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aarustin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Drug use
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Violence
themorsecode's review against another edition
4.0
Kinda loses its way and becomes a bit too didactic in the final stretch but otherwise this is wonderful. Some interesting ideas about identity and youth, and a great LONDON novel
leehyunjae's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.5
There were some parts I heavily enjoyed and others that had me feeling a little wishy-washy. I’ll absolutely be rereading in a few months for class so I’ll likely update my review then (-:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Islamophobia, Sexism, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
hollykmc's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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
agnesealstrian's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
meganeorcx's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
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
Pleasantly surprised by this book. Shahid floating somewhere between the fundamentalism of his Muslim friends and the liberalism of his white professor/lover was incredibly interesting and done well. The book is full of gorgeous passages, questioning religion, society, so much more. The writing did jump from one thing to another but I didn't mind as the book read easily and again, most passages were so worth it. It isn't a "fun" book, however, condemning nearly every group in society with a whole bunch of slurs attached to it. A lot of it actually helped define the characters but mostly the misogyny could have been cut in half as it more often than not felt like the writer's male gaze rather than that of the characters. That's my main critique as most of the novel was very interesting, setting and all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, and Drug use
Moderate: Homophobia and Islamophobia
manoeklambregts's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shailendraahangama17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-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