Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman

5 reviews

samantha1960's review

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Rehman writes beautifully but I found the first half of the book quite difficult to follow. The second half get significantly more easy to read as it becomes chronological. Wish the first half had been done better. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Child abuse, Grief, Racism, Violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Incest, Misogyny, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Outing, Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, Colonisation, Murder, and Toxic friendship

bookishcookiemonster's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm so happy to see more and more books about  Pakistani-American published.
I grew was born in the 90s, and reading about gatherings of the aunties, and the young girls escaping away from reading Qu'ran, transported me right back to my own childhood, doing the same things. 
And, Razia's constant fear of being sent to Pakistan and married off, also brought back the fear me and my friends had growing up too, while we did things our mothers didn't approve of. 
Razia's story is so beautiful, and heartwrenching, and most very important. Young, Muslims/South Asian Queer folk are in desperate need representation. And hope. 

Even though Razia's story wasn't really a happy ending, it was still hopeful. I like to imagine that she was able to find her way, and got to live her truth.

 
Thank you, Bushra Rehman, for writing this wonderful story.
I will be reading it again!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, Vomit, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Racism

wynnie's review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia

Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, Outing, Sexism, Bullying, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Incest, Hate crime, Pedophilia, and Animal death

carareadsthebooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Body shaming, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Outing, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Religious bigotry, and Sexism

jennshelfishlife's review

emotional informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Razia Mirza is a teenager living in Queens, specifically in Corona, NYC. She is of Pakistani descent and follows the customs of her family and neighbors. But Razia, like many American teenagers, has a rebellious streak. She cuts her hair, buys clothes typical of American teens in the 1980s, hides them in her closet, and skips class on occasion with her girlfriend, Angela. 
Bushra Rehman's writing is lovely, she's not one for poetic verse, but her character-building is phenomenal. Having grown up a teen in the 1980s, I recognized and connected with Razia, a teen forging her way through life, trying to find her voice and independence.
I sympathized with the other teens in her neighborhood that have arranged marriages, experienced violence at the hands of other ethnic groups in Corona, and the teens that are shunned for defying tradition and wanting a different life.
The narration is well executed, and I recommend the audio version to readers.
Overall, a fascinating book, and I recommend the book to readers that enjoy reading about the 1980s, Pakistani and Muslim culture, and coming-of-age novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bushra Rehman, and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audio copy of Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Murder, and Homophobia

Minor: Violence