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A review by now_booking
Straight from the Horse's Mouth by Meryem Alaoui
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Amusing, Self-Aware, Unusual Perspective
In a word, this was different. At its core, it’s sort of a colorful slice of life story of the daily life and doings of a Moroccan sex worker in Casablanca. Jmiaa might not have dreamed of sex work as a girl but now she’s unapologetically dealing with the cards she’s been dealt with a sharp tongue, an eye for the absurd, and lot of moxie. If light dealt her lemons, she’s bootlegging a lemon gin and drinking away her problems. Jmiaa is practical, critical, sarcastic, self-aware and basically making the best she can of a very toxic situation with as much pragmatic enjoyment as she can.
This isn’t a particularly action/plot-driven book. It’s very character-centric. But that’s fine because Jmiaa has a lot of personality and a lot of stories to carry this story along. Reading this, you feel like you know her and know about the people she’s inevitably dragging and falling out with. The outcome of the story could only ever have been what it was because her star radiates of the page. Yes this is humorous and amusing, but what makes it especially attractive is that it’s such an eminently human story, told by an imperfect protagonist who knows a lot about the foibles of people and the imperfections of humanity and because of that, it’s a compelling read. Content warnings apply for assault, abuse, and heavy alcohol and drug use. Other than that, highly recommend for something unique, different and actually quite fun and interesting.
In a word, this was different. At its core, it’s sort of a colorful slice of life story of the daily life and doings of a Moroccan sex worker in Casablanca. Jmiaa might not have dreamed of sex work as a girl but now she’s unapologetically dealing with the cards she’s been dealt with a sharp tongue, an eye for the absurd, and lot of moxie. If light dealt her lemons, she’s bootlegging a lemon gin and drinking away her problems. Jmiaa is practical, critical, sarcastic, self-aware and basically making the best she can of a very toxic situation with as much pragmatic enjoyment as she can.
This isn’t a particularly action/plot-driven book. It’s very character-centric. But that’s fine because Jmiaa has a lot of personality and a lot of stories to carry this story along. Reading this, you feel like you know her and know about the people she’s inevitably dragging and falling out with. The outcome of the story could only ever have been what it was because her star radiates of the page. Yes this is humorous and amusing, but what makes it especially attractive is that it’s such an eminently human story, told by an imperfect protagonist who knows a lot about the foibles of people and the imperfections of humanity and because of that, it’s a compelling read. Content warnings apply for assault, abuse, and heavy alcohol and drug use. Other than that, highly recommend for something unique, different and actually quite fun and interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Physical abuse, Bullying, Death of parent, Police brutality, Trafficking, Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism