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A review by theeuphoriczat
Good Intentions by Kasim Ali
3.0
Okay, so when I started reading this, I couldn't help but think of Sally Rooney Conversations with Friends which I did not like. But, I did enjoy this book a lot more. I loved the nuanced discussions on ageing, politics, culture, religion, media power, their complexities and how they all change and refract our life's trajectories. Regardless of our good intentions, the past and the future is constructed solidly on those complexities. From our friendships to who we fall in love with, are all structured on societal intricacies. I appreciated the way sensitive mental health issues and self-harm were discussed so unflinchingly which turning it into a cliché woke dialogue!
Nur was an interesting character. You can absolutely feel that he is a man who is present and aware of his individuality and the benefits of being a 'man'. He was a raw character which was also why I didn't like him. He was selfish and his toxic masculinity almost killed him! I did enjoy Ali's exploration of religion and his take on how even our religious experiences are built on the societal expectations and it takes a good amount of work to personalised our experiences.
Thanks to 4th Estate for making this book available to me via #Netgalley .
Nur was an interesting character. You can absolutely feel that he is a man who is present and aware of his individuality and the benefits of being a 'man'. He was a raw character which was also why I didn't like him. He was selfish and his toxic masculinity almost killed him! I did enjoy Ali's exploration of religion and his take on how even our religious experiences are built on the societal expectations and it takes a good amount of work to personalised our experiences.
Thanks to 4th Estate for making this book available to me via #Netgalley .