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meimeililylil's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
This novel paints a heartbreaking picture of generational trauma. The story drags for most of the book, I’m talking barely any action, but it seems that the author did this intentionally to really make the reader experience the hopelessness emotional landscape of Yara’s life. Part of me just wanted her to resolve the conflicts and create some action early on! But the other part of me was in awe at Etaf Rum’s ability to bring such a hard to verbalize reality to life on the pages.
It might seem less exciting than if she applied for the trip behind her husband’s back or had an affair or divorced him right away, and yes I would love to see Yara live those stories in detail, but that wasn’t the point of this novel.
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Racism
notthatcosta's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
As a Cypriot, stories about the Nakba and reverence for olive trees and our ancestral land hit me hard and add gravitas to the ways in which Yara's heritage informs her struggles and create conflicts within her head.
The journal entries are challenging to read, and Yara's lack of self belief make it hard to root for her at points because of the extent to which she is suffering from generational trauma and PTSD, but ultimately the sense of liberation and self-discovery feels really earned and grounded with the book.
Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and War
lcg527's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Grief, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
tenderbench's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
v_torres's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse
casira's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Colonisation, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Cursing
sjbshannon's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Islamophobia and War
fkshg8465's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, and Racism
bookoline's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry
bellabooks0423's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship