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A review by archiveofrasa
Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
this bitch finished this in a day. as a queer South Asian Muslim: this memoir was for people like me.
the ending really bumped this up to 5 stars for me, it was stuck at 4-something but that interpretation of Surah Yunus – absolutely perfect. I loved all of the ways Lamya weaved stories of the Qu'ran into their experiences and really appreciated it as someone who hadn't gotten the chance to properly read the translations of those stories. of course, these are interpretations and no one is to say how "right" or "wrong" they are.
this book is so much more than the synopsis portrays. this memoir talks about queer discovery but also discusses being the "Good" version of either identity (the Good Muslim, the Good Queer Person), immigration, South Asian/Muslim views on marriage, intersectional racism and xenophobia, the contradictory beliefs our parents and elders hold, abandonment, self-reflection and activism. it discusses so many topics in ways that made me think and made me understand things I couldn't put into words.
it's also so important to me that this is a memoir and not fiction. it restores my hope in my environment and the people I'll encounter when I grow older. the faith that I will get a happy ending and have a good network of people that'll love and support me in their wonderful ways. honestly, all I can say is that I'm so grateful Lamya chose to share this.
the ending really bumped this up to 5 stars for me, it was stuck at 4-something but that interpretation of Surah Yunus – absolutely perfect. I loved all of the ways Lamya weaved stories of the Qu'ran into their experiences and really appreciated it as someone who hadn't gotten the chance to properly read the translations of those stories. of course, these are interpretations and no one is to say how "right" or "wrong" they are.
this book is so much more than the synopsis portrays. this memoir talks about queer discovery but also discusses being the "Good" version of either identity (the Good Muslim, the Good Queer Person), immigration, South Asian/Muslim views on marriage, intersectional racism and xenophobia, the contradictory beliefs our parents and elders hold, abandonment, self-reflection and activism. it discusses so many topics in ways that made me think and made me understand things I couldn't put into words.
it's also so important to me that this is a memoir and not fiction. it restores my hope in my environment and the people I'll encounter when I grow older. the faith that I will get a happy ending and have a good network of people that'll love and support me in their wonderful ways. honestly, all I can say is that I'm so grateful Lamya chose to share this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Transphobia
Minor: Domestic abuse