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tgbrickhill's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
acolorfulreader's review
***thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review***
CW: sexual assault, violence, rape, sexism (check other reviews for more, in case I've missed something)
Hijab and Red Lipstick is the story of Sara, a young girl who's grown up in the UK, but moves to the Gulf when her father gets a job there. In the Arabian Gulf, where the patriarchy rules, it isn't easy being a young girl.
Sara and her family are Muslim. I liked how the author explained things from this culture such as clothing and how she argued that Islam's view on women has gotten a bad rep because of the Middle Eastern culture's impact on it — that Islam isn't as sexist as often viewed in many parts of western culture.
This story was a great window into a culture I haven't read much about before. Reading this honest and unflinching portrayal was rough at times, but mostly just eye-opening.
I, unfortunately, didn't connect with the writing style and found that the narrative structure with two timelines (though one not taking up much space) didn't work as well for me, but that's purely a personal preference.
Overall, I'm just so glad I read this book and would recommend it!
CW: sexual assault, violence, rape, sexism (check other reviews for more, in case I've missed something)
Hijab and Red Lipstick is the story of Sara, a young girl who's grown up in the UK, but moves to the Gulf when her father gets a job there. In the Arabian Gulf, where the patriarchy rules, it isn't easy being a young girl.
Sara and her family are Muslim. I liked how the author explained things from this culture such as clothing and how she argued that Islam's view on women has gotten a bad rep because of the Middle Eastern culture's impact on it — that Islam isn't as sexist as often viewed in many parts of western culture.
This story was a great window into a culture I haven't read much about before. Reading this honest and unflinching portrayal was rough at times, but mostly just eye-opening.
I, unfortunately, didn't connect with the writing style and found that the narrative structure with two timelines (though one not taking up much space) didn't work as well for me, but that's purely a personal preference.
Overall, I'm just so glad I read this book and would recommend it!
safiyareads's review
4.0
Content warning: rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse, self-harm
Sara is wearing her Hijab and Red Lipstick as she recounts her experiences to a journalist for a documentary. Her story begins when her Baba decides to move the family from London to the Gulf. We go through her tumultuous teen years and early twenties, her rebellious phase and the traumatic events which all contributed to her journey.
Writing is exposing and takes a certain vulnerability. I really admire Yousra’s bravery and direct manner with which she addresses some very difficult topics which no doubt would be met with resistance in some circles.
The overbearing and controlling Muslim father is a stereotype that is overused in (Western certainly) literature and media. Of course, the stark difference here is that this story was written by a British Arab Muslim woman inspired by her own years living in the Gulf.
Sadly, sometimes the stereotype is true and it matters who the story is being told by. This story is valid and important, no matter how uncomfortable the depiction is. Yousra made an important distinction between toxic aspects of Arab culture propagated as religion and Islam itself. This was cemented with the ending of the story as Sara reflects briefly on her personal journey to reconnecting with Islam.
I won’t lie, Sara had me pleading with her ‘no please don’t do it!’ quite a few times. But no matter how much I despaired of her decisions (because I feared for her safety), every time she got burned she still came out of it with hope and strength and I really admired that about her character. I found her naïveté endearing because it showed her innocence and her good intentions. Naïveté is a characteristic that gets people hurt, it either gets worn out of people or it remains there, keeping them vulnerable.
My heart ached for Sara through each ordeal she went through and the last interaction shown between her and Baba made me very emotional.
This story shone a glaring light on the way misogyny can be all the more dangerous in a state in which the laws support it. Sara, her mum and sister were all beholden to Baba and he took full advantage. The laws there emboldened him, even encouraged him, evident in the way his controlling nature exacerbated in the Gulf. I thought this was a really important issue to demonstrate.
Sara’s story also made me reflect on the struggles of raising Muslim children in the west and the fact that living in an Islamic country by no means solves those difficulties. To me, this story demonstrated powerfully that the most important thing is the relationship between the parents and the children and the ambience of the household.
