly and definitely re-read it again !
December 13, 2017
Sahar pulled me into a beautiful world of color. I got to see the world through Lola's eyes and she saw it differently then anyone else. Each chapter was filled with exquisite detail and imagery. The pain of Lola was felt as I read through her torment of trying to emerge from the woman she was but to be stumped at finding out she has always been the same.
This was a beautiful tale of love, life and self discovery.
This was a beautiful tale of love, life and self discovery.
July 15, 2019
This book reads more like poetry than a story. There is powerful imagery, both beautiful and nightmarish. It was the lyrical first pages that made me want to read the book, it was the depths of horror that made me give the five stars.
Sahar only alludes to what actually happened to Lola, so I won't tell either.
But to anyone who tries to read this book as a straightforward journey story, and complains about missing information: it's all there. You need to read between the lines.
Sahar only alludes to what actually happened to Lola, so I won't tell either.
But to anyone who tries to read this book as a straightforward journey story, and complains about missing information: it's all there. You need to read between the lines.
May 16, 2017
beautiful~~ reading this book is like looking at a mirror where all your hopes and demons are alive. Soooo in love <3 This is surely not for the simple minded. Don't read this expecting simplicity. I hiiiiggghhhhllyyyy recommend
February 20, 2019
If you have mental illness this book will exhibit some of darkness inside the soul...
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