Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar

16 reviews

mxjacknelson's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Islamophobia and Sexual assault

briaarnese's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Something about the poetic and stream of consciousness nature of this book hooked me. I’m a sucker for beautiful yet surreal imagery and metaphor, and the author wrote these beautifully.

Great storytelling packed into a short but well-developed narrative about grief & overcoming despite all odds.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Sexism, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, and Cursing

jordynkw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

yinflower's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Grief, Islamophobia, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Xenophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

kshertz's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? No

4.0

This was a heartbreaking story of three sisters told through the quietest one. The one who feels they don’t quite fit in. It was beautifully haunting and heartbreaking. The storytelling method was not one I was used to but still thought was very intentional and well done. I just wanted it to be longer and tell more of their adult lives 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, and Sexual assault

estam1's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Classism, Grief, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Islamophobia

jayisreading's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Both tender and heartbreaking, Asghar shares a story of three orphaned siblings processing their grief while taking care of one another as they grow up. When We Were Sisters is told from the perspective of the youngest sibling, Kausar, and while I enjoyed the story, I wish we could have gotten the perspectives of the older sisters as well, Aisha and Noreen. I also wish more could have been said about gender, which was just barely explored (though I think you could say that to be the case for a lot of other themes that appeared in this book).

Something outstanding about this book is the lyricism and creative approach to storytelling. Asghar’s writing style demonstrates that they put a considerable amount of thought into every word in order to create beautiful moments throughout the book. But, again, I wish some of the themes that were brought up (e.g., gender, religion, sibling relationships, etc.) were explored more in depth, even if it meant sacrificing some of the beautiful writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Bullying, Racism, Murder, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Islamophobia

literarylocd's review against another edition

emotional sad 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

3.75

that was a lot of damage (esp the acknowledgments at the end)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse

Moderate: Racism, Domestic abuse, and Islamophobia

keilah's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

Minor: Islamophobia

nataliesophia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault, Islamophobia, and Abandonment

Minor: Dysphoria