Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Blood Feast: The Complete Short Stories of Malika Moustadraf by Malika Moustadraf

8 reviews

abbie_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

3.25

I buddy read this one with Nadia and we both agreed that it would have been a far better experience had the excellent translator's note been placed at the beginning of the collection! As it was, we both felt underwhelmed at a lot of the stories, or left feeling 'What was the point of that?' 

But when you understand more of the context of these stories, and how radical Moustadraf was (so radical that she was denied treatment for her illness which meant she died far too young), they take on a new light. This collection contains the first instance of cybersex in Arabic lit, as well as the first (I think) intersex/genderqueer character in Moroccan lit. 

The main message of the collection could be summed up as 'men are trash'. The women in these stories lack agency, are stuck in loveless and often abusive marriages or suffer at the hands of abusive or neglectful fathers, entitled men whinge and moan about their situation in life then take it out on the women around them. A few of the stories focus on self-perpetuating cycles of violence and poverty which trap so many women and nonbinary folks in less-than-ideal situations. 

Moustadraf does such a good job of writing unlikeable characters - possibly too much of a good job? In that, I felt tired and drained after reading almost every story, because there's so few repercussions. But sadly that is how it is in real life too, more often than not. 

Overall, a collection I appreciated lot more upon reflection than while reading!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

brandiereadsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Transphobia

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

this was such a bleak but good book. i enjoyed quite a few of the stories. it was a very hard read though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Violence

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

a good collection of short stories that never fails to make one once again enraged at sexism and misogyny under the patriarchy. some of the stories in blood feast are better than others, w/ "just different" and "briwat" being some of my favorites.

i also like the intersectionality that moustradaf shows here, where the female characters who suffer under the patriarchy nevertheless engage in homophobia or some other form of discrimination. theyre thus illustrated as full, imperfect and multidimensional humans instead of merely empty vessels in which to reiterate the book's msg and themes.

moustradaf unflinchingly tells the stories and that inevitably involves some triggering content. moreover, some of the stories can be forgettable, either from their very short length or an unclear direction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Homophobia

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, and Blood

Minor: Pedophilia

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty and Eating disorder

jayisreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

4.0

This was an interesting collection of short stories from the late author, Malika Moustadraf. I appreciated her highlighting the experiences of women and queer people in Morocco in these stories, especially since they are in a deeply conservative society due to religion and tradition. Moustadraf creates sites of resistance in so many of her characters, all of them standing up to patriarchy and misogyny that they face on a day-to-day basis. Were there happy endings? Not really, no. The stories were bleak, and it was clearly deliberate to really shine a light on how Moroccan society failed some of its most vulnerable groups. (An aside, kind of, but this includes disabled people, which she highlights in one of her stories.)

There were so many fascinating themes and issues covered in this collection, but the reason I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to was because every story was far too short. Maybe it was because of Moustadraf’s health that she was unable to expand on these ideas, I don’t know. I just wish there was more, and it’s heartbreaking to know that we won’t be able to read more of her sharp writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Fatphobia, Rape, and Transphobia

Minor: Violence

lisadakeii's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Misogyny

marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

This complete collection of short stories from the late Malika Moustadraf features poor and working-class Moroccans who are sometimes redeemable and sometimes not.  These clever stories are about sexuality and gender norms, traditions and contradictions, the absence of choice, and all of them are properly short, to readers’ delight.  Contemplative and even jocular, Blood Feast is a window into a niche Arab culture. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse and Violence