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bookdragon217's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
"...it's not enough to tread the right books, to say the right things, to tweet your anger about police brutality or supporting Black people if you're going to come home and make your Black girlfriend feel like she is less than you."
Good Intentions by debut author Kasim Ali released yesterday and it's definitely a novel that gave lots to think about. It's a story about Nur, a British Pakistani and Yasmine, a British Sudanese who are in a serious relationship and trying to navigate interracial dating, family responsibilities, culture, and mental health while trying to forge their own paths for future careers. The story jumps around to different points in their relationship as Nur deals with his anxiety about telling his parents that he's been in a relationship with a black woman for 4 years. He thinks he is saving Yasmina from the hurt of anti-blackness in South Asian cultures but has not reckoned with his own internalized beliefs and struggles with mental health that have been showing up and causing him severe panic attacks. He brushes them aside as "not liking conflict" and projects them onto his family most of the time.
I loved that the author was bold in the ways he told the story and made certain choices for the characters. The non-linear timeline was confusing at first but once you get a sense of the characters it becomes easier to follow. The slow pace helped to build up the tension for the ending. I would definitely read this author's next book because I enjoyed the emotional storytelling. Thanks to @henryholtbooks for the gifted copy.
Final thoughts on this one:
💥 To reckon with race, the work must start by dealing with internalized biases.
💥 Being anti-racist requires action not complacency.
💥 There is anti-blackness in many cultures including South Asian.
💥 The pressures to lead lives that honor your immigrant parents can be taxing on mental health.
💥 It's ok to choose yourself or your partner if your family is not accepting of aspects of identity.
💥 Mental Health in black and brown communities needs to be a priority.
💥 Interracial dating requires that you do the hard work to learn about and support your partner's cultural group.
💥 To reckon with race, the work must start by dealing with internalized biases.
💥 Being anti-racist requires action not complacency.
💥 There is anti-blackness in many cultures including South Asian.
💥 The pressures to lead lives that honor your immigrant parents can be taxing on mental health.
💥 It's ok to choose yourself or your partner if your family is not accepting of aspects of identity.
💥 Mental Health in black and brown communities needs to be a priority.
💥 Interracial dating requires that you do the hard work to learn about and support your partner's cultural group.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, and Mental illness
Minor: Homophobia, Self harm, and Gaslighting
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