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spookyaz's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, War, Grief, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
aarustin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia and Deportation
Minor: Suicide and War
katharina90's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Loved the stylistic choice of the one-sided dialogue, the voice of the Pakistani narrator, and the ambiguous ending.
Great commentary on US imperialism, capitalism, the immigrant experience in general, and the rampant racism and islamophobia post-9/11 in particular.
Didn't care for the Erica storyline, whether it's supposed to serve as an allegory or not.
"As a society, you were unwilling to reflect upon the shared pain that united you with those who attacked you. You retreated into myths of your own difference, assumptions of your own superiority. And you acted out these beliefs on the stage of the world, so that the entire planet was rocked by the repercussions of your tantrums, not least my family, now facing war thousands of miles away. Such an America had to be stopped in the interests not only of the rest of humanity, but also in your own."
Great commentary on US imperialism, capitalism, the immigrant experience in general, and the rampant racism and islamophobia post-9/11 in particular.
Didn't care for the Erica storyline, whether it's supposed to serve as an allegory or not.
"As a society, you were unwilling to reflect upon the shared pain that united you with those who attacked you. You retreated into myths of your own difference, assumptions of your own superiority. And you acted out these beliefs on the stage of the world, so that the entire planet was rocked by the repercussions of your tantrums, not least my family, now facing war thousands of miles away. Such an America had to be stopped in the interests not only of the rest of humanity, but also in your own."
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Xenophobia, Racism, Suicide, Grief, Islamophobia, and Mental illness
joensign's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racism, Suicide, Islamophobia, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual assault
Minor: Cancer
amisk23's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and War
bananacustard's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Cancer
yliana's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i really enjoyed this book.
i read it for my writing class and i was honestly really into the writing style. I don't think i've ever read a book that was more of a monologue, especially with the listener never directly talking to the main character.
there weren't really any characters that i loved. i honestly think the only characters that i liked were changez and wainwright, especially since erica gave me manic pixie dream girl vibes. she really has no actual personality, in my opinion, she's just there for changez to be obsessed with.
changez's switch from loving america to...not loving it felt very natural. it was interesting to see how he rejected the fact that he was likely going to be faced with discriminationo after 9/11 solely because he was a princeton kid. i think that did a really good job of showing how easy it is to leave your identity behind to blend in to a new place or culture. also the fact that the elite and privileged are often incredibly disconnected and ignorant to what everyone below them is dealing with.
yeah, i liked this book a lot and the commentary made about the u.s. was just so on point and i wish people here could put their pride aside for just a minute so they can actually listen.
i read it for my writing class and i was honestly really into the writing style. I don't think i've ever read a book that was more of a monologue, especially with the listener never directly talking to the main character.
there weren't really any characters that i loved. i honestly think the only characters that i liked were changez and wainwright, especially since erica gave me manic pixie dream girl vibes. she really has no actual personality, in my opinion, she's just there for changez to be obsessed with.
changez's switch from loving america to...not loving it felt very natural. it was interesting to see how he rejected the fact that he was likely going to be faced with discriminationo after 9/11 solely because he was a princeton kid. i think that did a really good job of showing how easy it is to leave your identity behind to blend in to a new place or culture. also the fact that the elite and privileged are often incredibly disconnected and ignorant to what everyone below them is dealing with.
yeah, i liked this book a lot and the commentary made about the u.s. was just so on point and i wish people here could put their pride aside for just a minute so they can actually listen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, and War
amkclaes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
This is a quick read, solid and poignant, reflects on immigration experiences and 9/11, but I found some plot elements extraneous, and the ending a bit rushed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Islamophobia, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and War
janeanger's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Islamophobia
Moderate: War and Suicide
202claire's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Islamophobia, Mental illness, and War
Minor: Eating disorder
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