Reviews tagging 'Grief'

When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar

17 reviews

p1gu1's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

it destroyed me in all the right ways

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content

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

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

estam1's review

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Classism, Grief, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Islamophobia

micklesreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? No

5.0

This book was so beautifully written, with vignettes of poetry and verse, visual storytelling, and other creative writing styles interspersed throughout the tale. It was a stunning journey, and it's going to join "A Little Life" for me on the short list of books that absolutely destroyed me. 

So much grief and trauma here for three sisters to take. Their love for one another was so strong, but ugh y'all, this one will kick your ass.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Abandonment

nataliesophia's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault, Islamophobia, and Abandonment

Minor: Dysphoria

noble_editorial's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a powerful book. It's highly literary, with a number of poetic tangents. I think this was beautifully done, but it can be intimidating for readers who usually stick to genre fiction. A great deal is left open to interpretation, and I initially found it a bit frustrating, as I craved more explanation regarding the motivations of each sister. With time and reflection, I've become more comfortable with the author's nuanced approach, but in some ways, I do wish they had given the reader just a bit more insight. Overall, however, this is an emotional and beautifully told story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Xenophobia

emzireads's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Grief