Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar

39 reviews

mirandaleighhhh's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This was as devastating as it was beautiful. The writing style is interesting and dynamic, it felt a bit like a diary, but more than that. Three resilient Muslim American sisters, steadfast in their bond, finding home within each other and within themselves as other "homes" crumble away.

"we belong to a people who love the moon  /  yes, a god too- Allah  /  and the trees as well  /  the fabric tied to their branches  /  their roots deep in the ground  /  their arms toward the sky  /  towards her"
"my little ones  /  my sticky children  /  at home the babysitter  /  annoyed I'm not back  /  inshallah  /  they'll know  /  love so much  /  the love leaks  /  out of me  /  dark red  /  on  /  pavement  /  all I can see the moon  /  my blood  /  she's full  /  the streetlamps twinkle"
"We're mothered by everything because we know how to look for the mothering, because we know a mother might leave us and we'll need another mother to step in and take it's place"
"My sisters, my Gods, my mirrors" OUCH OUCH OUCH
"My sister- mother, my other God... God of the night; God of the stars. God of the boombox. God of the wind in her hair"

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Sexual assault

mxjacknelson's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Islamophobia and Sexual assault

briaarnese's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Something about the poetic and stream of consciousness nature of this book hooked me. I’m a sucker for beautiful yet surreal imagery and metaphor, and the author wrote these beautifully.

Great storytelling packed into a short but well-developed narrative about grief & overcoming despite all odds.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Sexism, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, and Cursing

jordynkw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

yinflower's review

emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Grief, Islamophobia, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Xenophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

mostephanitely's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

this book caught me by surprise in the best way. i felt completely enveloped by its words and form, losing all sense of time and space. i didn’t want it to end but couldn’t stop turning the pages. this is special. it will stay with me forever. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Death of parent

kshertz's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was a heartbreaking story of three sisters told through the quietest one. The one who feels they don’t quite fit in. It was beautifully haunting and heartbreaking. The storytelling method was not one I was used to but still thought was very intentional and well done. I just wanted it to be longer and tell more of their adult lives 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, and Sexual assault

marleefayek's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

4.5

This is such a beautifully written story, the words almost like poetry. The author uses strong imagery, and metaphor -- it's moving, powerful and poetic. The title matches the story very elegantly. The main character goes on a bit of a coming of age journey, but it doesn't feel cliche or done before-- very original, compelling, heartfelt and bittersweet. I loved seeing the world through their eyes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Violence, and Rape

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy

cheesepuppy's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Death of parent

kateped's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault