Reviews

As a debut novel, Guapa is an amazing start. Haddad takes the reader through a tumultous 24-hours in the life of Rasa, dealing with a secret (gay) relationship, his domineering grandmother, the remnants of an "Arab Spring" that are bringing an Islamic state in lieu of a dictator (not what the protectors wanted). Through flashbacks we learn what life was like for an Arab student in NY on September 11, dealing with friends that become more Americanized or radicalized, and coming to the realization and acceptance, however tenuous, of one's homosexuality.

My frustration with the book is wanting to learn more about each part, especially when Rasa was in New York, or during the protests in the unnamed Arab country. Each of those could be it's own book.

lbrex's review

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5.0

This is a really impressive novel. I can't think of the last book that I've read that's so full of turmoil--romantic, interpersonal, familial, and political. Rasa's struggle, which seems to grow in magnitude as the reader learns more about him, is not finished by the end of this book, but the novel has gotten across the complexity and the sheer thorniness of the many challenges that he faces. Rasa is a man who has had it with the pretense that society requires of us--whether around being an Arab or being a gay man--and becomes increasingly ready to break the rules, to call bulls#$% on the restrictions that he cannot stand. His character is a vulnerable, grumpy, complaining, angry mess, and I loved him for it. For all the issues that this book describes that I haven't had to deal with in my own life, the narrative made me identify with him the more. I wanted to comfort this narrator; he was facing challenges I might be too weak to withstand.

This book's representation of politics was also intriguing. It gets across the cruel outcome of the "Arab Spring" and optimism that it engendered, while also indicating that the political options are so limited in the imagined country of this novel that they come, at times, to resemble the powerlessness of a closeted relationship. Rasa's loves and friendships can't be divorced from the environment in which they are formed, and the bumpy ride that is the last 100 pages of this novel is marked by military violence and civilian deaths.

There are points in the book where I wasn't exactly blown away by the style (sometimes in the interactions between Taymour and Rasa the wording seemed repetitive), but _Guapa_'s overall brute emotional force is something that I won't forget. I think just about everyone should read this, but obviously folks with an interesting in queer literature will be the best served. Please check it out and let me know what you thought...meanwhile, can we have Saleem Haddad come and speak at my school!?!

mscott's review

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4.0

Well written novel about a young gay man set in the somewhere in the Middle East. I enjoyed the character development and felt drawn into the relationships that the main character, Rasa, had with his family, friends, and boyfriend. Great story telling of events that occurred over a 24-hour period. I have to admit being disappointed, even sad, about how the relationship evolves for Rasa and his boyfriend, which goes to prove I was drawn into this novel.

ssjfaria's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

bookish_wanderer's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Really enjoyed this, the themes and interesting thoughts it provoked. But I feel like it loses a bit of steam towards the end and left me wanting for a resolution

Content Warnings

smass10's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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