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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
emotional
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Mooi boek over depressie en identiteit
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
I liked it enough to want to read the sequel, but I didn't love it.
The author uses a lot of repetition. There are certain phrases and descriptions he uses over and over. Such as describing Sohrab's eyes always "crinkling" and the over use of "soulless minions of orthodoxy".
There is also a lot of biting of lips and inside of cheeks.
This was the authors debut novel so I'll cut him some slack for all of that and hope that the second book has a little less repetition.
The book is also marked as lgbtq, but there is actually no reference to anything lqbtq at all until the very end of the book and is only hinted at. Just an FYI if someone seeks the book out specifically for that angle. Though I believe the second book does feature it much more.
The book does start out a little slow, but picks up once the family arrives in Iran. I found the description of Iranian life and culture fascinating and I learned a lot. All the talk about food makes you hungry too!
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator is excellent, he does a really good job.
The author uses a lot of repetition. There are certain phrases and descriptions he uses over and over. Such as describing Sohrab's eyes always "crinkling" and the over use of "soulless minions of orthodoxy".
There is also a lot of biting of lips and inside of cheeks.
This was the authors debut novel so I'll cut him some slack for all of that and hope that the second book has a little less repetition.
The book is also marked as lgbtq, but there is actually no reference to anything lqbtq at all until the very end of the book and is only hinted at. Just an FYI if someone seeks the book out specifically for that angle. Though I believe the second book does feature it much more.
The book does start out a little slow, but picks up once the family arrives in Iran. I found the description of Iranian life and culture fascinating and I learned a lot. All the talk about food makes you hungry too!
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator is excellent, he does a really good job.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
YA + Iran/Oregon setting + mental health rep!
Darius goes on his first trip to Iran to see his grandfather who is declining in health. He navigates meeting his maternal family, learning more about Persian culture, his clinical depression, a father he doesn't have the best relationship with, and friendships with people who don't speak the same language fluently.
Upon return to the States, he is navigating high school friendships, his first romantic relationship, an interesting mix of familial relationships, his depression, and figuring out who he is and what he loves.
Read if you love...
✨YA
⚽️soccer
✨learning more about another culture
👏🏼mental health rep
Pleeeeease go read this duology! I binge read these back to back because they are so good and I could not put them down! I absolutely loved that the author decided Darius's story wasn't finished and wrote the second book; while it absolutely could have ended after the first book, it was wonderful to get more of his story!
The depression rep: immaculate, chef's kiss. Esssspecially because the main character is Iranian, and within the Persian culture mental health is not discussed and many don't believe in its which is shown on page in numerous conversations. As someone who lives with high functioning depression, I loved the way this was repeatedly discussed as Darius and his father navigated conversations about their mental health and being on antidepressants.
I absolutely adored the way the first books takes place on a trip to Iran, and the reader gets to see Darius learn more about his maternal side of the family and his Persian culture, and fall in love with it. And we got to see that love for it continue into the second book when he is back home in Oregon.
I loved seeing Darius navigate friendships, relationships, figuring out what he loves, and more in the second book. It was just wonderful character growth, and very accurate to high school.
I cannot recommend this duology enough! Please go read it!
📍Oregon & Iran
✨Representation: Iranian gay MC; Iranian side characters
‼️Content: please check StoryGraph because there are many & they are graphic
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality
the beginning kind of dragged out, which is my only real knock on the book. also, the author must have had some underlying obsession with star trek, but it was a minor tie in to the plot as a whole.
overall, a good book that covers a ground between mental health and relating back to your heritage.
wasn't a fan of the one slight on the greeks though, but i'll let it go.
overall, a good book that covers a ground between mental health and relating back to your heritage.
wasn't a fan of the one slight on the greeks though, but i'll let it go.
I'm off to a slow start but my first book of 2019 is finished & I loved it! There was a lot packed into it - living with depression, father/son relationships, friendship, feeling out of place in both the country of your birth and the country of your parents - but it all worked.
I had a soft spot for the tea loving, soccer playing, struggling to fit in, teenager Darius. High schools isn't easy, especially when other students pic on you. This character is so honest and I love the picture the author paints of the tea shop and then later of his family's adventures in Iran when they venture off on an incredible trip to visit his mother's family in Iran.
Also, he's a great big brother to his little sister and really is a good kid. Fortunately, when he goes to Iran, he meets a friend while staying with his grandfather. Certainly, the grandfather is a bit gruff, but also shows how he is proud of his garden and works to get to know his grandchildren who are meeting him for the first time.
I loved the imagery of Iran that the author paints. I enjoyed learning more about Iran's culture, history and holidays. Especially as I have some familiarity of Nawrooz, but mostly from the perspective of a different country.
Also, the author touches on key issues of friendship, depression, loss and more. It packs a serious punch for a YA book and I look forward to following Darius on future adventures in the next book.
Also, he's a great big brother to his little sister and really is a good kid. Fortunately, when he goes to Iran, he meets a friend while staying with his grandfather. Certainly, the grandfather is a bit gruff, but also shows how he is proud of his garden and works to get to know his grandchildren who are meeting him for the first time.
I loved the imagery of Iran that the author paints. I enjoyed learning more about Iran's culture, history and holidays. Especially as I have some familiarity of Nawrooz, but mostly from the perspective of a different country.
Also, the author touches on key issues of friendship, depression, loss and more. It packs a serious punch for a YA book and I look forward to following Darius on future adventures in the next book.
emotional
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:
Complicated