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sameenj's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Violence
kbusemeyer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I think this is a really shocking book to go into blind because the first sections are just heartbreaking with SA all over the place. And that set me up to think that every single section was going to be like that, which while it had their own conflict, didn’t feel anything like that caliber.
After the first section, I found some of the writing starting to feel not great to me. Or maybe it’s more that the author chose to expand more on certain things while glossing over other parts in order to get to the next point she wanted to say, but also leaving in random extraneous details. The relationship with Bilal’s mom never felt that connection until much later because we only get told “oh they tended the garden together” and somehow we were supposed to believe that Yaqoot sees her husband’s mom, that she’s there to divorce, as another mother. Meanwhile a detail about the mom leaving from the wedding is kept in for, seemingly, no reason.
There were definitely parts that I enjoyed more than others - the olive grove scenes and the initial dates with Bilal, but sometimes I found it hard to read with all the telling and not showing. I think it’s a really good look at how things were (and are) and especially the view they have of America vs Saddam, etc. super interesting and obviously different than we are told.
Moderate: Sexual assault, War, and Rape
Minor: Torture
aliciawithoutkeys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Abortion
kiandrareadsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Colonisation, Misogyny, Confinement, Genocide, Police brutality, Grief, and Rape
lizziaha's review
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Deportation, Grief, Rape, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, War, Racism, Medical trauma, Murder, Blood, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Islamophobia, Miscarriage, Abortion, and Ableism
Minor: Antisemitism, Bullying, Cancer, and Death of parent
ddnreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
But this book is much more than the love story of Nahr and Bilal (eventhough their love is extraordinarily tender and healing).
Unputdownable and sharp, Against the Loveless World told a life of a woman who tried to find her way among the generational trauma of colonialism, refugee, and occupation.
I love how the characters are flawed. How bare and jarring they told their lives. I love the raw honesty, the swearing, the curses.
This is a feminist book in its own way.
I wept for the love mothers share. Their toughness through the worst of conditions. They're the real world's strongest soldiers.
Graphic: Deportation, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Grief, Cursing, War, Colonisation, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Deadnaming, Genocide, Islamophobia, and Misogyny
readandfindout's review against another edition
4.5
Themes: 5 stars
Characters: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Abortion, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Rape, War, Confinement, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Homophobia, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Grief, Sexism, Torture, and Racism
sarah_js's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Murder, Rape, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Abortion, and Miscarriage
abeilleabbie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, and Rape
Moderate: Misogyny, War, Torture, Colonisation, Genocide, Sexual harassment, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Racism, Police brutality, Trafficking, Islamophobia, and Deportation
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Abortion, Pregnancy, Sexism, Infidelity, and Infertility
shieldbearer's review
Graphic: Murder, Classism, Islamophobia, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Cursing, Sexual violence, Ableism, Alcohol, Infidelity, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Deportation, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, and War
Moderate: Infertility, Abortion, Antisemitism, Outing, and Pregnancy