Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

7 reviews

bladelikesbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

In this novel, we see Darius struggle socially, internally and also within his family unit. Darius is bullied at school by racist peers and just general assholes and when he reaches out to his father for help, he portrays textbook toxic masculinity and blames Darius for the bullying. He’s the perfect example of being your child’s first bully. 

Due to the illness of a loved one, Darius’ family goes to Iran for a trip. During this, we see many culture differences and Darius’ struggle with not feeling “Iranian enough”. He forms a friendship while there that is just wonderful for him and really helps him build confidence and connection and who helps him feel like he belongs. I really think this friendship with Sohrab truly healed some parts of Darius that he was really struggling with. It was truly a beautiful depiction of friendship. I was so sad when Darius had to go back home. 

I really felt for Darius when he was struggling with wanting to be more involved in his family on his Iranian side but not knowing how to communicate. I have family struggles myself so it’s safe to say I cried throughout the majority of this book. Darius and his dad have a really great conversation where his dad apologises and explains why he acts the way he does and that one conversation was so healing in their relationship.

I think this book does a great job of portraying familial relationships in such a real and honest way and it really resonated with me. This is definitely one of my favourite books of all time and I can’t wait to read the sequel. Also, I loved the afterword and I really appreciated the inclusion of helplines at the end of the book. 

Representation - Bahá’í (SC); Depression (MC); Fat (MC); Iranian/Persian-American (MC); Muslim (BGC); POC (MC)

TWs/CWs - Blood; Bullying; Death; Death of a Parent; Fatphobia; Homophobia; Institutionalised Racism; Islamophobia; Medical Detail; Racism; Stool; Suicide; Suicide Attempt; Suicide Ideation; Terminal Illness; Toxic Masculinity 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Fatphobia, Islamophobia, Bullying, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death

Minor: Blood

jackyreadss's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Mental illness

Minor: Suicide attempt

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dementia, Bullying, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming

Minor: Alcohol, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism

divaninoor's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

This book surprised me! I thought it wouldn’t be that interesting but especially about 1/2 the way through, I had developed a connection with the characters that made me want to see what happened. This isn’t the most lyrical or poetic of books, which is what I usually like to read. I would also say that some of the chapter endings, which have a repetitive structure, aren’t as emotional as they might have been planned to be. Still, the plot is very interesting and each character is developed in a way that we can all relate to some parts of them and want better for them. It was sweet and I can’t wait to read the sequel ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Fatphobia, Bullying, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Religious bigotry

onemamareads's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/darius-the-great-is-not-okay

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

wrenxavier's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

corvicore's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Cancer, Fatphobia, Death, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Suicide attempt and Racism