A review by unboxedjack
The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book.   THIS BOOK.  I went into expecting some emotional response, but not to the degree I just experienced.  Joukhadar's prose is beautiful enough to stir a reaction, but his deft ability to use language to speak the unspoken in such a genuine and humble fashion is truly remarkable.  This book provided that and more.  The keen attention to the intersection of race, gender, SES, and sexuality (just to name a few) gave this book an authenticity I've rarely seen.  And as a transguy, I can't put into words just how cathartic it was to see such verisimilitude of that lived experience reflected back to me; I didn't know how hungry I was for that until I came to the last 50 pages or so.  

This was a book I didn't want to end, but I can't imagine it ending any other way.  It migrated its way into my heart and will nest there for quite some time.  Five stars, no question about it.
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