A review by nibs
Son of Sin by Omar Sakr

dark emotional reflective 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

4.25

This was the April pick of a queer literature book club I am in. I'd enjoyed Omar Sakr's contribution to the short story collection After Australia and was keen to read more of his work. When we met up for bookclub, I still had about 30 pages left, but I was able to enjoy the discussion and not feel spoiled due to the nature of his writing. The writing isn't plot-based, its more following a character through his own experiences. 

You can tell this book is written by a poet. It is so carefully worded, with so much packed into some sentences in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it way. It felt like we were going back over Jamal's experiences with him. Reading about him as a bi man and seeing how queerness was viewed in the varying intersections of his cultures (Muslim expectations, Lebanese and Turkish cultures). Finding out what it was like in western Sydney at this time was really insightful - I'm a bit too young to know from the news. This is the kind of book I'd like to reread one day, it's so rich in detail. 

I originally gave this 4 stars, but I just couldn't stop thinking about it. A week later I was thinking it should be 4.5 stars. I've concluded that I'll average it out to 4.25 stars. 

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