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tasleemreads's reviews
35 reviews
Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
An interesting read.
I enjoyed it, but I’m left feeling a little out of place. This book is about a broken relationship between mother and daughter, Tara and Antara. As Tara’s health worsens and she loses her memories, Antara can’t help but feel anger towards their unresolved conflicts. The best way I feel I can describe it is, the beginning and end grips you and the middle takes you on a journey.
Love in Colour: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalola
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
A collection of love stories ❤️ the author twisted mythical tales from one with powerless or oppressed women to women who have autonomy, freedom and choice. Loved this book!
Rumaysa: A Fairytale by Radiya Hafiza
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? No
5.0
A story with brown princesses who save themselves. I LOVED this story and would have love to grow up hearing these stories! I know it’s a children’s book but it’s honestly one of my favourites, I had an amazing reading experience, the imagery was on point and I loved how the girls supported and built each other up. A beautiful story of the sisterhood amongst brown girls.
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Falling in love with the mundane and authenticity of Japanese literature. Initially, I was waiting for the story to drop, a plot twist or an unexpected event but there was none. Life isn’t all about the twists and turns but the hum and calmness which adds to life’s beauty. This story is about the lives of two individuals and how they become intertwined. A beautiful mundane love story that normalises life (funnily enough).
"I Will Not Be Erased": Our stories about growing up as people of colour by gal-dem
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.0
A collection of essays from writers of colour. Stories are varied between upbringing, love, self-acceptance, sexuality, health, and culture. This was a really nice affirming read, some essays are sadder than others, but all in all, felt like a hug in a book 💕
My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay
challenging
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Trigger warnings: Racism, mental health, physical, and sexual abuse.
This story is soul shattering. What's unsettling about this, is that this is a memoir with accounts, case notes, doctors notes and school reports constantly reminding you of the distressing facts of what Lemn Sissay, a black child in the failing and dangerous care system of 1970's Britain, had to live through.
This story shares harrowing trauma and abuse that, those who have survived, are carrying or trying to heal from today. This book will have you overflowing with rage and sorrow. A boy stolen from his Ethiopian mother, placed into a care system that simply, could not care less.
There are many quotes that will make your heart hurt, here are two:
✨ This was the beginning of the end of open arms and warm hugs. This was the beginning of empty Christmas time and hollow birthdays. This was the beginning of not being touched. I'm twelve. And this is my fault. This is what I have chosen. The journey [from Lemn's foster family home to the care home] took about forty-five minutes, or forty-five seconds. Or forty-five years.
✨ Insomuch as the foster child is a cipher to the dysfunction of a family and also a seer. But the responsibility is too great for a child and so he finds himself manipulated and blamed for what he exposes by the simple virtue of innocence. The wrath this innocence incurs is deep and dark.
Lemn Sissay was forced to sacrifice his childhood and rely on his own self advocacy to survive. It starts with Lemn being stolen from his mother, renamed (and disgustingly name after) a social worker who refused to acknowledge his birth name or his birth mothers right to have her son returned to her. Lemn had his name, identity and heritage stolen from him. The memoir also shares details of the mistreatment he endured as a black child in his white foster families home and the abuse in institutional care systems. It is astonishing how Lemn survived his childhood and has managed to reflect and share his story in such a graceful way. There are strong trigger warnings, but if you are able to pick this up, please do. Lemn's story is essential.
This story is one I will never forget. At the beginning of every chapter and the end of the book, there are stunning works of poetry which Lemn has written and shared. Lemn has continued to create poetry and work to support children in care. His work, both on and off paper, is sensational and breathtaking.
This story is soul shattering. What's unsettling about this, is that this is a memoir with accounts, case notes, doctors notes and school reports constantly reminding you of the distressing facts of what Lemn Sissay, a black child in the failing and dangerous care system of 1970's Britain, had to live through.
This story shares harrowing trauma and abuse that, those who have survived, are carrying or trying to heal from today. This book will have you overflowing with rage and sorrow. A boy stolen from his Ethiopian mother, placed into a care system that simply, could not care less.
