Reviews

Bilal is a gifted writer. So many of the stories in Temple Folk are filled with lush, evocative moments for characters and communities we rarely, if ever, see grace the pages of fiction. The NOI and Black muslim characters grapple with their faith, past, death, and secrets. My favorite was “The Spider,” which was funny as hell while exploring a brother in the 80s who is done dealing with the Nation and its shady economic practices; while “Candy for Hanif,” about a single mother with a special needs son, was the most unique and resonant. Still, these stories felt so tightly wound, it felt hard to breathe as a reader. I also felt more of the stories needed the space of “Due North,” to actually grow and blossom the characters and narratives. There was also a string of odd descriptions of Black people’s skin tones that felt outdated, and unnecessary. Still, the collection is valuable and I hope folx spent time with some of the stories.

elineedsmoreshelves's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

Very strong collection. Bilal does an excellent job of illuminating the regular people behind the Nation of Islam, which is a demographic I've never before seen addressed in fiction. She doesn't shy away from the hard parts of the faith, but doesn't paint it as all bad - this faith, and these people, are complicated and confused and hurting and loving and strong and very, very real. Enjoyed this and would recommend. (Aspen Words longlist 2024)