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dragonlilly's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.0
This is a brave memoir about a multitude of things, addressing existence, racism, islamophobia, love and dating, family, queerness, the choice to wear hijab, the desire to fight for what is right, among smaller subtopics. I thought the comparison between the author's situations and stories from the Quran was interesting and extremely well done, and is a good example for others who are religious and use the word to connect with God and make better sense of their situation without feeling alone. It was also interesting seeing the differences between the Bible and Quran, mostly with the story of Mary/Maryam. I was unsure about the author's specific interpretations of these stories at times, mainly with the author saying Mary must not have an attraction to men at all when it was probably more so her devotion to God that overpowered any feelings she would have for the angel that appeared to her. I really did enjoy the Quran comparisons, but was also somehow expecting more from them as well as a discussion of other sections. There was however a very explicit scene of self-harm that is not performed, if I am remembering it correctly, but imagined by the author's younger self who in a way idealized death as a way to disappear. This scene happened so suddenly and I am surprised I got through some of it on the audiobook before hurriedly skipping it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Biphobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
amina_writes_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Classism, Homophobia, and Islamophobia
starduststyx's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This was an absolutely beautiful book and I'm so grateful to have gotten to read it through libby. The way Lamya's queerness and the stories from the Quran tie together is absolutely perfectly ( and I learned sooo many stories are similar in the bible because I grew up Christian haha )
This memoir was so hopeful and just inspired me to be more kind especially towards myself. We don't all need to make ourselves indispensable.
I'm so excited to get to hear from them this May because they're doing a talk for OIT's bookclub!! And for the fiction work when it eventually comes out 💖
This memoir was so hopeful and just inspired me to be more kind especially towards myself. We don't all need to make ourselves indispensable.
I'm so excited to get to hear from them this May because they're doing a talk for OIT's bookclub!! And for the fiction work when it eventually comes out 💖
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Self harm
wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
I really enjoyed this. I want to be completely forthright and say that if you are the sort of reader who is put off by discussion of organized religion, reflection on religious texts, or recounting of any religious stories, this memoir is not going to be your cup of tea.
Hijab Butch Blues examines a bevy of intersections: immigrant, South Asian, Muslim, queer, feminist, and gender nonconformity, to name just a few. It was absolutely fascinating to read the parallels between the stories of the Quran, their teachings, interpretations, and moral questions, and see those interwoven with anecdotes of the author's own life. The memoir is a reflection on what it has meant to live as a queer, gender non-conforming, and in their own description a "visible Muslim" (ie. hijab wearing) immigrant both within and outside of the United States. They enumerate the specific challenges in navigating relationships with the queer community, being made to feel "not gay enough," being critiqued for adhering to an organized religion. They discuss their struggles to come out, how their coming out is received, how it can change or sever relationships. They relate with openness and vulnerability their racist experiences within the United States (New York in particular) as a brown skinned visibly Muslim person. They relay the challenges of navigating immigration, unceasing bureaucracy, ridiculous medical examinations required by their visa reapplications, and how early on they were explicitly instructed on what documents to carry and how to comport themself when faced with questioning from authorities. Most profoundly, Hijab Butch Blues reinforces that there is no set timeline for any of these reflections. That they are all a meaningful part of learning, unlearning, growth, and maturity. There is no perfect path. There is the one we take; the one we learn from; the bonds we form along the way.
Hijab Butch Blues examines a bevy of intersections: immigrant, South Asian, Muslim, queer, feminist, and gender nonconformity, to name just a few. It was absolutely fascinating to read the parallels between the stories of the Quran, their teachings, interpretations, and moral questions, and see those interwoven with anecdotes of the author's own life. The memoir is a reflection on what it has meant to live as a queer, gender non-conforming, and in their own description a "visible Muslim" (ie. hijab wearing) immigrant both within and outside of the United States. They enumerate the specific challenges in navigating relationships with the queer community, being made to feel "not gay enough," being critiqued for adhering to an organized religion. They discuss their struggles to come out, how their coming out is received, how it can change or sever relationships. They relate with openness and vulnerability their racist experiences within the United States (New York in particular) as a brown skinned visibly Muslim person. They relay the challenges of navigating immigration, unceasing bureaucracy, ridiculous medical examinations required by their visa reapplications, and how early on they were explicitly instructed on what documents to carry and how to comport themself when faced with questioning from authorities. Most profoundly, Hijab Butch Blues reinforces that there is no set timeline for any of these reflections. That they are all a meaningful part of learning, unlearning, growth, and maturity. There is no perfect path. There is the one we take; the one we learn from; the bonds we form along the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Xenophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship and Suicidal thoughts
hamletslover's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Islamophobia, Bullying, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Racism, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
matmatmatty's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Beautiful narrative, weaving in stories of Prophets from the Quran with stories from the author's life.
Really showed what it meant to be a queer Muslim, to be an immigrant, to be an "other" in your community.
This one really got me.
Really showed what it meant to be a queer Muslim, to be an immigrant, to be an "other" in your community.
This one really got me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
ren_the_hobbit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
This book hit really hard. It’s insanely well written and I cried multiple times just from feeling so seen. I also appreciated chapters about experiences different from mine as I am a white person born in the USA and so it’s extra important to listen to other viewpoints.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racism, and Misogyny
sheridan_powell's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Can already tell this will be one of my favorite reads this year. The intersection of religion & queerness was so tender & honest it made me cry. For now, I am here <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Homophobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship, War, and Suicidal thoughts
moonytoast's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Misogyny, and Islamophobia
Minor: Physical abuse, Deportation, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia
lizziaha's review against another edition
hopeful
4.25
I have a lot of respect and admiration for religious queer people. I think it requires a great deal of introspection and hope and trust in a higher power; I envy that kind of faith. And I think it can make your queerness more complicated and also more beautiful. And I think that’s a line that Lamya walks in this book. The format of her experiences intertwined with parables from the Quran worked really well for this. And for me it was interesting to see this aspect of religion. Since I was raised Christian, many of the stories were familiar, with additions, subtractions, and adjustments that occasionally changed the whole shape of the story. And Lamya’s interpretations turn them into something even more powerful. This too feels familiar. I remember shaping my own faith in a way that many other members of my religion did not relate to. It is such a holy act of love and self-love and I’m glad to see it recorded her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Islamophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Deportation, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship