Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir

Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib

21 reviews

julian7's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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sar_she_her's review against another edition

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informative inspiring sad medium-paced

3.75

Premise of Unique Perspective, A Vignette that improved with insights as both book and protagonist progressed

It's hard to pinpoint what did vs didn't resonate about this author's writing. Especially while tempering what may be my outside preconceived notions based on societal generalizations.

Especially for nonfiction writing or memoirs, what usually resonates is a candid glimpse into an individual's unique perspective, experiences, and visceral emotions. Or conversely especially when shedding light on often under-represented, marginalized, or misunderstood people/culture I appreciate their zoomed out commentary based on personal experience and intimately knowing the culture, adversity, or addressing misconceptions.

This author's writing landed somewhere between the two, drawing portraits of childhood and home life that felt real and relatable, but not necessarily going into more personal thoughts/feelings on adversity nor societal misconceptions.

The book- as did her understanding of her own identity, the imperfect humanity of people in her life, and through gaining self-empowerment- improved as the book progressed, with me really enjoying the arcs of her relationships with self and family members through the last half to third of the book.

It may've been the decision of the writer through numerous drafts, and/or editors, but while i SO appreciate the author sharing her personal story AND shedding light on an often under-represented intersectionality of marginalization and almost unfathomable adversity, I wish she could've delved into some of these turning points, even if sacrificing some of the vignettes.

Covering a span of decades, including so much evolution, in a relatively short book is quite a challenge to undertake. I applaud her creating dialogue and advocating for safe spaces amidst the intersectionality of communities. I hope she continues to voice her unique insights, loud and proud, as an example and trailblazer for others.

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readinghavoc's review against another edition

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4.25

I really really enjoyed reading this. Like a good memoir usually does, this felt both enlightening and highly relatable. I'm really glad to have gotten to read something on the relationship between religion and queerness that was both really similar and so different from my own experiences and questions. Habib's voice was strong and impressive — reading this felt like listening to and learning from a kind friend with more life experience to share. I think this would be a good read for anyone trying to unpack the relationship between their faith and identity, anyone who is trying to build a healthy relationship with a complicated parent, or anyone who wants to think some more about intersectionality and activism.

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fox's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

a moving, thought-provoking, and wholly important memoir. i was particularly affected by samra's descriptions of her complex relationship with her faith not simply as a religion but a facet of her roots, culture and self. worth checking out the "content warnings" if you need them before reading.

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