Scan barcode
A review by thatlizhunter
The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
3.0
Okay, lots of thoughts. Will post a full review soon.
UPDATE - Here's my review!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I think it was a great exploration of a Bangladeshi-American teenager's life, as well as a great way to highlight muslim faith and LGBTQ issues.
The characters were developed, the plot kept me on my toes, and I liked the ending. I also think the author did a fantastic job of showing how some people are mistreated and misconceptions about other people's cultures. It's a great diverse book.
So why not five stars? Mainly because this book is hard and dealt with so many really bad things. Not as in bad writing, but bad stuff that happened to characters that weighed my heart down.
Trigger and spoiler warnings now
This story is about a Bangladeshi Muslim American teenager, Rukhsana. Rukhsana is brilliant, has a full ride scholarship to CalTech and has a girlfriend. When her parents find out, they drag her to Bangladesh and try to force her into a marriage.
I liked the story but the stuff that happened in Bangladesh was just too much. I know people do horrible things to LGBTQ people around the world. Knowing and reading a fictionalized account is very different. It's just more emotionally hard and intense. I also felt like the characters who initiated these horrible things didn't really come to terms with their actions? Yes they stopped, but it felt like gay characters paid the price more than the oppressors?
End of spoilers/triggers
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone's who is in a healthy place emotionally. The cultural rep is AMAZING and now I'd really like to makes some authentic chai.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and I loved how it's read!
UPDATE - Here's my review!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I think it was a great exploration of a Bangladeshi-American teenager's life, as well as a great way to highlight muslim faith and LGBTQ issues.
The characters were developed, the plot kept me on my toes, and I liked the ending. I also think the author did a fantastic job of showing how some people are mistreated and misconceptions about other people's cultures. It's a great diverse book.
So why not five stars? Mainly because this book is hard and dealt with so many really bad things. Not as in bad writing, but bad stuff that happened to characters that weighed my heart down.
Trigger and spoiler warnings now
This story is about a Bangladeshi Muslim American teenager, Rukhsana. Rukhsana is brilliant, has a full ride scholarship to CalTech and has a girlfriend. When her parents find out, they drag her to Bangladesh and try to force her into a marriage.
I liked the story but the stuff that happened in Bangladesh was just too much. I know people do horrible things to LGBTQ people around the world. Knowing and reading a fictionalized account is very different. It's just more emotionally hard and intense. I also felt like the characters who initiated these horrible things didn't really come to terms with their actions? Yes they stopped, but it felt like gay characters paid the price more than the oppressors?
End of spoilers/triggers
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone's who is in a healthy place emotionally. The cultural rep is AMAZING and now I'd really like to makes some authentic chai.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and I loved how it's read!