Reviews tagging 'Rape'

In the Time of our History by Susanne Pari

11 reviews

rinnfoskey's review

challenging emotional reflective

4.0

I enjoy character driven books and so this worked for me, but an initial disclaimer if you are after something fast paced and plot driven this might not be for you. 

An unfolding of relationships, reflection on the past, grief, migration and people's multi-faceted nature told through an Irani family in the 80s/90s. 

Overall I found this book very compelling, if heavy. 

<Spoiler> what I found more challenging was the revealing of Anahita's sexual abuse when she was younger was used as a device to prompt reflection and redemption in characters. I could understand Mitra telling her mum, and then Olga telling her the rest of the story but Mitra tells her father eventually from a place of revenge hoping it will hurt him. That he does seem to respond in a way of reflecting on his life and changing things seemed to easy. I would have thought the book more real, and less uncomfortable about anahita continuing to he used and manipulated to Mitra/her father's enda if this passage was left out. </Spoiler>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Infertility

moniipeters's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child death, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Pedophilia, Car accident, Death, Deportation, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

jlearnwriter's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Child death, Child abuse, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Xenophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Infertility, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Pedophilia

melitiamelitia's review

challenging 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Child death, Rape, Child abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse

rhi4794's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Rape

nini23's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, and Pedophilia

Patriarchy Depressed grieving people have to be needed and have tasks to snap out of it /s Single women cannot be left well alone, they need baabies in their lives even if they've had tubals /s

mmrohbock's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

5⭐ on 🎧

I've heard nothing about this book but got it on a whim the library after seeing it at Target... And it was amazing?! If you enjoyed Olga Dies Dreaming and want to learn more about Iranian American culture, this needs to be on your TBR and this book needs to be on everyone's radar!!

This book starts with bringing together a large Iranian American family in 1998 to celebrate the one year of life since the passing of the youngest daughter, which causes a clash of both grief and family estrangements. The eldest daughter Mitra goes in search of sister's secrets and it causes her to completely change how she thinks about her life, while the mother Shireen finally realized her own strength in the presence of her overbearing husband.

Seeing how these women claim their own power while respecting their culture and figuring out what it truly means to be Iranian American was empowering and beautiful but also made me so mad when they experienced overt sexism and just some truly awful men and challenging cultural norms. I loved these characters so much and I will be thinking about for a long time. Truly a gorgeous novel rich with culture and strong female characters, this a must read as we watch Iranians protest their government and continue to see these strong people unite.

Content warnings for drugged rape, unexpected pregnancy, assault sexism, slut shaming, cheating and car accident.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Child death, Car accident, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Death

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Deportation and War

bookmaddie's review

challenging emotional 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? Yes

4.25

This book snuck up on me. I didn't love the writing style at first, but as I read, I slowly found myself more wrapped up in the story and soon enough, I'd look up and I'd somehow read 60 pages in what felt like a flash. Pari has crafted a layered family story that feels undeniably real. Grief is at the heart of this story, and Pari examines its ebbs and flows with grace, and shows how memories can come upon you like a summer storm. Grief begets transformation, and in this story expectations are upended and hard truths are unearthed to create a previously unimaginable future.

I must admit that Mitra, the main character, annoyed me throughout a lot of this book, and even now, I'm not sure if I really like her? Even so, I yearned for her to heal and learn, and it was immensely satisfying to see her as she stumbles, then strides into her new, altered, everyday. I absolutely adored Mitra's mother, Shireen, and her transformation—both as a character, and how we gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of her as the narrative goes on.

A story about loss, mothers and daughters, healing, and forgiveness. A smashing and unexpected read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Car accident, Sexual assault, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, and Rape

anitacv's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Emotional abuse

amobrien's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad 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

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

In the Time of our History follows an Iranian American family in the aftermath of the death of one of the sisters. Set in the 90s with reflections on the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the story touches on family, immigration, grief and culture. While it does have a slow start, this story is definitely worth sticking around for! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault