Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

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

16 reviews

ortizzyy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.25

I took a break from memoirs from a while because the ones I'd read all felt "too whiny"-- which I realize may sound a bit harsh or unfair since these are someone's lived experiences. I don't mean to invalidate that, but that is just how I have found many memoirs to be lately. I was worried I may have the same complaint of this book, but thankfully I did not. 

I enjoyed hearing about Samra's childhood, their coming-of-age and their journey to embrace their queerness. They also talked about exploring what it means to be Queer and Muslim and how that left them feeling like an outsider even in queer spaces.  It looks like since this book was published they now use different pronouns. In the book they use she/her pronouns. I really liked this book, my only issue is that I felt certain topics were glossed over, or there were large gaps between events. 

Samra talks about meeting Abi and Megan and becoming better friends and I wish there was a bit more detail there. There are large spans of time that are barely touched on. For example, the time between

when she ran away, married Peter and reunited with their parents.

Because of this lack of detail, I found it difficult to tell how much time was passing between events. 

My craving for more detail speaks to how much I enjoyed their writing and hearing about their experiences.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence

garrettl's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Adult/minor relationship

thetenaciousbookworm's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual violence

mina_m's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence

ryleeisstressed's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Racism

Minor: Toxic relationship

mold_munchr's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia and Sexual assault

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

prrttyodd's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Islamophobia

Moderate: Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Child abuse

fernstheworst's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

kasey_reads's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This memoir was freaking stunning!! Samra Habib tells her story with an unflinching raw honesty that was truly a gift to read. Samra sharing her story of growing up as a Queer, Muslim Immigrant is a gift that we should all be grateful to have the opportunity to read. I am very excited to research more about Samra's work, see her photography, and read anything else that she puts out in the world. 

This book is heartachingly beautiful, and I'm so glad to have read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Islamophobia

Moderate: Sexual violence

kalross's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry