tamara_mousa's reviews
138 reviews

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Mountains Sing is a thrilling saga that Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai wrote about rebelling against tyranny and the wrongdoings that scarred her family between 1942 and 1980. This enthralling novel described the end of the French rule (1857-1945), break out of WWII and the Japanese invasion to ViệtNam (1940-1945), followed by the ViệtNam War (1955-1975) that involved the American intrusion to assist the South of the country to fight communism in the North (1964-1973). Yet, the North won and formed the communist government, which punished everyone who assisted the southern Vietnamese by enforcing land reform, confiscating businesses, and sending Vietnamese to 2-year re-education labor camps. This resulted in brutally murdering and prosecuting landowners and southern empathizers, forcing many of these families to move from Saigon (southern of ViệtNam) to Hà Nội (northern of ViệtNam) or immigrate to the US. A complete summary is available in my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com 

Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith is a fuzzy novel that I thought described the rebellion of Vietnamese against the French occupation that lasted over 80 years (1857-1945). Yet the book was about the transition of Binh’s spirit after being murdered by her childhood friend, which occurred at the end of the French occupation, to two girls: Ma’s daughter (1981) and the American-Vietnamese Winnie (2010/2011). The story described heartless abusive parents, friendship, betrayal, revenge of abused or murdered souls, and the difficulty of living in a strange land as well as being accepted by its people. A complete summary is available in my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com/

Catch the Rabbit by Lana Bastašić

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Lana Bastašić charmingly narrated Catch the Rabbit to highlight the life of Yugoslavians in Bosnia during the war with Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. After 12 years of leaving Bosnia to Ireland, Sara received a sudden phone call from her school friend, Lejla, who shut Sara off during college. Lejla asked Sara to meet her in Mostar (in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and take her to Vienna to find her brother, Armin who was lost during the war. It is a story about the life of children during wars and the associated traumas, friendship, betrayal, memories, and fulfillment of a promise.
A complete summary is available in my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com/ 

Taduno's Song by Odafe Atogun

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Odafe Atogun enchantingly narrated Taduno's Song that depicted the life of Nigerians under the rule of a treacherous dictator, who would do anything to stay powerful and become wealthier! This is a story of rebellion against a military regime via Taduno’s music. This epic tale is about Taduno’s dilemma whether to follow his heart or mind! Should he “go against his conscience and praise the tyrant to save his love” or should he “let his love suffer for the sake of his beloved country and Nigerians”!  

A complete summary is available in my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com 

Zuleikha by Guzel Yakhina

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Zuleikha is an enthralling book by Guzel Yakhina. It is the story of the powerless Tatar kulak woman Zuleikha, whose husband was shot by the Red Army after the Bolshevik revolution against the Tsar in 1917. This is a turn-page tale depicting the life of kulaks – the rich or prosperous peasants, whose properties were confiscated (ranches and farm animals) and gathered from different lands that was part of the Soviet Union. They were executed on the spot or taken to Siberia as hired labor, because of being considered enemies of Russia. It is believed that despite the ability of humans to live together harmoniously, they (unfortunately) stupidly choose to fight and kill each other. And for what? As the Hoopoe of the Magical Bird Semrug folk tale said to his birds: “What is the use in spending our time and energy on factions and feuding”! Mostly to satisfy the ego of the head of state and his generals!
 A complet  summary us available in my blog:
 www.tamarayousefmousa.com 

Butter Honey Pig Bread by francesca ekwuyasi

challenging emotional informative 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

4.5

 In Butter Honey Pig Bread, Francesca Ekwuyasi smoothly narrates the life and complicated relationship between the Nigerian daughter and mother Kambirinachi(an ogbanje insightful soul, who keeps coming and leaving life before its birth, or during infancy or childhood) and her twin daughters – Taiye and Kehinde. This is a story about childhood wounds, betrayal by the closest family member, being able to forgive and having the compassion to forgive those who unintentionally hurt us, as well as about racism towards colored and gay people. A complete summary is available in my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com

Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé

dark informative reflective medium-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? No

4.5

Crossing the Mangrove is a story by Maryse Condé that depicts the life of Black and Creoles (White Latin Americans) in Rivière au Sel. This village is in Basse-Terre, which is one of the 6 islands of Guadeloupe - a French territory in the Caribbean. The book beautifully narrates the villagers’ reflections about their interaction with a mysterious man, Francis Sancher, during his wake ceremony. Moreover, it underlined that we can’t understand why someone acts bitterly because we don’t know the root of his problem or trauma! This tale also highlights racism in Guadalupe and enslavement of Haitians by Whites and pale colored-citizens that didn’t end yet! Haitians still suffer from this racism in their own land and in other countries, particularly in the US because they are not the right color!
A complete summary can be found in my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com 

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

dark informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In Open Water, Caleb Azumah Nelson depicts the struggle of Black Britons (who live in London) to stay alive. These British citizens never feel safe and live under huge stress because they are always seen as vulgar suspects and never as innocent humans. This story portrays this dilemma in the work-ship, friendship, and courtship relation between a Black male photographer and a female dancer over the four seasons of 2017. The tale highlights how Black British people are never treated in the same manner as a White British person. They felt that the country they live in is not their home! They were not free in the land where they were born and resided, as well as where their parents and grandparents lived! 

A complete summary is available in my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com 

In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective tense 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

In the Midst of Winter is a novel in which Isabelle Allende portrays the dark life of Lucia in Chile between 1954 and 1973, and the suffering of Evelyn in Guatemala during the first 16 years of her life (1992-2008). For instance, Chileans suffered from the political unrest during the formation of a Marxist government, followed by a military coup and dictatorship. Guatemalans also lived a horrible life under the rule of gangs and soldiers who stole, raped, and slaughtered their own kin, and who cannot be deterred! Moreover, the injustice shown to illegal asylum seekers, who go through an arduous journey to cross to the US, either are returned to their country or offered residency depending on the temperament of the judge was highlighted. Allende also shed light on the amount of depression Richard’s wife has experienced after having numerous miscarriages followed by losing her 1-month son and 4-year-old daughter. a complete summary is available on my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

In Pachinko, Min Jin Lee beautifully depicted the horrible life of Koreans in Korea during the Japanese occupation between the years of 1910-1933; then being exposed to all kinds of hatred, racism, and inhumanity in Japan between 1933-1962. Finally, illustrating the unjust life of Koreans in Japan between 1939 and 1989 after Korea’s independence and the formation of North and South Korea in 1948. This story reveals the bigotry that the Japanese showed towards the low-class Korean-Japanese, forcing their assimilation into the Japanese culture. A complete summary is available n my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com/