An important story, harrowing and heartbreaking at times but lined with a sparkling gleam of hope and strength.
Thank you to Hashtag Press for the e-copy to review.
Sara is wearing her Hijab and Red Lipstick as she recounts her experiences to a journalist for a documentary. Her story begins when her Baba decides to move the family from London to the Gulf. We go through her tumultuous teen years and early twenties, her rebellious phase and the traumatic events which all contributed to her journey.
Writing is exposing and takes a certain vulnerability. I really admire Yousra’s bravery and direct manner with which she addresses some very difficult topics which no doubt would be met with resistance in some circles.
The overbearing and controlling Muslim father is a stereotype that is overused in (Western certainly) literature and media. Of course, the stark difference here is that this story was written by a British Arab Muslim woman inspired by her own years living in the Gulf.
Sadly, sometimes the stereotype is true and it matters who the story is being told by. This story is valid and important, no matter how uncomfortable the depiction is. Yousra made an important distinction between toxic aspects of Arab culture propagated as religion and Islam itself. This was cemented with the ending of the story as Sara reflects briefly on her personal journey to reconnecting with Islam.
I won’t lie, Sara had me pleading with her ‘no please don’t do it!’ quite a few times. But no matter how much I despaired of her decisions (because I feared for her safety), every time she got burned she still came out of it with hope and strength and I really admired that about her character. I found her naïveté endearing because it showed her innocence and her good intentions. Naïveté is a characteristic that gets people hurt, it either gets worn out of people or it remains there, keeping them vulnerable.
My heart ached for Sara through each ordeal she went through and the last interaction shown between her and Baba made me very emotional.
This story shone a glaring light on the way misogyny can be all the more dangerous in a state in which the laws support it. Sara, her mum and sister were all beholden to Baba and he took full advantage. The laws there emboldened him, even encouraged him, evident in the way his controlling nature exacerbated in the Gulf. I thought this was a really important issue to demonstrate.
Sara’s story also made me reflect on the struggles of raising Muslim children in the west and the fact that living in an Islamic country by no means solves those difficulties. To me, this story demonstrated powerfully that the most important thing is the relationship between the parents and the children and the ambience of the household.
An important story, harrowing and heartbreaking at times but lined with a sparkling gleam of hope and strength.
Thank you to Hashtag Press for the e-copy to review.
alexandraaforte's review
4.0
This book gave me anxiety the entire time I was reading it - but I think that goes to how great and real the writing felt. I was an Islamic studies major in college and I'm always drawn to these own voices stories that are so different from mine.
I read an interview that the author did and she mentioned that this book first started out as a memoir but eventually she went in and changed names and rewrote it as a piece of fiction. The book is set in the format that the main character is giving her story to a journalist back in England. So I think that this book still reads very much like a memoir, even if we don't know which pieces are true and fabricated.
I also think that reading this book it's so important to have the distinction between the teachings of Islam and what is Middle Eastern culture. I think that a lot of the misconceptions that the west has about Islam is actually attributed to the culture, rather than the religion. I think the author at the end did a great job of distinguishing the two and explaining it to those who may not have a background in the region or the religion.
Overall, I thought this was a super powerful and informative story that I'm glad that I read.
*Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I read an interview that the author did and she mentioned that this book first started out as a memoir but eventually she went in and changed names and rewrote it as a piece of fiction. The book is set in the format that the main character is giving her story to a journalist back in England. So I think that this book still reads very much like a memoir, even if we don't know which pieces are true and fabricated.
I also think that reading this book it's so important to have the distinction between the teachings of Islam and what is Middle Eastern culture. I think that a lot of the misconceptions that the west has about Islam is actually attributed to the culture, rather than the religion. I think the author at the end did a great job of distinguishing the two and explaining it to those who may not have a background in the region or the religion.
Overall, I thought this was a super powerful and informative story that I'm glad that I read.
*Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
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