There are many quotes that will make your heart hurt, here are two:
✨ This was the beginning of the end of open arms and warm hugs. This was the beginning of empty Christmas time and hollow birthdays. This was the beginning of not being touched. I'm twelve. And this is my fault. This is what I have chosen. The journey [from Lemn's foster family home to the care home] took about forty-five minutes, or forty-five seconds. Or forty-five years.
✨ Insomuch as the foster child is a cipher to the dysfunction of a family and also a seer. But the responsibility is too great for a child and so he finds himself manipulated and blamed for what he exposes by the simple virtue of innocence. The wrath this innocence incurs is deep and dark.
Lemn Sissay was forced to sacrifice his childhood and rely on his own self advocacy to survive. It starts with Lemn being stolen from his mother, renamed (and disgustingly name after) a social worker who refused to acknowledge his birth name or his birth mothers right to have her son returned to her. Lemn had his name, identity and heritage stolen from him. The memoir also shares details of the mistreatment he endured as a black child in his white foster families home and the abuse in institutional care systems. It is astonishing how Lemn survived his childhood and has managed to reflect and share his story in such a graceful way. There are strong trigger warnings, but if you are able to pick this up, please do. Lemn's story is essential.
This story is one I will never forget. At the beginning of every chapter and the end of the book, there are stunning works of poetry which Lemn has written and shared. Lemn has continued to create poetry and work to support children in care. His work, both on and off paper, is sensational and breathtaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs
If They Come for Us: Poems by Fatimah Asghar
So many gems in this little book, it definitely packs a punch!
✨"but I have blood from someone's father's father on my hands and no memory of who died for me to be here" - Partition.✨
If They Come For Us centres around the India-Pakistan Partition and the experience of a Muslim Pakistani American woman. Asghar explores themes of orphanhood, identity, lineage, diaspora, sexuality and violence. One that struck me is being from a homeland that you're disconnected to and an immigrant in a land that does not want you. The lack of security and safety is heart breaking to read and something a lot of diaspora kids can relate to.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
So many gems in this little book, it definitely packs a punch!
✨"but I have blood from someone's father's father on my hands and no memory of who died for me to be here" - Partition.✨
If They Come For Us centres around the India-Pakistan Partition and the experience of a Muslim Pakistani American woman. Asghar explores themes of orphanhood, identity, lineage, diaspora, sexuality and violence. One that struck me is being from a homeland that you're disconnected to and an immigrant in a land that does not want you. The lack of security and safety is heart breaking to read and something a lot of diaspora kids can relate to.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Kim Jiyoung, born 1982 is the story of a Korean woman navigating her life in a man's world. We visit her throughout different stages in her life. In each turn, she, and Korean women alike face discrimination and misogyny. All of which seems to be socially accepted or at least a losing battle if concerned about. Throughout this book, Cho Nam-Joo adds footnotes to link articles and research papers reminding you that this is no fictional story. This book may be fiction but the story within the pages rings true for Korean women as this is the society they live in.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Last Children of Tokyo by Yōko Tawada
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
The Last Children of Tokyo is a Japanese dystopian novel by Yoko Tawada, translated in English by Margaret Mitsutani. This book was an interesting read. In the first half, you're given subtle clues as to what's going on and the second half, you're still confused but you're able to unconfidently piece things together 😂 I surprisingly liked that not everything is clear cut and readers have to figure things out for themselves.
Yoshiro, a 108-year-old man lives his simple life as the primary caregiver for his great-grandson, Mumei. The elderly, Yoshiro's generation, seem to live a life of immortality, this generation has the youth and mobility of someone significantly younger. However, the youth are faced with many illnesses and health conditions. There is often mention of an environmental disaster that has caused irreversible damage to Earth. Alongside the condition of the youth, animals are a scarcity in Japan, the earth seems to reject itself as nature grows out dysfunctional and weak. Japan is closed to the outside world and rejecting any produce, ideas and words relating to other cultures and countries. HOWEVER, *pulls out detective magnifying glass* there is also mention of the older generation curating a formula to stop death, which may have caused this imbalance in nature creating irreversible damage to Planet Earth.
