Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris

15 reviews

onecraftybird's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, War, and Deportation

notthatcosta's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

Despite the plot being relentlessly grim for much of the book, I was really impressed by Priscilla Morris' capacity to introduce moments of levity and simple joy amidst the crushing reality of what was faced by the people of Sarajevo. 

I was also impressed to learn that much of the plot was inspired by real life stories from Morris' family members and research subjects, which makes sense considering how grounded and lived in the characters felt. 

Also certainly not an uplifting read, it's a book I thoroughly enjoyed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

milliemarilyn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• 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? No

4.0

Beautifully written yet heartbreaking story of a woman during a war as the world crushes down around her. This is a story of resilience and hope even in the darkest times, of friendship and finding community in the worst times. Zora is an artist and her love and dependence on art is prevalent throughout. 

I didn’t know anything about the siege of Sarajevo before listening to this book, book some research alongside listening means I’ve learnt a fair amount. I can see why this was nominated for women’s book of the year, five stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and War

Minor: Racial slurs and Islamophobia

bookynooknook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Set in Bosnia, features families and friends who stay while war and genocide rages. Emotional, destroying and oh so important. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and War

Minor: Rape

libby_l96's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I picked up this book by recommendation, with no prior knowledge or understanding of the Bosnian war. I was immediately captivated by the narrator's voice, the vividness of the imagery and the complexity of the characters portrayed.
I feel like this book has taught me something, which is always a plus for me. There is a risk with historical fiction to go too deep into the details and lose the crux of the story, but this novel adhered to it's core message well. 
Heartbreaking, beautiful and poetic. I may have to purchase my own copy so I can read it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Vomit and Islamophobia

minniepauline's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.75

I couldn’t put this novel down. Set at the beginning of the war in Sarajevo in the Spring of 1992, it’s propulsive in a way that the war feels to the characters. One day it’s unbelievable and then suddenly you’re in the midst and bombs are falling. It’s claustrophobic at times, at times hopeful. There is beauty and pathos. The novel is written in a very close third person, present-tense, and I felt as though I was in the action, experiencing everything that Zora did. Given what is going on in the world today, this feels like a necessary book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Islamophobia and Religious bigotry

ludivinev's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and War

Minor: Rape and Islamophobia

bookbinbaby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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? No

3.5

A world I would not know or recognise myself, but an insight to what other people do experience when war installs itself in their homes, villages, towns, countries and lives. Emotionally shattering as you see Zora's world ravaged and turned upside down by powers outside her control but having a very real and increasing impact on her life and those around her, and showing how when environments change unexpectedly what it can do to a person/people. Harrowing to read in most parts, but you're carried along as Zora and her small tight knit community look after one another and try and maintain their sense of community and self expression in times of hostility, uncertainty and senseless violence, as best they can. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and War

Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity and Rape

rosalind's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and War

Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, and Blood

tashba's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Islamophobia, and War