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macklyle's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a different read from my usual, but I am glad I picked up. Being that it is Ramadan, I wanted to read something related. I learned a lot about not only what it means to be muslim, but to be muslim americans.
In many ways i felt like I was reading my boyfriend’s life on paper… it was comical at times the stories Anvar shared I swear i’ve heard before!
cons- it was a really slow story line and often felt like it wasn’t headed in any direction. i struggled to read it at my normal reading pace because I felt really sad most of the time reading Safwas POV. - my heart hurt the whole time and it made me have to take breaks.
pros- felt like an authentic depiction of what life and religion and family often looks like for immigrants and muslim families. I was educated and informed in a way that was easy to understand and empathize with by how the author writes.
lots of little life lessons through out that i loved
In many ways i felt like I was reading my boyfriend’s life on paper… it was comical at times the stories Anvar shared I swear i’ve heard before!
cons- it was a really slow story line and often felt like it wasn’t headed in any direction. i struggled to read it at my normal reading pace because I felt really sad most of the time reading Safwas POV. - my heart hurt the whole time and it made me have to take breaks.
pros- felt like an authentic depiction of what life and religion and family often looks like for immigrants and muslim families. I was educated and informed in a way that was easy to understand and empathize with by how the author writes.
lots of little life lessons through out that i loved
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Cultural appropriation, Child abuse, Animal death, Blood, and Death of parent
jebecky's review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Animal death, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Slavery, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Classism, Death, Cancer, Gun violence, War, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
I couldn't finish this book due to the content triggers.sallysimply's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Wow, what an unexpected gift this is! I got this book on a whim, mostly tempted by the beautiful cover. This story is gripping, the characters complex, the emotions raw, so much of it relatable, and somehow satisfying even though it isn’t really hopeful. This book acknowledges life for what it is, particularly the state of the world and being an immigrant in the U.S., and it’s hard to find hope in that. But there is still beauty and tenderness and love, and that’s not nothing.
I cried a lot and I laughed even more (Anvar is hilarious). I am grateful this book exists.
I cried a lot and I laughed even more (Anvar is hilarious). I am grateful this book exists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Animal death, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Islamophobia
Minor: Infidelity and Cancer
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