Reviews with content warning for Fatphobia - Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

64 reviews

isabelle6's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book, cried my way through the last half in good and bad ways. Very family centered, makes you reflect on your own family.

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divaninoor's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring relaxing 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? Yes

4.0

This book surprised me! I thought it wouldn’t be that interesting but especially about 1/2 the way through, I had developed a connection with the characters that made me want to see what happened. This isn’t the most lyrical or poetic of books, which is what I usually like to read. I would also say that some of the chapter endings, which have a repetitive structure, aren’t as emotional as they might have been planned to be. Still, the plot is very interesting and each character is developed in a way that we can all relate to some parts of them and want better for them. It was sweet and I can’t wait to read the sequel ❤️

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emmaahmed's review against another edition

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emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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bendersreads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

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thereaderfriend's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.25

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callmeluh's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring 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

4.5

So. I expected this book to hurt, and it did. However, I didn't think it would hurt this much. I've rarely cried this much while reading a book, even more so if it's the first book in the series (which is the case here, I just found out).
The different conversations on depression turned me into a sobbing mess (well, not just these conversations tbh lol). As someone who struggles with depression, it's so nice to feel seen and understood.
Yes, this book hurt, but it also brought me a lot of comfort in a sense, as it made me feel less alone.

Darius the Great Is Not Okay is about depression, but also about belonging and finding your place in the world. It's about reconnecting with your roots and learning about where you come from. It's also about friendship and family. It's the kind of book you wish more people would read, and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.

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n_asyikin_'s review against another edition

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hopeful 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

A moving coming-of-age story that depicted one's attempt at finding their place in a world that didn't seem welcoming. Darius the Great is Not Okay also showed what it was like to live with a chronic mental illness while facing the stigma associated with it.

Both raw & gentle, Darius' story tugged at my heart-string. What stood out for me was the insight into how depression influenced one's life, and how that in turn, shaped everyone's interactions with you. Khorram wrote it in a way that felt like Darius was only expressing his inner most private thoughts - and that rawness spoke volume. But more than that, Darius stood out through his narration. In his melancholy & quietude was a boy with a strong voice & unique insights. Truly, one of my favourite narrators in recent times.

You'd the joy of knowing a boy with his love for tea & Star Trek, whose gentle heart meant he adored being a caretaker - especially to his much younger sister, who has so much love that you'd wish he realized how much love the world has waiting for him in return.

It was also about finding your own people, be it your flesh & blood or the platonic (or more) kinds. I loved how many scenes reminded me the permanent impact fleeting moments can have. And more importantly, when your emotions gripped you, it can feel like they would be constant when they were, like everything else in life, were just passing by. As Darius might say,

life has a way to bend the space-time continuum (A perfect analogy for the themes explored!), and sometimes, we'd struggle under its weights - trying to live through it, and that's okay.

Also, I think it's important to look at how Darius' father responded to his condition as well; a perfect example of good intent gone awry, highlighting the necessity for self-awareness (which may be gained from psychoeducation, providing critical insights experience alone couldn't provide). Coming from a family that have history in various forms of mental illnesses, this was significant to contemplate upon.

Compassionate in its exploration of mental illness (MI), Darius the Great is Not Okay was honest with its depictions. It didn't try to romanticize the difficulties that came with living with MI, didn't try to dramatize anything either. But most importantly, it was hopeful in its message. Such a decadent read!

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