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sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Please check content warnings before reading as this book deals with a lot of heavy topics.
I went through a whole host of emotions reading this. I hated the characters, loved the characters, felt for them, was sad, frustrated, disappointed. This is a primarily character-driven story and so the flawed nature of every character was so real. This is what really drew the story along, seeing how the characters develop and change and grow (or don't) throughout the story.
I found the writing style easy to follow and understand. It's not flowery, by any means, but it was a readable book that drew me in and kept me interested. Some of the writing was a little repetitive at times, but it highlighted the circular nature of the thoughts and worries of the characters in the book and their inability to break the cycle of oppression and abuse, so it felt more like a literary device than anything else and didn't bother me.
The story was heartbreaking and beautiful and ugly and hopeful all at once, and I think I'll be thinking about this book for a long time to come.
I have seen low ratings of this book as it "does not depict the whole Palestinian American experience". Whilst I understand this statement and can't comment on how accurate the representation is, the book does not say at any point that this is the experience of all, or even a majority, of Palestinians or Palestinian Americans, and it does mention multiple times how their family is the more conservative of the community and that a lot of other people around them are happier and have more freedom. This is the story of one family who happens to be Palestinian American, and reflects the author's own lived experiences, though perhaps this could've been highlighted a bit more.
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Murder
capaurus's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Eating disorder
massara's review
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Xenophobia
kbaxter21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder