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A review by dellydoos
Son of Sin by Omar Sakr
dark
emotional
sad
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
Son of Sin by Omar Sakr is window to the world of a Lebanese community living on the fringes of poverty in Western Sydney, Australia. And boy, does this book pack a punch.
As someone who doesn't typically read contemporary literature, I was delightfully surprised by Sakr's dark humor and poetic writing. The familiar setting and emotionally raw and unapologetic style of writing captures the struggles and complexities of the life of the central character, Jamel Smith, with startling clarity. Jamel is a young, queer man struggling to find his identity in a community that would rather see him suffer than accept him as he is. The religious themes that are interwoven throughout the book add a layer of depth and complexity to the narrative. Sakr explores the impact of religion on the lives of queer Muslims in ways that are often overlooked or misunderstood, and masterfully portrays the internal struggle that Jamel faces as he reconciles his faith and his identity.
Other themes of racism, islamophobia, and abuse on the lives of Muslims within Australia during the 2005 Cronulla riots were highlighted, shedding light on the traumatic experiences of those who were targeted and discriminated against during this period. Through Jamel's story and the characters that surround him, Sakr gives voice to the struggles and injustices faced by marginalized communities and emphasizes the need for greater understanding and empathy in our society.
What struck me most about this book was how it never shies away from the difficult and uncomfortable truths that it confronts head-on. Sakr's portrayal of drug use, sex, and abuse is unflinching and raw, but it never feels gratuitous or exploitative. Instead, these themes are used to delve deeper into the characters' experiences and to reveal the hidden traumas that they carry with them. The author’s writing was just so damn poetic, even in its darkest moments.
However, there were some drawbacks for me, and one was in the overwhelming number of characters in this book, I couldn’t keep track of them all. In one instance, a character was literally introduced in one chapter and then killed off in the next. Additionally, the pacing was fluid- almost too fluid, where time seemed to pass either super slow or incredibly quick, leaving me to reread paragraphs just to get my footing. Finally, while I appreciated the poetic experimentation of not using quotation marks when people speak, it sometimes made it difficult to follow the dialogue. But yet, despite its flaws, this was a 4/5 star read for me.
As someone who doesn't typically read contemporary literature, I was delightfully surprised by Sakr's dark humor and poetic writing. The familiar setting and emotionally raw and unapologetic style of writing captures the struggles and complexities of the life of the central character, Jamel Smith, with startling clarity. Jamel is a young, queer man struggling to find his identity in a community that would rather see him suffer than accept him as he is. The religious themes that are interwoven throughout the book add a layer of depth and complexity to the narrative. Sakr explores the impact of religion on the lives of queer Muslims in ways that are often overlooked or misunderstood, and masterfully portrays the internal struggle that Jamel faces as he reconciles his faith and his identity.
Other themes of racism, islamophobia, and abuse on the lives of Muslims within Australia during the 2005 Cronulla riots were highlighted, shedding light on the traumatic experiences of those who were targeted and discriminated against during this period. Through Jamel's story and the characters that surround him, Sakr gives voice to the struggles and injustices faced by marginalized communities and emphasizes the need for greater understanding and empathy in our society.
What struck me most about this book was how it never shies away from the difficult and uncomfortable truths that it confronts head-on. Sakr's portrayal of drug use, sex, and abuse is unflinching and raw, but it never feels gratuitous or exploitative. Instead, these themes are used to delve deeper into the characters' experiences and to reveal the hidden traumas that they carry with them. The author’s writing was just so damn poetic, even in its darkest moments.
However, there were some drawbacks for me, and one was in the overwhelming number of characters in this book, I couldn’t keep track of them all. In one instance, a character was literally introduced in one chapter and then killed off in the next. Additionally, the pacing was fluid- almost too fluid, where time seemed to pass either super slow or incredibly quick, leaving me to reread paragraphs just to get my footing. Finally, while I appreciated the poetic experimentation of not using quotation marks when people speak, it sometimes made it difficult to follow the dialogue. But yet, despite its flaws, this was a 4/5 star read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse