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introvertinterrupted's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief and Misogyny
Minor: Sexism
suzyreadsbooks's review
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thanks @tin_house for the ARC!
As I read the book, I often struggled with how little we knew about Saeedah. We never knew what changed when Muneer & Saeedah left Saudi Arabia for America, what pushed their relationship to a breaking point, or the final straw leading her to kidnap Hanadi. However, that was never the point of this story. From the beginning, we see her quiet, stubborn determination to live her life for herself, in whatever way she desires. It felt true to life that Saeedah wouldn’t let us in.
As her daughter says later in the book, it doesn’t so much matter why Saeedah did what she did; what matters most is the impact of those actions. And what stands out in this book is how the whole family’s future rested in Saeedah’s hands, and the excellent portrayals of grief and resilience and shaky relationships that lived in the aftermath.
As the book progressed, it really sped up, moving past entire decades before it felt like time to leave. To wrap up these scenes towards the end of a time period, the next few events would be summed up in the future tense. (e.g. “X will happen. He will be left feeling Z.”) This distanced me from the day-to-day choices in these characters’ lives, and these moments often felt like unfinished scenes, rather than cliffhangers.
Journalism played a big role in the book since Saeedah’s father & Muneer both worked at Saudi newspapers. This plot device helped highlight the ways the family was impacted by events including the Gulf War and 9/11. But, again, the time jumps seemed to work as an opposing force, limiting any exploration of these impacts to a quick snapshot.
Still, even with the uneven pace, it kept my attention. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a character-driven, multigenerational novel, and I sped through this one. It’s not a new favorite, but I’m glad I read it, and happy that I took time to reflect & gain additional appreciation for it.
[TWs: kidnapping, emotional abuse, gaslighting, imprisonment, Gulf War, 9/11, racial profiling, Islamophobia]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Islamophobia
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