Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English: A Novel by Noor Naga

50 reviews

gralicia's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This was really engaging, I flew through it in a day. There was heavy content, but I enjoyed the switch in writing style between parts 1 and 2.

I also enjoyed the two perspectives, I thought they complimented each other well without too much overlap or superfluous details.

Part 3 really made me think more seriously about the characters, particularly the boy from Shobrakheit, as it positioned the book as a memoir rather than fiction. I don't usually love character-as-writer tropes, but this workshop discussion gave unique insight and perspective to the writing process and the story. The allusions to a discarded Part 3 were interesting.

I don't know yet how much of this story is true. I'm not sure that I will look into it, I prefer the ambiguity in this instance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Classism, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: War, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Drug use, Fatphobia, Incest, Gaslighting, and Death

t0rixoxo's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

honestly, when first reading this book I thought I'd be able to give it five stars easily. I couldn't put it down. but at some point, I wasn't able to understand what the book was trying to tell me, and it just confused me for the rest of the book.
don't get me wrong, I absolutely adored the book! but something switched during part two and three that I can't decipher. even after reading part three, i couldn't figure it out.

but anyways, 4 stars. it was able to keep me hooked for a few days and I loved the way it introduced me to many different aspects of Egyptian culture. the experience of an Egyptian American woman vs an Egyptian man from the rural parts and their relationship was very intriguing to me. I learned so many new things from this book <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Drug abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Classism

aniquegrace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

i’ll be thinking about this one for awhile 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Homophobia and Racism

django018's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

Devastating. Will be thinking about it for a while

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Domestic abuse

ameliasbooks's review

challenging dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Experimental in the way I like. Interesting insights into Egyptian society and also into what it means to be an expat and returning to a country or visiting the country of your ancestors for the first time. Who are you as a person, what makes you and where do feel like you belong?
It checks on your viewpoints and prejudices.
Not sure about part three, but I can see, what it was trying to do.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Misogyny, Classism, Sexism, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Rape, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

lifeinsherds's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This was by far my favorite read of 2023. It was difficult because of the topics but it was so beautiful. The format was something I had never experienced before and it lends so much to the narrator's emotion. Seriously, this book was stunning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Violence, Colonisation, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse

bluesandbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Have never read anything like this before so beautiful written and thought-provoking 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Addiction, Drug abuse, Rape, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

isabelh0410's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I was not expecting to read this book so quickly. Its format was different - three parts: 1) a question posed at the top of the page and answered in a page or two by two alternating perspectives, 2) a short story format, and 3) a play script of writing students discussing the two previous parts as a memoir. I am amazed at what Naga was able to accomplish in these few pages. I'm having trouble articulating my thoughts on it. The complexities of language barriers, imposter syndrome, sexism, drug addiction, and the fabrication of lies all rear their terrible heads. This novel is a great embodiment of cultural clashes. I don't think I've ever been this turned off by two characters and yet be so invested in their stories. These characters are not lovable, perhaps not even likable, yet they are compelling because they feel tangible and real. They could be and are the readers, forcing us to consider our own ugly flaws. 

"I have the kind of skin lazy white writers refer to with food: honey, latte, almond, cinnamon, caramel, et cetera."

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Addiction, and Classism

tashtasher's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Addiction, Classism, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Stalking, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, and Suicide

kunkakuna's review

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexism and Drug abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment