Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Return of Faraz Ali by Aamina Ahmad

3 reviews

brianreadsbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, War, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Abortion, Colonisation, and Adult/minor relationship

uranaishi's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual violence, Child death, Classism, Death, Police brutality, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Violence, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, War, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Sexism, and Trafficking

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting

abbie_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

The Return of Faraz Ali melds crime, politics and family life, a historical fiction novel set mostly in the walled red light district of Lahore. I found the chapters/storylines that focused on Faraz’s family, his sister & mother’s storylines, much more compelling than the political plot lines. The chapters with Faraz’s father during the 40s almost didn’t feel like they were part of the same book, and I found my attention drifting during those parts. 

Pacing issues aside, I’ll be interested to see what Ahmad writes next as her prose is beautiful, despite the gritty subject matter. Exploring prostitution and corruption, this book is a tough read at times, harrowing and often melancholic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Death of parent