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gabriellejane's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I usually can't listen to fiction on audio, but this one pulled me in and in the rare case probably kept me more engaged than if I read the physical print. It was a recommendation 2 years ago from one of my college friends and I finally got around to reading it. I thought it was almost too depressing at times, but may be more of a reflection of the times we're living in than the book. Dark and depressing are my top genres, but I find that my tastes are leaning differently right now. Would recommend but see the CWs.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Eating disorder
lizzierose147's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
This book grew on me the more I read. My first impression was that the prose was too simple and that it would not be a captivating read. However, as I read on, I quickly changed my mind. I think the sheer breadth and gravity of topics covered by Arafat through her protagonist almost necessitates a fast paced and simple prose to keep the reader in the flow and to reflect the simultaneous self awareness and impulsiveness of the main character. The effect is that despite covering therapy, oedipal love triangles, eating disorders, queer shame, cheating, Israeli occupation in Palestine, suicide, immigration, family trauma and disappointment and multiple heartbreaks, the book does not feel heavy or depressing. Instead, owing to the simple prose and rapid fire decision making of the protagonist we move through these topics speedily, almost too fast in fact, but I think that this is the point, reflecting the inner world of our protagonist who is loathe to settle, to stagnate and in fact seeks unattainable things, people, a self diagnosed love-addict. The narrative follows her rapid and often (consciously) Il-advised decisions, with both a hopeful and resigned attitude - especially pertinent as it is written in first person. Ultimately, I really liked this book, and especially the mother daughter relationship which ran as its core theme. There is something universal in daughters loving and desiring love from a mother figure, and, when finding the latter to be unattainable, seeking it or a similar absence of it elsewhere. The protagonist's simultaneous isolation and frustration at her mother, underlit with a constant desire for validation and approval, despite not extending the same to her mother until the final passages is poignant and relatable. The tides of their relationship and the deep love they ultimately share was conveyed really well throughout, especially through the lack of explanation between the fights and reparations between them. With every other character the protagonist fights with we need a reason for them to offer forgiveness, with her mother their apologies go unsaid, are inevitable and assumed eventually.
The book is also refreshingly sex positive, even in the several relationships that arent explicitly sexual that the main character describes. Her mothers balance of biphobia and homophobia is also fascinating, the terms and conditions along which she is clearly desperate to be disappointed and yet still make room in spite of her prejudices for love and acceptance of her daughter are a great example of queer family dynamics for the 21dt c.
The book is also refreshingly sex positive, even in the several relationships that arent explicitly sexual that the main character describes. Her mothers balance of biphobia and homophobia is also fascinating, the terms and conditions along which she is clearly desperate to be disappointed and yet still make room in spite of her prejudices for love and acceptance of her daughter are a great example of queer family dynamics for the 21dt c.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Addiction, Alcohol, Biphobia, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Mental illness
erinalt90's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I really had high hopes for this book. It had a great start and moved fast. around 40% it started to get slow and by 60% not only was it boring but it was a completely different book. I think Arafat is a great writer but she seems more like a short story/anthology writer.
The ending is disappointing and the book overall is just - sporadic? I don't know. It doesn't work in my opinion.
I never read reviews for books before/during. But all the reviews who also gave it around 2-3.5 stars I agree with completely.
There were also tiny conflicting details/inconsistencies in the set up/characters. At one point someone is referred to as a "classmate" and three sentences later - while talking about the same character- they are referred to as "coworker." They are small little details but there are enough of them that they start to add up.
TW: potential child abuse
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There was also an entire section with another character and pregnancy/child fetish played a role and it was just- weird.
The ending is disappointing and the book overall is just - sporadic? I don't know. It doesn't work in my opinion.
I never read reviews for books before/during. But all the reviews who also gave it around 2-3.5 stars I agree with completely.
There were also tiny conflicting details/inconsistencies in the set up/characters. At one point someone is referred to as a "classmate" and three sentences later - while talking about the same character- they are referred to as "coworker." They are small little details but there are enough of them that they start to add up.
TW: potential child abuse
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There was also an entire section with another character and pregnancy/child fetish played a role and it was just- weird.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting
are_see_em's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Biphobia
whatannikareads's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i feel like incredibly neutral about this book, which i think could be worse than actively hating or loving this book. some of the pros about this book: i liked that the bisexual main character wasn't super stereotypical and clunky. for lack of a better way to put it, she felt normal in that she wasn't made to be an anomaly solely based on her queerness.
i enjoyed the short in-between chapters that took us into her palestinian heritage and childhood memories.
that being said, this book felt very fragmented, as if there were three different plot lines that weren't really woven together seamlessly. the writing is in first person, which made it feel a bit too simplistic--telling rather than showing. a bit past halfway, it just felt like the author was listing her relationships without going into enough depth for me to care. and the main character herself isn't really likable; she doesn't necessarily have to be, but it was hard for me to see the point in why she was dealing with the conflicts in her life. the ending just kind of ended, and didn't make me feel emotional or anything.
i think there were too many conflicts the author wanted to focus on--the strained relationship with her mother (which i wish we saw more of), her love addiction rehab journey, her toxic role in her relationships-- and i think the author would've benefitted from sticking to one or two conflicts and building a more linear plot around them.
i enjoyed the short in-between chapters that took us into her palestinian heritage and childhood memories.
that being said, this book felt very fragmented, as if there were three different plot lines that weren't really woven together seamlessly. the writing is in first person, which made it feel a bit too simplistic--telling rather than showing. a bit past halfway, it just felt like the author was listing her relationships without going into enough depth for me to care. and the main character herself isn't really likable; she doesn't necessarily have to be, but it was hard for me to see the point in why she was dealing with the conflicts in her life. the ending just kind of ended, and didn't make me feel emotional or anything.
i think there were too many conflicts the author wanted to focus on--the strained relationship with her mother (which i wish we saw more of), her love addiction rehab journey, her toxic role in her relationships-- and i think the author would've benefitted from sticking to one or two conflicts and building a more linear plot around them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Outing, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
solenodon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Eating disorder, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, and Cursing
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