Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

22 reviews

taliatalksbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective fast-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? Yes

4.5

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi was a huge step away from her Shatter Me series, but maintained the same type of complex characters, well paced plot, and digestible language. This book offers a first hand look into the life of a Muslim American after the events of 9/11. This book utilizes a realistic fiction lens to communicate the experiences that so many of us would never have experienced without works like this. It is also an estimate to Madi’s talents as a writer, seeing her abilities to craft a powerful narrative in both dystopian fantasy and a hard-pressed realistic setting. Though some of the scenes were hard to read given the content of the novel, it is supposed to make us feel uncomfortable and does it in the best way. I think this is a thought provoking novel, even though we are no longer living in the immediate aftermath, the lessons we can learn about how to treat one another are absolutely still relevant 20+ years later. I truly couldn’t put this book down and finished it from cover to cover in about 3 hours (give or take a few minutes). I’m certainly recommending this book to everyone I can, including all of you, so go check it out if you have t read it yet!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

themichellegray's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

I don't have any words that could do this book justice; the writing is absolutely beautiful and the story will shatter your heart.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

wrinnola's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end. Easily a 5 star book. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

3arth2kaye's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

3.25

i DESPISED Ocean and his extra self. It felt so rushed the romance gave me whiplash and the journal plot point??? why?? it just… never really went anywhere.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

donotdisturbimreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was beautifully written, but nothing could prepare me for the last few chapters. It was heartbreaking in the best way.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kkxmac's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kamryn_grace_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative sad 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

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

meagangrace's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

readerorwateva's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

beanie_bob's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

the good:
  • Ocean <3
  • Shirin’s wide range of interests was realistic and helped shape her into a unique and well rounded character. I felt like I completely understood why she acted how she did and how burdensome it was to around bigoted people
  • Her opinion on hijabs being a kind of power or comfort to those who choose to wear them is very dear to me. I love seeing this popularized.
  • I was completely sucked into the story and read this in a little more than 24 hours

things I’m unsure about
  • There are some things that feel  inauthentic about the 2002 setting. Yes, the characters use AIM and have old bulky computers but I just don’t believe that they’d all have cell phones? A couple of 2010s buzzwords words were also use that didn’t seem to fit the time period like ‘microagression’ and ‘binge-watched’ 
  • I don’t understand why it seems like Shirin is narrating to us in a way that breaks the 4th wall. “It will probably surprise no one to hear that I was terrible at ignoring ocean,” and “ I’m not sure whether it will surprise you to hear” - who is she talking to? Why is she conscious of us?
  • Things kind of come and go? The Global Perspectives class never comes up again. It seems like Yusef was kind of inconsequential, except to remind Shirin of what kind of boyfriend was expected of her.
  • Imbalances in show vs tell

Expand filter menu Content Warnings