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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
I also just especially do not like to rate memoirs, as I am a fervent believer in everyone being able to share their stories. I listened to the audiobook (thank you Libby!) and it was about ~5 hours, so it kept me company on my 5 hour flight hehe.
Randa Jarrar's narration in the audiobook was phenomenal - she was dry, cutting, and vulgar without abandon. Randa is a fat, queer, Arab American who refuses to apologize for who she is, and I applaud her. This book covered stories ranging from her childhood to now, covering the abuse she endured, not only by her family, but by romantic and sexual partners. She also describes the rampant fatphobia, xenophobia, racism, and doxxing she experienced by being so outspoken and uncensored in her thoughts on American politics especially. It all rang so familiar to me, not because I share identities with RJ (I'm not Arab, not Muslim, not fat), but mostly because it certainly seems as if most folks are perpetually trying to knock femmes down a peg, to "remember their place" so to speak.
I appreciate that Randa Jarrar spoke so boldly and honestly about her life, and am grateful to have read through her reflections. Some were incredibly graphic and uncomfortable, but I hope she found some solace and peace in sharing this all with the world.
Graphic: Medical content, Child abuse, Sexual content, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, and Vomit
Moderate: Islamophobia, War, Bullying, Xenophobia, Racism, Sexism, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
4.25
She speaks candidly about racism and fatphobia that she experiences from stragers, but also violence from her parents as a child and partners as an adult. The violence of a homeland she can no longer visit and of a home that was too hostile to return to. She also speaks of the relationships and small interactions that have facilitated he healing, from the kindness of strangers to reconciliation, to entering the world of kink.
This was well-written and engaging. I listened to the audiobook over the course of just a couple of days.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abortion
Explicit discussion of kink and BDSMalainajreads's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit
Moderate: Racism, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Medical trauma
amberinpieces's review
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Body shaming, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Violence, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Deportation, Infidelity, War, Mass/school shootings, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Genocide, and Cancer
erickaonpaper's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Islamophobia, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
nightlight_reader's review against another edition
3.75
I love how open Jarrar is about her life and her relationship with her parents and her cultures. I also think I gained a much better understanding of BDSM culture from this book, which I definitely wasn’t expecting. This was great in an audiobook format, although a few chapters will probably just read better in normal book form based on format and structure of the stories. (If you’ve read it, you can probably guess which one.)
I’d really like to read more about her relationship with her son in the future, I think, because it seems like a relationship full of love but also with strain. She talks a lot about her past but I’d like to hear her thoughts on the future, too.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Medical trauma, and Xenophobia
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Eating disorder
becausebrenna's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual content
speedofhuman's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Fatphobia, Bullying, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Sexism, Islamophobia, Sexual violence, and Racism
Minor: War, Pedophilia, and Police brutality
bostonki's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
kleinekita's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Body shaming, and Fatphobia