Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir by Lamya H

16 reviews

tinyjude's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

I am rendered speechless after finishing this book. I cannot recommend it enough. 

My life and experiences are very different from Lamya but I couldn't stop relating to her, her fears, struggles, philosophical and religious interpretations and adoring every second of it. Every new vision, every shift in perspective on so many aspects of life. The carefully and gorgeously crafted stories she tells, how she centers women throughout the whole book, how she believes fervently and beautifully in a gender genderqueer God (Allah), how we get to know so many different queer people that end up forming a community, how she navigates gender in a nonconforming way that truly spoke to my heart... How she navigates all those episodes in her life and comes to be the person who created this incredible book. I hope she keeps fighting in her own ways and she receives all the love she deserves and previously negated herself. Truly an indispensable read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Police brutality

Moderate: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Biphobia and Slavery

razzberry_pi's review against another edition

challenging emotional

4.75

Beautifully written memoir of a queer Muslim woman that unpacks a lot of different things she has been through while relating them to various prophets in Islam. 

As a queer person in my early 20s it feels amazing to get to read a coming of age story that doesnt stop where I am now. Most of the growth in the story happens much later in her life, especially romantically which was good for me to hear. 

The religious aspects of the book were also very interesting to me as I don't know a ton about Islam and seeing the differences and similarities between these narratives and Jewish ones was super interesting. 

also the bit about learning to be less self sufficient had me by the throat it was so good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Religious bigotry and Colonisation

sierras12's review against another edition

4.0

Really interesting, made me think about religious parables in a way i’d never considered before. You have to be okay with feeling your big sad queer feelings when reading this though (and reading a lot of racism/colorism/xenophobia) because despite the hopeful note that most chapters end with there’s a lot of pain. I’d recommend it but I can’t say it left me feeling good. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

colleen_bean_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

The queer book club that I run picked this book for our April 2023 read, and I will forever be grateful for that. Lamya his a beautiful author and her writing is lyrical. Throughout the memoir she compares stories from the Quran with her own story and life experience. She highlights the feelings of not fully belonging to any one group which is something I think many people can relate to. This book taught me a lot about Muslim faith and being a queer Muslim woman. It also challenged my own thoughts and actions towards people who are queer and religious. This a book that I think everyone should read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racial slurs, Bullying, Classism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

ecn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

One of the best memories I’ve ever read. Extremely relatable (despite not being Muslim) and so introspective. My queer, Butch heart is so held by this story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Racism

marigoldgem's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Body shaming, Bullying, Racism, Classism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia

Minor: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Emotional abuse