Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

15 reviews

tigger89's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.0

This was a difficult book to rate, because I really liked many parts of this story, but others just rubbed me the wrong way. I'll start with the good. I loved the exploration of the immigrant experience, how it examined the American Dream without romanticizing it and all of the different perspectives on assimilation versus cultural independence. I also liked how the women were centered in the story, shown to hold and obtain power. Khadija was my favorite!

I think my favorite part was getting to know our two lead characters, watching them struggle and make completely believable mistakes in the face of adversity. As much as I want to armchair quarterback their bad decisions, I don't know that I would've done any better at seventeen. All three points of view — Sal, Noor, and Misbah — were equally compelling for me to read, and I appreciated the in-universe explanation at the end for why we were being given the historical chapters alongside the present day.

As for what I wasn't so much a fan of, the modern day romance put me off almost immediately. I wasn't prepared for it from the blurb on the cover, and "best friends to lovers" is a trope I loathe, especially when the romance falls apart and you just ruined a perfectly lovely platonic relationship for nothing. This is very much a me problem, but it's worth mentioning since I can't be the only one.

I was also rubbed the wrong way by how the plot where Sal seeks alternate income to avoid closing the motel was written. I was fine with his initial decision(see: realistic bad decisions), but everything from after that up until the scene in the car with Noor felt like a bad after-school special. It was a little bit too carefully-concocted to demonstrate the consequences of Sal's actions, and didn't ring as true as the rest of the book did. After the scene in the car it felt okay again, but for a while there I was rolling my eyes pretty hard.

I think in the end I'm going to have to go with four stars, because the parts that I liked were incredible. It was just a few glaring things dragging it down for me. I would certainly pick up another book by this author, especially if it didn't have a romance in it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness

lutz_emily's review against another edition

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Racism, Drug use, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Domestic abuse

ekriek's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Drug use, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, and Sexual violence

Minor: Misogyny

kyrstin_p1989's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Gritty and heart-breaking, this book discusses all the ways that life can hurt us and try to break our spirits. It serves as a reminder that we have to remain strong, fight another day, push through the hard things even when it doesn’t feel like we can. This book touched me to my core. I connected with Noor and her love for songs and with Salahudin and his love of words. They tell a story that is devastating yet real and show how love can conquer the demons that plague us. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Deportation, Islamophobia, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Torture, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry

courtnoodles's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Medical content, Death of parent, Drug use, Racism, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Islamophobia, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood

Minor: Cancer and Suicidal thoughts

thehmkane's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0

It's rough trying to write a review of a book when the tears are still coming strong. I've never read a book that understands religion in the exact same way I do. I feel like this book saw my soul. I've been trying to articulate it my whole life, and it turns out a woman I've never met, who was born in a country I will probably never visit, knows the things I do. This book is human on a level I didn't know a book could be. I've been wandering through life with the thought that this story might exist, and it is a joy to have found it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Drug use, Xenophobia, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Medical content, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Islamophobia, Deportation, Vomit, Sexual violence, and Police brutality

deszra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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? Yes

5.0

First, please pay attention to the content warnings. 
Second, I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally affected by anything I’ve ever read. There’s smth about this story that speaks to the version of me growing up as a Muslim in the US and validates all those complex feelings. The way Sabaa Tahir explored rage and forgiveness and how they intertwine is masterful and I feel like this book has altered something deep in my very soul. 
Also the audiobook narrators are amazing, highly recommend listening and reading at the same time for the complete gut-wrenching experience.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Islamophobia

maisaaismail1's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Bullying, Racism, Grief, Drug use, and Racial slurs

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Blood, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

mohekki's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

5.0

What a fantastic book. Well written, great characters, realistic plot - relateable to not just Muslim-Americans growing up in America... but I think a lot of brown people can relate. Being the "other." 

Wraps up nicely. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Islamophobia, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Bullying

jessica_talbot's review

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, Death, and Alcoholism