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atreegrowsinbooks's reviews
237 reviews
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
This was an insightful memoir, about finding your own queerness. I appreciated the overall structure of the book, where overall we follow Samra as she grows up, but there were a few times when the timing or pacing of the chapter or contents within pulled me out of the story and then caused me to be confused about when in Samra’s life were learning about.
I appreciated Samra’s words and will be looking for her photography and photo project mentioned in this book.
I appreciated Samra’s words and will be looking for her photography and photo project mentioned in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Four Eids and a Funeral by Adiba Jaigirdar, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
First off, I really enjoyed listening to this on audio. The narrators were fantastic and it was a joy to hear them each narrate their chapters.
Overall I enjoyed the contents of this book. It did feel very surface level to me, not delving deeper into the racism that Tiwa felt within the community and the overall racism of their mayor and town. But the writing was very strong and I loved the characters. I’ll definitely be reading more books by these authors.
I was shocked by the ending where we find out the reason behindthe hidden letters. I find it hard to believe that a sibling would do that and then not really be held accountable for their actions. She could have just told Said that she worried about him instead. Said also didn’t stay mad at her for long and I’m also surprised for that. If it were me, I probably would be upset for a long time.
There isn’t a ton of romance between Tiwa and Said as well. Wish there was a bit more. But otherwise a very enjoyable book.
Thanks for the publisher for the copy of this audiobook!
Overall I enjoyed the contents of this book. It did feel very surface level to me, not delving deeper into the racism that Tiwa felt within the community and the overall racism of their mayor and town. But the writing was very strong and I loved the characters. I’ll definitely be reading more books by these authors.
I was shocked by the ending where we find out the reason behind
There isn’t a ton of romance between Tiwa and Said as well. Wish there was a bit more. But otherwise a very enjoyable book.
Thanks for the publisher for the copy of this audiobook!
The Trees Witness Everything by Victoria Chang
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Chang is easily one of my favorite poets. I love the way she weaves hopefulness and grief within her words.
This was an interesting collection. I enjoyed how many of these poems were short and succinct but I think I prefer Chang’s longer poems. The format of the book was unique, being long and rectangular. Reminded me of a tree which ties back to the name of this collection. Some of my favorite lines are:
From “MARFA, TEXAS”:
“Oh to be loved the way the day loves the night.”
The entirety of “WITNESS”:
This was an interesting collection. I enjoyed how many of these poems were short and succinct but I think I prefer Chang’s longer poems. The format of the book was unique, being long and rectangular. Reminded me of a tree which ties back to the name of this collection. Some of my favorite lines are:
From “MARFA, TEXAS”:
“Oh to be loved the way the day loves the night.”
The entirety of “WITNESS”:
“Maybe were not filled
with water but with leaves,
the soft ones that make no sound. If you listen closely,
you can almost hear
the leaves in your body fall.
the soft ones that make no sound. If you listen closely,
you can almost hear
the leaves in your body fall.
Maybe nothing dies,
things just get lost. Memory convalesces on our skin.”
The entirety of “LOVE LETTERS”, but also specifically these lines:
“Sadness takes time. Sadness is made up of minutes. Hope is made up of years.”
“One day you will wake up beating. One day you will wake up winged.”
“Let me tell you a story about hope: it always starts and ends with birds.”
The entirety of “LOVE LETTERS”, but also specifically these lines:
“Sadness takes time. Sadness is made up of minutes. Hope is made up of years.”
“One day you will wake up beating. One day you will wake up winged.”
“Let me tell you a story about hope: it always starts and ends with birds.”
Dearborn by Ghassan Zeineddine
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Very much enjoyed most of these stories. The narration was glorious and would be the format I would recommend.
At times these stories were sad and heartbreaking while other times they made me smile. I love that about short stories, that there is always a mix of emotions.
At times these stories were sad and heartbreaking while other times they made me smile. I love that about short stories, that there is always a mix of emotions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Animal death
Moderate: War, Domestic abuse, and Transphobia
Minor: Vomit, Drug use, and Genocide
There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I’ll listen to anything Hanif Abdurraqib narrates. His perspective and way with words is incredible. Eagerly looking forward to rereading this so I can catch things I didn’t before.
Probably the only book that I found myself looking forward to learning more about basketball and basketball players.
Probably the only book that I found myself looking forward to learning more about basketball and basketball players.
Obit by Victoria Chang
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Wow these poems gave me words to the grief I’ve felt after losing my grandmother. A powerful collection in a unique form. Having each poem be an obituary to something that was lost, has died, is eye opening and heart wrenching all the same. Many many lines, many poems made me cry. Made me sad for Chang’s loss, for my own loss, and all loss.
Some of my favorite lines are as follows:
“When someone dies, letters are always engraved. When someone dies, there is a constant feeling of wanting to speak to someone, but the plane with all the words is crossing the sky.”
“Because dying lasts forever until it stops.”
“That day dusk didn't arrive. I went into it.”
Some of my favorite lines are as follows:
“When someone dies, letters are always engraved. When someone dies, there is a constant feeling of wanting to speak to someone, but the plane with all the words is crossing the sky.”
“Because dying lasts forever until it stops.”
“That day dusk didn't arrive. I went into it.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Grief, and Death
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
dark
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
The Wedding People by Alison Espach (#gifted, thanks Henry Holt)
CW: suicide attempt, depression
Note: While this book has a wholesome meaning, please don’t proceed if the above warnings are triggering.
Have you ever felt like you were in the right place at the right time? That you were meant to meet someone or have a certain conversation, experience, or moment?
Well, that feeling is this book. We follow Phoebe, who is extremely depressed to the point of attempting to take her life, as she arrives at a hotel just in time for the kickoff of a week long wedding. Phoebe and the wedding people meet and ultimately impact each other’s lives in different ways. You’ll have to read the book to see how those interactions impact everyone.
Espach’s writing is full of humor, and that humor is essential for the main point of the book to permeate the pages: THERE IS A REASON FOR YOU TO BE ALIVE.
I would suggest this book with a warning, if you aren’t ready to read about a character making an attempt on her life (which is then referenced several times) please don’t read this. Please be kind to yourself. And if you’re having suicidal thoughts and/or struggling please know that’s it’s okay to reach out to someone and that you’re not alone. Some resources are the 988 lifeline 988lifeline.org and The Trevor Project thetrevorproject.org
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Infertility
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
What a strange dystopian thriller by Erdrich. Very different than the other books I’ve read by her.
There were so many twists that I didn’t see coming and I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t able to guess everything that was happening. The character work and storytelling is so successful, and it’s clear that Erdrich can truly write anything.
While I really enjoyed the writing, the content of this story was unsettling. Especially when women’s rights have been further taken away. In some aspects, the story isn’t that far off from what could happen.
I haven’t read A Handmaid’s Tale, but I’ve seen the show and this book is definitely similar to that. This is an indigenous version that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a dystopian thriller with links to the real world as we know it.
Fun fact, I picked this book up because the first page starts on my birthday
There were so many twists that I didn’t see coming and I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t able to guess everything that was happening. The character work and storytelling is so successful, and it’s clear that Erdrich can truly write anything.
While I really enjoyed the writing, the content of this story was unsettling. Especially when women’s rights have been further taken away. In some aspects, the story isn’t that far off from what could happen.
I haven’t read A Handmaid’s Tale, but I’ve seen the show and this book is definitely similar to that. This is an indigenous version that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a dystopian thriller with links to the real world as we know it.
Fun fact, I picked this book up because the first page starts on my birthday
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Confinement
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Abortion