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k8ofhearts's review against another edition
5.0
beautiful, soulful, faithful
incredibly centers queer joy and faith in the storytelling
incredibly centers queer joy and faith in the storytelling
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing book. Lamya's reflections on her life, identities, and faith, all woven through with lessons from the Quran, made me reflect so much on so many things. Her use of the story of Asiyah was particularly effective--she uses it to talk about abusive relationships and the double binds that frequently exist within them, and then she uses that abuse as a metaphor for her own relationship with the United States.
I will be thinking about Hijab Butch Blues for a long time.
I will be thinking about Hijab Butch Blues for a long time.
multilingual_s's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Don't know why, but I'm just a sucker for religious coming of age memoirs and this is another great example of this genre. I loved to learn about the muslim perspective on the Bible stories I grew up with and the hopeful and queer interpretation of them by the author.
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, and Homophobia
Minor: Domestic abuse
oxnard_montalvo's review
Never easy "reviewing" a memoir. Who am I to say X Y and Z about someone's deeply personal thoughts, feelings and experiences? This was certainly moving, and a perspective that isn't all that seen/heard out there in the world. Particularly affecting where those chapters exploring how hidden Lamya's life and love was. Sometimes, there's no scope for a triumphant declaration of self and I appreciated her nuanced take. Be to thine own self be sure, for sure, but does that self need to be declared? Does it need to be public to be authentic? When love comes with conditions, is it any less meaningful?
Food for thought, man.
I've noticed a fair few reviews taking issue with her religious takes/perspectives, and I mean... I can't speak to that, but the way I see it, is that this is a personal account, full of intimate reflections and philosophies. It's not academic. It's diary. Don't take it as doctrine I suppose would be the advice. An imperfect person's imperfect interpretation (as are all interpretations of religious texts as far as I'm concerned).
Food for thought, man.
I've noticed a fair few reviews taking issue with her religious takes/perspectives, and I mean... I can't speak to that, but the way I see it, is that this is a personal account, full of intimate reflections and philosophies. It's not academic. It's diary. Don't take it as doctrine I suppose would be the advice. An imperfect person's imperfect interpretation (as are all interpretations of religious texts as far as I'm concerned).
pchopd's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the narrative structure of linking the personal essays to excerpts from the Quran - I learned so much and felt like each new set of chapters was a new, enticing set of reflections.