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dania_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
It feels weird to rate a memoir. This book was such a personal story but it resonated with me since I have so much in common with the author. So many things made me tear up - her description of the ESL lessons she had as a first generation immigrant child reminded me of my own experience with them. Her feelings of both wanting and fearing becoming westernised reminded me of how I lost so much of my own mother tongue too. Something that really struck me is her strong conviction and hope to represent queer muslims as multifaceted - our stories are so often used for trauma porn, but she writes with so much hope and shows that there are so many of us, that we have loving and strong connections to each other, and that we've always been here and will not go easily.
I 100% recommend this book, no matter your identity or knowledge of the LGBT+ community or Islam. If you relate to Samra's identity, you will see a lot of yourself in this; if you don't, you'll learn many new and brilliant and sometimes sad things.
I 100% recommend this book, no matter your identity or knowledge of the LGBT+ community or Islam. If you relate to Samra's identity, you will see a lot of yourself in this; if you don't, you'll learn many new and brilliant and sometimes sad things.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Islamophobia, Incest, and Bullying
readingwithkt's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
laurenleigh's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
This was a short read but a very powerful memoir! Habib explores a lot of intersections as she tells her life story, being a queer Muslim Canadian immigrant. I couldn’t help but make comparisons in the beginning to that middle grade novel I read recently, Other Words for Home. Both tell what it’s like to be a Muslim middle schooler in the western world, having just immigrated from the Middle East. And both had to leave their father behind, at least in the beginning. Habib’s relationship with her parents was a constant thread throughout her story, as their paths weave together and apart over Habib’s life. That they could come back together after being separated for some pretty damn good reasons was a testament to their characters and their remarkable abilities to collectively choose a way forward in love and acceptance. I really appreciated how Habib has dedicated her time and creative efforts towards unpacking what it means to be both queer and Muslim. She and her mother find common ground in that they both agree the heart of their faith is rooted in love, not hate. All relations have extremist sects, but so much attention has been drawn to the Islamic varieties. Habib and her memoir stand as a testament that this is not the truth of Islam, that their spirituality does not stem from hatred, and that their is room in the Muslim faith for the queer community.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Islamophobia
biblizo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
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