Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

9 reviews

tahsintries's review

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, War, and Medical content

Minor: Deportation, Islamophobia, and Confinement

baratheonbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Islamophobia and Xenophobia

laashpa's review

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Child death, Murder, Racism, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Death

Minor: Child abuse, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Pedophilia

internationalreads's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death of parent, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death, Child abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

kelsielovesbooks's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Islamophobia, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Violence, and War

rebeccarudisill's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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? No

4.75

This book was not at all what I expected, but it was exactly what I needed. A very engaging and thought provoking story that had me gripped if not from page 1 then from chapter 2. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Terminal illness, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia

yatinarora's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Xenophobia, War, and Islamophobia

katypicken's review

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.25

A beautiful book dealing with the life of a young girl who escapes the coup in Afghanistan in 1978 and comes to live in America. Many years later, now working as a surgeon, she meets the man who saved her - but who may also have killed her family.
This book deals with some big themes and big emotions, and there are numerous interwoven storylines. The characterisations are three-dimensional and real, and Sitara/Aryana's emotions throughout are believable and well-portrayed. Beautiful poetic language.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Cancer, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Medical content, and Violence

happiestwhenreading's review

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

I don’t know much about Afghanistan’s history; and sadly, I’m like most Americans who only became aware of the country after the events of 9/11. Since then, I have read several books set in the Middle East region, but I’m sure this book will forever stand out to me.

The book begins in 1978 in Afghanistan where Sitara has an idealic life. Her father is a close advisor to the President Daoud, so the palace and all its lush gardens are her playground. One night, the military turned on the President, invaded the palace, and killed everyone – except Sitara. For whatever reason, one of the military guards has mercy on Sitara and smuggles her out to an American diplomat who eventually adopts and raises her in America. Flash forward to NYC in 2008 where Sitara (but now known as Aryana) is a successful surgeon. On a chance encounter, she comes face to face with her past and, once again, her world is flipped upside down.

Hashimi’s writing immediately pulled me in. While her writing is succinct, it is also quite metaphorical and profound. I sunk into her lyrical prose first, and eventually found that I had also sunk into the story as well. I loved Hasimi’s character development, but most of all, I loved returning to Kabul and learning more about the history of Afghanistan. This book felt like I took a journey and I came out on the otherside better for having took it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Medical content, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cancer, and Terminal illness

Minor: Confinement