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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
hanvnah's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Gun violence
Moderate: Animal death and Islamophobia
Minor: Rape and Torture
mochi21's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
This was a good book objectively. For me, it was just a little slow and heavy. I had the issue with it that I always have with books that have more than one perspective : one narrator was more interesting than the other.
Safwa's life, though traumatizing, were leaps and bounds better for reading than Anvar's. This is intentional, and is explained once their stories weave together, but it doesn't make Anvar's early chapters any easier to read.
But the characters are lovable (namely Anvar's father and Zuhra), and the dialogue is spot on. The cover is gorgeous. The writing is technically iron clad, and I feel satisfied now that I've finished it.
And kudos to Masood for writing two dynamic, fleshed out, interesting women. Zuhra and Safwa are both firecrackers (though different) and I found them both realistic and likable.
As a white american, I feel that this story was important for me to read and illuminated an issue I haven't given enough thought before, and taught me a lot. I think everyone should give it a go.
Safwa's life, though traumatizing, were leaps and bounds better for reading than Anvar's. This is intentional, and is explained once their stories weave together, but it doesn't make Anvar's early chapters any easier to read.
But the characters are lovable (namely Anvar's father and Zuhra), and the dialogue is spot on. The cover is gorgeous. The writing is technically iron clad, and I feel satisfied now that I've finished it.
And kudos to Masood for writing two dynamic, fleshed out, interesting women. Zuhra and Safwa are both firecrackers (though different) and I found them both realistic and likable.
As a white american, I feel that this story was important for me to read and illuminated an issue I haven't given enough thought before, and taught me a lot. I think everyone should give it a go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
kniticaltherapy's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Very surprised by this book. I had no assumptions going in, not really sure what it was about but once I got past the goat sacrifice in the first chapter I was absolutely hooked.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Islamophobia
Minor: Torture
biblio_jordyn's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
This book follows Anvar and Safwa, both separately and when their world’s collide by chance. Anvar considers and takes pride in his “bad Muslim” status, always trying to other and step away from his family’s grasp when they were in Pakistan and even more as they move to San Francisco.
Then, there’s Safwa, who we first see Baghdad, suffocating by the war torn city and by her conservative father, while trying to fill the role that has been decided for her...and then she makes the dangerous journey to the US.
This book talked about immigration (both legal and not), the complexity of one’s relationship to religion, finding yourself and your place in the world, relationships and the complexity of them when it comes to, both, familial and romantic.
I loved this book.
I loved the writing.
I loved how this author captured these characters, their relationships with people and their faith or lack thereof.
I loved how he intertwined humor and sadness and happiness and tough topics all seamlessly together.
I loved the authenticity and how much I FELT for these characters.
I loved learning more about another culture and peoples experiences without feeling like I was learning in the moment.
I loved the messages interwoven in the story of empathy, and understanding, and love, and change, and so much more.
I love how the author made my heart connect to the words on the paper and made me want to both savor every sentence but also devour the book whole.
I could talk about this book all day...but, here is ONE of my favorite quotes from the zillion I wrote down that isn’t too long:
“Remember to never take more from the world than you can give back to it.”
Thank you so much @doubledaybooks for this #gifted copy this was definitely my favorite read of January and will probably remain one of my favorites of the year.
Then, there’s Safwa, who we first see Baghdad, suffocating by the war torn city and by her conservative father, while trying to fill the role that has been decided for her...and then she makes the dangerous journey to the US.
This book talked about immigration (both legal and not), the complexity of one’s relationship to religion, finding yourself and your place in the world, relationships and the complexity of them when it comes to, both, familial and romantic.
I loved this book.
I loved the writing.
I loved how this author captured these characters, their relationships with people and their faith or lack thereof.
I loved how he intertwined humor and sadness and happiness and tough topics all seamlessly together.
I loved the authenticity and how much I FELT for these characters.
I loved learning more about another culture and peoples experiences without feeling like I was learning in the moment.
I loved the messages interwoven in the story of empathy, and understanding, and love, and change, and so much more.
I love how the author made my heart connect to the words on the paper and made me want to both savor every sentence but also devour the book whole.
I could talk about this book all day...but, here is ONE of my favorite quotes from the zillion I wrote down that isn’t too long:
“Remember to never take more from the world than you can give back to it.”
Thank you so much @doubledaybooks for this #gifted copy this was definitely my favorite read of January and will probably remain one of my favorites of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Child abuse
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Torture, Animal death, and Rape
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