Reviews

Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo

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bayanreads's review against another edition

5.0

i loved loved this!! books in verse have always had a special place in my heart. “home” has also always been a topic on my mind, is it a place? is it a person? can home be a place or a person you’ve never known/met? can it be a feeling and not a state?

i found myself within nima’s character, home is not always a country indeed. i cried along the chapter called “mama” where nima kept apologizing to her mother for everything that has happened, the need of hearing her mom’s voice and to feel her touch being impossible even though they were next to each other all along had me in tears

i’m sorry you got this storm cloud for a daughter instead of the flowers you deserved, sorry on the days you wear the hat instead of the scarf & scared on the days you don’t, i’m sorry you didn’t get the daughter you dreamt up, the girl named for her sweetness & blooming, i’m sorry i blamed your scarf when they called me a terrorist i’m sorry i blamed your loss for the ways my life feels empty.

f_o_x's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

analyticalchaos's review against another edition

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5.0

Home is Not A Country follows the story of Nima, a child of a Sudanese immigrant in America. Nima feels stuck in her role as an outcast, as negative perceptions of her culture reflect upon her ability to feel as if she belongs. To combat this, she often dreams of a better life in Sudan, making up an entire alternate persona of herself: Yasmeen.

I’ve never seen this side of assimilation and cultural confusion addressed before in literature. Nima is a character that wishes to go back to Sudan and resents her mother for bringing her to America. I like that it’s not a narrative that glorifies America, but rather an objective stance on both countries. Nima’s doubts of belonging are addressed in a beautiful, relatable way.

I will admit, the magical realism trope is a favorite of mine. Elhillo uses this concept wonderfully in a way that augments the themes of the novel. The verse is flowing and seamless, full of nuance and emotion.

I highly recommend this book (also the cover is gorgeous, you have to hold this book in your hands, holy crap).

smalefowles's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

What a gorgeous book! I found it beautiful and compelling from the beginning, but in some ways a familiar story. Then it took a turn into magical realism, and became unbelievable, in the best sense. A touch of horror, a touch of It's a Wonderful Life, and a wistfully beautiful portrait of the Sudan--such an amazing story.

lyricalsoul's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

maheandco's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

TW : islamophobie, violences, adultère,

Nima à l'impression de vivre entre deux cultures : celle des Etats-Unis où elle a toujours vécue, bien qu'elle ne se sentent pas à son air et celle du Soudan, dont sa famille est originaire et dont elle semble nostalgique, bien qu'elle n'en connaisse que peu de choses. Alors quand elle est projetée dans le passé, sa vision des choses risque de changer...

Je ne saurais même pas par où commencer pour montrer mon amour de ce livre. Ecris en prose, toute la poésie du livre nous embarque d'autant plus facilement dans cette histoire.
On y ressent beaucoup de nostalgie, de peur, une sorte de renfermement ; l'impression souvent que Nima ne se sent pas à sa place ni même qu'elle sait où elle se trouve.
Pourtant, à l'image de tous les souvenirs qu'elle va découvrir, s'approprier ou non, on voit qu'elle évolue. Au départ incapable de savoir qui elle est, j'ai trouvé qu'elle devenait elle-même au fil des pages, qu'elle se découvrait ; plus que cela, qu'elle s'acceptait en même temps qu'elle acceptait son histoire et la culture qui va avec.

Nima, c'est cette jeune fille nostalgique d'un passé qu'elle ne connaît pas au point d'un jour, avoir cette occasion extraordinaire de la voir de ses propres yeux. Nima qui a tant voulu disparaître se trouve avec ce désir de vivre bien plus fort quand elle comprend qui elle est.

Vraiment un livre tout en poésie qui est magnifique, lisez le !