Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

Love Marriage by Monica Ali

20 reviews

debirainbow's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Some spoilers in my review:

This is a strange book, the chapters are short and there are a lot of characters. Good descriptions of Bengali household & the author’s description of cooking and food. It explores the mixing of different cultures & parent child relationships. I liked the chapters set in the hospital wards, felt Ali described those really well - the issues with elder care & the pressures of geriatric care.

Spoiler : If she had focussed on that - the love triangle & maybe left Joe’s therapy sessions in, it would have been less of a chore to finish. Didn’t really care for Harriet’s chapters, raised a lot of issues which were not followed through ie her relationship with her dad!!! - the author had a lot to say and opinions about Brexit & Islamophobia which is great, but made the book muddled and dragged a bit towards the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Rape, Grief, and Incest

linda48's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Islamophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, and Sexism

mags123456's review against another edition

emotional informative 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

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed exploring the different cultures as well as the different viewpoints throughout the story. I felt as though I really got to know each character
I feel the story came to a neat end with all issues which were explored being resolved

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape

Moderate: Islamophobia

danimcthomas's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.75

Ali’s characters are some of the most well developed I’ve ever read - she captures the intricacies of human relationships so beautifully. Love Marriage feels like a coming-of-age story but all the characters are well into their adulthood. I didn’t want it to end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Islamophobia, Biphobia, Dementia, Medical trauma, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Addiction, Alcohol, Genocide, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts

granolagrandma's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Islamophobia and Physical abuse

bootsmom3's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Classism, Death, and Sexual violence

Minor: Dementia

jazful's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Medical trauma, Dementia, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Classism, Medical content, Misogyny, Addiction, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infertility, Incest, Abandonment, Blood, Cultural appropriation, and Grief

Minor: Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, and Police brutality

monalyisha's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

3.75

To be honest, this was as frustrating to read as it was compulsively readable. 😅 It’s one of those where you want to SHAKE all of the characters for being self-absorbed jerks…but you’re secretly praying for their evolution, growth, and redemption. By the end, I was celebrating little victories, mourning endings (even if they were inevitable), and crossing my fingers for the future. Despite a stray, awkward sentence or two, I think this was very well-done.

Note: TW for abuse (domestic, sexual, emotional). This is called “a riveting social comedy” but it isn’t. Not really. It’s about families, which means that it has its share of tenderness and ribbing but the trauma and struggle, for me, felt a lot more prevalent — even alongside the love. Despite the author’s clear wit, I don’t think this can properly be called a “comedy” without conveying a half-truth about tone.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Rape

Minor: Homophobia

ell_n's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Islamophobia

Moderate: Medical content

jennikreads's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia and Infidelity

Moderate: Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, and Sexual content

Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Lesbophobia