Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H

15 reviews

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. 

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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

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.0

this books written narrative style is not at all unique from a literary point of view. There's allot of harsh transitions initially from the writers early days to present day at the start of the narrative, then this drops off entirely. The focus on the various prophets is unique, however Ill executed. And as the author "radicalizes" in her journey, her interpretations of the Quran become more and more abstract, and less and less backed by the tasfirs she supposedly has read. As someone who was raised a practicing Muslim and who is also queer, this book only highlights the abusive and oppressive nature of Islam as a whole. Very let down by this read as it had so much promise for many like me.

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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

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 💖

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Self harm

romcomapologist's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm

labeaux's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Racism

Minor: Domestic abuse

sknappy1's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Islamophobia, and Xenophobia

Minor: Transphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Domestic abuse

dqrklightning's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

I'm so emotinal. Read it in one sitting. Beautiful. Incredible. Made me feel more motivated for my Qur'an studies than I've been in years. Made me feel a little bit more in peace with my queerness and muslim identity.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Self harm

mnm43's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Self harm

maddramaqueen's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, and Sexism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gore, Classism, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Slavery, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Confinement, Body horror, and Biphobia

taysumazing's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

This is one of the best memoirs I’ve read. The weaving of Quran stories and her own life experiences was fascinating. This is also one of the best examples of intersectional feminism I’ve read and from a viewpoint I hadn’t read before. I really appreciated Lamya letting us into her thoughts and telling us her story. I now want to go read other essays and whatever she comes out with next

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Islamophobia, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Self harm