You're left to question, what actually happened that has left earth and its people in this state?!
The first half of the book mentions comparisons between language, environments and the aspect of time, following Yoshiro around as he makes these observations and remembers how his youth is totally different from the youth of today. The second half is when you suspect what the older generation has done to cause such catastrophic effects and you follow Mumei around to see how he has to live with the consequences due to the actions of others.
I really admire Tawada's odd, detailed, and sometimes rambling writing style, she definitely knows how much to give you to keep you hooked without giving anything away!
An interesting read that has left me with questions ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Yoshiro, a 108-year-old man lives his simple life as the primary caregiver for his great-grandson, Mumei. The elderly, Yoshiro's generation, seem to live a life of immortality, this generation has the youth and mobility of someone significantly younger. However, the youth are faced with many illnesses and health conditions. There is often mention of an environmental disaster that has caused irreversible damage to Earth. Alongside the condition of the youth, animals are a scarcity in Japan, the earth seems to reject itself as nature grows out dysfunctional and weak. Japan is closed to the outside world and rejecting any produce, ideas and words relating to other cultures and countries. HOWEVER, *pulls out detective magnifying glass* there is also mention of the older generation curating a formula to stop death, which may have caused this imbalance in nature creating irreversible damage to Planet Earth.
You're left to question, what actually happened that has left earth and its people in this state?!
The first half of the book mentions comparisons between language, environments and the aspect of time, following Yoshiro around as he makes these observations and remembers how his youth is totally different from the youth of today. The second half is when you suspect what the older generation has done to cause such catastrophic effects and you follow Mumei around to see how he has to live with the consequences due to the actions of others.
I really admire Tawada's odd, detailed, and sometimes rambling writing style, she definitely knows how much to give you to keep you hooked without giving anything away!
An interesting read that has left me with questions ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
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? No
5.0
I'm not normally one for historical fiction, I find it hard to read and unconvincing, but Pachinko has shattered my expectation completely and is a SENSATIONAL read. My first 5 ⭐️ read of 2021.
The story follows Sunja's marriage and migration from Korea to Japan during the Japanese colonization. Set in the 20th century, it follows four generations of a Korean family trying to find safety and security during a unsettling time in a country they are rejected and mistreated in.
The rich culture and history detailed in this book were fascinating to read and deeply engrossing, the writing style hooks you in and you'll fall in love with all the characters. I enjoyed the pov's flitting sporadically amongst the characters highlighting their own personal struggles and perspectives. I've said this before, I'm an absolute sucker for generational stories and this book, wow, I will never get over the beautiful familial love and bond Min Lin jee has created in this story. Absolutely stunning ❤️
The only thing I can think of to mention is that the final third of the book was slightly rushed and certain characters just fell of the scene.
There were times that it felt like I was getting sucker-punched after sucker-punched, so just be prepared for a beat down, but hands down a story that will not leave me and an absolute must-read for everyone!
The story follows Sunja's marriage and migration from Korea to Japan during the Japanese colonization. Set in the 20th century, it follows four generations of a Korean family trying to find safety and security during a unsettling time in a country they are rejected and mistreated in.
The rich culture and history detailed in this book were fascinating to read and deeply engrossing, the writing style hooks you in and you'll fall in love with all the characters. I enjoyed the pov's flitting sporadically amongst the characters highlighting their own personal struggles and perspectives. I've said this before, I'm an absolute sucker for generational stories and this book, wow, I will never get over the beautiful familial love and bond Min Lin jee has created in this story. Absolutely stunning ❤️
The only thing I can think of to mention is that the final third of the book was slightly rushed and certain characters just fell of the scene.
There were times that it felt like I was getting sucker-punched after sucker-punched, so just be prepared for a beat down, but hands down a story that will not leave me and an absolute must-read for everyone!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia