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tasleemreads's reviews
35 reviews
Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
#MsIceSandwich is an translated short story by Japanese author #MiekoKawakami (translated by Louise Heal Kawai) that looks into the innocence of being young. Our main protagonist is an 8-year-old boy who is smitten with a supermarket employee whom he nicknamed "Ms Ice Sandwich". He lives a lonely life, hanging out in the supermarket almost daily to see his crush. His friend, nicknamed Tutti, was a highlight for me. She had wisdom in her words despite her young age and is add character and youthful fun to the story.
Throughout the novel, we see the boys innocence through his thought process, he doesn't seem to pick up on social cues well and has a lot of questions about everything. Themes within this book are friendships, longing and youth. A really sweet and endearing read 💛
Throughout the novel, we see the boys innocence through his thought process, he doesn't seem to pick up on social cues well and has a lot of questions about everything. Themes within this book are friendships, longing and youth. A really sweet and endearing read 💛
A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This story highlights the reality that women, and more specifically YOUNG GIRLS, experience growing up in an ethnic minority household. The characters in this book are Palestinian but their story resonates with women from ethnic minorities across the globe.
Looking at the main characters of different generations and the pressures before, during and after the process of getting married. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book as it offers an insight into understanding older women within the communities. Especially offering an insight with how their upbringing has shaped the way they raise the youth and the messaging that is projected on them.
This story resonated with me and I found it inspiring and heartbreaking how cultural pressures placed on our women will either make or break them. With either outcome, it's a lose lose situation.
Looking at the main characters of different generations and the pressures before, during and after the process of getting married. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book as it offers an insight into understanding older women within the communities. Especially offering an insight with how their upbringing has shaped the way they raise the youth and the messaging that is projected on them.
This story resonated with me and I found it inspiring and heartbreaking how cultural pressures placed on our women will either make or break them. With either outcome, it's a lose lose situation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide
This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Medical Resident by Adam Kay
informative
medium-paced
3.5
"Every doctor makes their career choice aged sixteen, two years before they’re legally allowed to text a photo of their own genitals." This book exposes the emotional, physical and psychological impacts of a life in medicine. Kay shares fond memories and funny stories of his time spent as a doctor and makes readers aware there is a person living under the white coat. Someone who doesn't have all the answers, feels the pressure of life or death situations and most likely hasn't sat down in the last 12 hours.He shares his highs and his lows and everything in between.
A great read to humanise doctors and shine light on the flawed system they work within.
My rating would've been higher, however, there were a few entries I found disrespectful. I used to work for the NHS and I would hate it if a doctor was undermining/ridiculing me when we're all doing the best we can, with the exhaust and stress we are ALL suffering from.
A great read to humanise doctors and shine light on the flawed system they work within.
My rating would've been higher, however, there were a few entries I found disrespectful. I used to work for the NHS and I would hate it if a doctor was undermining/ridiculing me when we're all doing the best we can, with the exhaust and stress we are ALL suffering from.
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful but not too successful, otherwise you will threaten the man."
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What this book (essay) lacks in length, it makes up for in power.
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A short and impactful read that highlights the misconceptions about feminism and looks into feminism in relation to Nigerian culture.
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Chimamanda recalls memories and stories from her life. She exposes how unconscious behaviour, perhaps out of habit or routine, can reinforce this sexist patriarchy and identifies what we can do to break it.
.
.
What this book (essay) lacks in length, it makes up for in power.
.
A short and impactful read that highlights the misconceptions about feminism and looks into feminism in relation to Nigerian culture.
.
Chimamanda recalls memories and stories from her life. She exposes how unconscious behaviour, perhaps out of habit or routine, can reinforce this sexist patriarchy and identifies what we can do to break it.
.
The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write by Sabrina Mahfouz
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The things I Would Tell You is an anthology written about the realities of being a British Muslim woman. I enjoyed the mixture between poetry, essays, short stories and a play. The work in this book does not conform to a single theme and instead touches on multiple areas of interest; culture, gender, romance, abuse, identity, to name a few.
I fell in love with this book because I read pieces about myself, my childhood, my upbringing within the pages and also learnt from Muslim women who expressed struggles different to my own. Each voice in this book, being from a different age and ethnicity, speaks on their experience of being a Muslim woman having lived in Britain and of course, there is so much variety between each writer. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!
So many great pieces within this book and some of my highlights below:
✨Seema Begum's poem 'Uomini Cadranno' which she wrote when she was 14 years old!
✨Shaista Aziz 'Blood and Broken Bodies' is a powerful piece that begs Pakistani brothers and fathers to look at themselves, and not God, when they honour kill.
✨Hibaq Osman 'Thing Things I Would Tell You and other poems' expresses what it's like growing up the children of immigrants.
✨Azra Tabassum 'Brown Girl and other poems' is everything I wanted to hear growing up.
I will definitely be checking out other works from writers I've discovered within this book!
I fell in love with this book because I read pieces about myself, my childhood, my upbringing within the pages and also learnt from Muslim women who expressed struggles different to my own. Each voice in this book, being from a different age and ethnicity, speaks on their experience of being a Muslim woman having lived in Britain and of course, there is so much variety between each writer. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!
So many great pieces within this book and some of my highlights below:
✨Seema Begum's poem 'Uomini Cadranno' which she wrote when she was 14 years old!
✨Shaista Aziz 'Blood and Broken Bodies' is a powerful piece that begs Pakistani brothers and fathers to look at themselves, and not God, when they honour kill.
✨Hibaq Osman 'Thing Things I Would Tell You and other poems' expresses what it's like growing up the children of immigrants.
✨Azra Tabassum 'Brown Girl and other poems' is everything I wanted to hear growing up.
I will definitely be checking out other works from writers I've discovered within this book!
The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Beauty of Your Face is my favourite and the quickest book I have read this year. Sahar Mustafah is an amazing author who represented the Muslim community with authenticity, love and pride. I see myself in this book, I read of my own struggles relating to faith, identity and belonging within Mustafah's words. It is truly a fantastic body of work that represents faith as it really is; a journey with many ups and downs and not a stationary destination.
Afaf, the protagonist, struggles with her faith, her identity and the clash of her two cultures; the Palestinian culture she is raised with and the American cultures she lives in. Afaf and her family each have their own struggles to find their identity in America. Her mother, Muntaha, longing to return to her homeland, her father, Mahmood, struggling to accept this and losing his dream/sense of self, the children; Nada, Afaf and Majeed, struggling to find love and acceptance.
Although Afaf's was the main storyline, each character had a purpose, depth and growth throughout the novel that was independent of the protagonist.
I LOVED the inclusion of Arabic, with no translation, within the novel. It was an amazing addition and naturally belonged within the book. Readers who didn't understand Arabic could research this and perhaps come across information to develop their understanding of Islam. Not sure if Sahar Mustafah did this as a form of Sadaqah Jariyah, but may it be accepted as such and may Allah bless her for doing so and for this great book.
I recommend this book to everyone! Especially my fellow Muslims as this book represents journey within faith in its truest form.
Afaf, the protagonist, struggles with her faith, her identity and the clash of her two cultures; the Palestinian culture she is raised with and the American cultures she lives in. Afaf and her family each have their own struggles to find their identity in America. Her mother, Muntaha, longing to return to her homeland, her father, Mahmood, struggling to accept this and losing his dream/sense of self, the children; Nada, Afaf and Majeed, struggling to find love and acceptance.
Although Afaf's was the main storyline, each character had a purpose, depth and growth throughout the novel that was independent of the protagonist.
I LOVED the inclusion of Arabic, with no translation, within the novel. It was an amazing addition and naturally belonged within the book. Readers who didn't understand Arabic could research this and perhaps come across information to develop their understanding of Islam. Not sure if Sahar Mustafah did this as a form of Sadaqah Jariyah, but may it be accepted as such and may Allah bless her for doing so and for this great book.
I recommend this book to everyone! Especially my fellow Muslims as this book represents journey within faith in its truest form.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Islamophobia, and Mass/school shootings
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
#OnEarthWereBrieflyGorgeous is a top tier read. Ocean Vuong and the women in his life; mother and grandmother who escaped the Vietnamese war, settle in America. This book is a letter Vuong writes directly to his mother, who understands very little English, giving Vuong the courage to share all of his thoughts, feelings and not hold anything back. This gave readers an even deeper insight into his life, troubles and hardships. It was surprisingly intimate, like I had Vuong's personal journal and had access to his private thoughts and sacred experiences, which I basically did ~ I loved it! ~
I haven't come across writing like this and was taken aback by how poetic and beautiful it is. I often re-read passages and had to take a moment to really process what was being shared and the depth of his thoughts. As an immigrant, gay man and only child, Vuong struggled with acceptance, belonging and the familial pressures placed on him. Themes like sexuality, family, relationships, love and trauma were explored with such raw honesty, it was breathtaking.
I would recommend this book to everyone!! An amazing book that will leave you thinking about it ages after you've put it down.
I haven't come across writing like this and was taken aback by how poetic and beautiful it is. I often re-read passages and had to take a moment to really process what was being shared and the depth of his thoughts. As an immigrant, gay man and only child, Vuong struggled with acceptance, belonging and the familial pressures placed on him. Themes like sexuality, family, relationships, love and trauma were explored with such raw honesty, it was breathtaking.
I would recommend this book to everyone!! An amazing book that will leave you thinking about it ages after you've put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Violence
When I Hit You by Meena Kandasamy
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
#WhenIHitYou is a powerful and intense read.
TW: marital abuse, marital rape and domestic violence.
Meena Kandasamy's semi-autobiographical novel looks into a woman's abusive marriage. This book explores how she struggles and fights for survival, the lack of support from her parents and community who approach domestic violence with a 'turn a blind eye', 'it's normal', 'what you do to warrant that reaction' attitude, even when it's witnessed in public first-hand.
This book highlights the important issue of domestic violence, marital rape and marital abuse - issues that are silenced in India and reflect women's position in society. Not only does this book do a great job at showcasing the victim's oppression, mistreatment and struggles, it also highlights the lack of support and protection from the government and the society as they are conditioned within a toxic patriarchal culture.
Kandasamy also addresses why she couldn't 'just leave the marriage' (something that is often used against women in her situation), as her independence, identity, financial means and freedom are stripped from her - forcing her to be reliant on her abuser, her husband.
Amazing work that I would recommend to everyone, bearing in mind the triggering themes within the book.
TW: marital abuse, marital rape and domestic violence.
Meena Kandasamy's semi-autobiographical novel looks into a woman's abusive marriage. This book explores how she struggles and fights for survival, the lack of support from her parents and community who approach domestic violence with a 'turn a blind eye', 'it's normal', 'what you do to warrant that reaction' attitude, even when it's witnessed in public first-hand.
This book highlights the important issue of domestic violence, marital rape and marital abuse - issues that are silenced in India and reflect women's position in society. Not only does this book do a great job at showcasing the victim's oppression, mistreatment and struggles, it also highlights the lack of support and protection from the government and the society as they are conditioned within a toxic patriarchal culture.
Kandasamy also addresses why she couldn't 'just leave the marriage' (something that is often used against women in her situation), as her independence, identity, financial means and freedom are stripped from her - forcing her to be reliant on her abuser, her husband.
Amazing work that I would recommend to everyone, bearing in mind the triggering themes within the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This story follows Nikki, daughter of immigrant Sikh parents living in Southall, London. She struggles to find her purpose after dropping out of University and moving out of her parent's house. She takes up a role in a Gurdwara to teach a creative writing course to women in the Southall Sikh community. She's taken by surprise when the women can't speak to write English and would rather share their erotic stories. As she bonds with the women, she comes to learn about the injustices that women face by the men within the community and how this is silenced and overlooked.
This book is an entertaining, light read, which also has some depth and explores toxic masculinity, sexuality, empowering femininity and looks into the society and community that immigrants create to form a safe space. I loved the generational POV's between elders and youngers and their view on the community. The elder gen would defend their community, to an extent, as it had kept them safe when they migrated to Southall whereas the younger gen, who are born in the UK, and battling their cultural and societal influences, find the community restrictive and controlling.
I'd recommend this book to everyone it was super enjoyable and a great read✨
This book is an entertaining, light read, which also has some depth and explores toxic masculinity, sexuality, empowering femininity and looks into the society and community that immigrants create to form a safe space. I loved the generational POV's between elders and youngers and their view on the community. The elder gen would defend their community, to an extent, as it had kept them safe when they migrated to Southall whereas the younger gen, who are born in the UK, and battling their cultural and societal influences, find the community restrictive and controlling.
I'd recommend this book to everyone it was super enjoyable and a great read✨
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"She looked down on him and felt a soul-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place."
#TheirEyesWereWatchingGod is a beautifully written story about a Black women's journey to finding love. Along the way, she climbs the social ladder, learns about herself and love. I initially found it difficult to get through due to the dialogue being written in vernacular but after a couple of chapters, I adapted😅. #TheirEyes is a small book that packs a heavy punch! Hurston creates characters with so much life and depth, I couldn't help but fall in love with this book!
#TheirEyesWereWatchingGod is a beautifully written story about a Black women's journey to finding love. Along the way, she climbs the social ladder, learns about herself and love. I initially found it difficult to get through due to the dialogue being written in vernacular but after a couple of chapters, I adapted😅. #TheirEyes is a small book that packs a heavy punch! Hurston creates characters with so much life and depth, I couldn't help but fall in love with this book!