Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion: A Novel by Bushra Rehman

20 reviews

ivanarundaworld's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Islamophobia

Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, and Pregnancy

bookishcookiemonster's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I'm so happy to see more and more books about  Pakistani-American published.
I grew was born in the 90s, and reading about gatherings of the aunties, and the young girls escaping away from reading Qu'ran, transported me right back to my own childhood, doing the same things. 
And, Razia's constant fear of being sent to Pakistan and married off, also brought back the fear me and my friends had growing up too, while we did things our mothers didn't approve of. 
Razia's story is so beautiful, and heartwrenching, and most very important. Young, Muslims/South Asian Queer folk are in desperate need representation. And hope. 

Even though Razia's story wasn't really a happy ending, it was still hopeful. I like to imagine that she was able to find her way, and got to live her truth.

 
Thank you, Bushra Rehman, for writing this wonderful story.
I will be reading it again!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Xenophobia, Vomit, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, and Grief

spec_tacles's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Racial slurs

mmccombs's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

I really wanted to love this book but mostly didn’t connect with it at all. The writing didn’t do much for me, it got the job done but there wasn’t a consistent voice or tone that kept me engaged. I also just felt that this book focused on the wrong portion of Razia’s life. I felt much more interested in the story once she started at her new high school, Razia felt more real and complex at this point and the conflicts were much more compelling. I do think understanding her childhood encouraged later depth, but I think it could have been maybe 1/3 of the novel rather than an entire half.

I’m curious about what happened after she had to flee so suddenly, I think that could have made for some interesting character exploration and could have resolved the arc of this story slightly more.

I did really enjoy learning more about Islam, especially during the 80s in New York. I also loved how Razia remained deeply religious while also growing into herself as a queer young woman. I do think I’d recommend this book, especially for a bookclub, but I wish it was executed a bit better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Islamophobia

wynnie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Outing

ukponge's review against another edition

challenging 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Islamophobia

indielitttttt's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, and Murder

Minor: Sexual harassment

tfarfan's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Islamophobia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Classism

carareadsthebooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racial slurs, Violence, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

jennshelfishlife's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Razia Mirza is a teenager living in Queens, specifically in Corona, NYC. She is of Pakistani descent and follows the customs of her family and neighbors. But Razia, like many American teenagers, has a rebellious streak. She cuts her hair, buys clothes typical of American teens in the 1980s, hides them in her closet, and skips class on occasion with her girlfriend, Angela. 
Bushra Rehman's writing is lovely, she's not one for poetic verse, but her character-building is phenomenal. Having grown up a teen in the 1980s, I recognized and connected with Razia, a teen forging her way through life, trying to find her voice and independence.
I sympathized with the other teens in her neighborhood that have arranged marriages, experienced violence at the hands of other ethnic groups in Corona, and the teens that are shunned for defying tradition and wanting a different life.
The narration is well executed, and I recommend the audio version to readers.
Overall, a fascinating book, and I recommend the book to readers that enjoy reading about the 1980s, Pakistani and Muslim culture, and coming-of-age novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bushra Rehman, and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audio copy of Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Murder

Minor: Violence