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lemonadegirl29's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rehelwig's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
3.75
bino00's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
4.25
viveelan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved Etaf Rum's first book A Woman isn't Man. I enjoy reading about women from other cultures and the Palestinian people have suffered so much. I enjoyed her stories of her grandmother and the stories about food: her cooking with her mother, with Silas, for her family, Silas and his mother's Southern cooking.
I appreciate* the story about generational trauma. (I think appreciate is the right word here. I don't "like" it. It is what it is. I think it's good that the world in general is becoming aware of it.)
I wish she would have gone into more details about Fadi's lie. It seems like he was cheating on her.
I was disappointed in the way the college handled her altercation. It was her story but it didn't seem to ring true. Racism is a serious offense and should be dealt with, especially on a college campus.
Of course, I loved the role art played in the story and it her life.
Things I didn't like: a lot of the book felt whiny. I have to think of a way to articulate that better (Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt was excellent but 'tis was whiny)
While I think her therapy was integral to the story, and I think she created both therapists with grace and accuracy, I struggle with books that feel like a therapy session. (I hate children's books that "preach" or are therapy sessions.) This didn’t feel like a therapy session but came close. I did like the character of Esther and her whole person therapy, even though she was a minor, underdeveloped character.
I appreciate* the story about generational trauma. (I think appreciate is the right word here. I don't "like" it. It is what it is. I think it's good that the world in general is becoming aware of it.)
I wish she would have gone into more details about Fadi's lie. It seems like he was cheating on her.
I was disappointed in the way the college handled her altercation. It was her story but it didn't seem to ring true. Racism is a serious offense and should be dealt with, especially on a college campus.
Of course, I loved the role art played in the story and it her life.
Things I didn't like: a lot of the book felt whiny. I have to think of a way to articulate that better (Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt was excellent but 'tis was whiny)
While I think her therapy was integral to the story, and I think she created both therapists with grace and accuracy, I struggle with books that feel like a therapy session. (I hate children's books that "preach" or are therapy sessions.) This didn’t feel like a therapy session but came close. I did like the character of Esther and her whole person therapy, even though she was a minor, underdeveloped character.
mitskacir's review against another edition
3.0
Read this for a book club and might update again once we have our discussion.
Pros: I was very absorbed by this book and read it any chance I got. The story was compelling and the tension was very real - I did not have a pleasant experience reading this book (a testament to the author's ability, not in a bad way), which is maybe why I tried reading it so fast; I really wanted Yara to break free and achieve her dreams.
Cons: While the book has a lot of very important things to say about racism, sexism, trauma, displacement, etc. I felt a bit beaten over the head with it. They book said a lot of things I've heard before in a way that wasn't particularly unique or new. I think it said everything very effectively, and like I said the writing really made me feel Yara's emotions alongside her, but there was something that also slightly bored me that I can't quite articulate. Maybe it felt a bit too didactic, as if the author didn't trust the reader to understand it without it being explained explicitly. In this way, it felt more like I was reading a YA novel than adult literary fiction.
Pros: I was very absorbed by this book and read it any chance I got. The story was compelling and the tension was very real - I did not have a pleasant experience reading this book (a testament to the author's ability, not in a bad way), which is maybe why I tried reading it so fast; I really wanted Yara to break free and achieve her dreams.
Cons: While the book has a lot of very important things to say about racism, sexism, trauma, displacement, etc. I felt a bit beaten over the head with it. They book said a lot of things I've heard before in a way that wasn't particularly unique or new. I think it said everything very effectively, and like I said the writing really made me feel Yara's emotions alongside her, but there was something that also slightly bored me that I can't quite articulate. Maybe it felt a bit too didactic, as if the author didn't trust the reader to understand it without it being explained explicitly. In this way, it felt more like I was reading a YA novel than adult literary fiction.
kaylamarie97's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
wickedrentlover's review against another edition
emotional
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
rebecca_h33's review against another edition
emotional
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