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bethanyyleee's review against another edition
5.0
Don’t read this in public if you don’t want strangers wondering why you’re bawling your eyes out at a coffee shop.
thshelton's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book that opened my eyes to some of the white privilege I experience. Well worth reading.
em_who_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Feels feels feels feels FEELS.
Full review to come because I’m too in love right now to process
Full review: https://thats-normal.com/2018/10/read-this-a-very-large-expanse-of-sea-by-tahereh-mafi/
Full review to come because I’m too in love right now to process
Full review: https://thats-normal.com/2018/10/read-this-a-very-large-expanse-of-sea-by-tahereh-mafi/
josefinemay's review against another edition
4.0
This was so good! The commentary on society presented in this book was amazing, and the representation as well. BEAUTIFUL!
I absolutely LOVED the love-interest, Ocean, even though I reaaally disliked his name. I loved his personality and his energy. There were so many scenes with him and Shirin, that really moved me and even though I felt like Shirin was a little too indecisive about him, I still really liked them as a couple. New book-bae, y'all!
The reason it doesn't get a full 5/5 is that I think the choice to add a subplot of street dance/hip-hop was a bit misplaced and I never really understood why it was there. It didn't seem to fit in with everything else, in my opinion.
I absolutely LOVED the love-interest, Ocean, even though I reaaally disliked his name. I loved his personality and his energy. There were so many scenes with him and Shirin, that really moved me and even though I felt like Shirin was a little too indecisive about him, I still really liked them as a couple. New book-bae, y'all!
The reason it doesn't get a full 5/5 is that I think the choice to add a subplot of street dance/hip-hop was a bit misplaced and I never really understood why it was there. It didn't seem to fit in with everything else, in my opinion.
nicolegabriel424's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent, excellent, excellent!!!!
Mafi's novel about racism in America right after 9/11 is profound.
Shirin, an Iranian-American girl who is Muslim, experiences the worst kind of hatred because of the religion she practices and the scarf she wears on her head. Shirin is strong, outspoken, young woman, who feels the pain of racism in each and every disgusting comment that is said to her. She has a very hard demeanor, which comes off as scary and intimating. She assumes everyone has already made their mind up about who she is, so she ignores the world around her, so it softens the blow when they turn against her.
Shirin's family has moved around her whole life, so she never stays in one place too long - allowing her to experience the bigoted, ignorant comments from all around the nation. When her family moves to a new town, she already has her mind made up about the people in it. When Ocean, a boy from school, is paired up as her lab partner, he tries to befriend her, which leaves Shirin confused as to why someone like him, a white, popular guy, would want to be friends with her.
Ocean and Shirin's feelings develop for one another through the book, but because of the animosity against Shirin, it causes a riff in their relationship. Ocean never lets the racist comments against Shirin effect his feelings for her, which was so so beautiful to read. He loved Shirin, regardless of what others said about her. It was Shirin who was always bothered by the comments, and she felt that Ocean's future was in jeopardy because they were together.
It's a hard topic to tackle, and Mafi did a stunning job at it. I know Mafi took a lot of her personal experiences and wrote them into this novel. It's painful to know that people in the world have so much hate in their heart against others. However, as Shirin learns, not everyone is the same, and even though there will be people who hate, there will also be people who love.
Mafi's novel about racism in America right after 9/11 is profound.
Shirin, an Iranian-American girl who is Muslim, experiences the worst kind of hatred because of the religion she practices and the scarf she wears on her head. Shirin is strong, outspoken, young woman, who feels the pain of racism in each and every disgusting comment that is said to her. She has a very hard demeanor, which comes off as scary and intimating. She assumes everyone has already made their mind up about who she is, so she ignores the world around her, so it softens the blow when they turn against her.
Shirin's family has moved around her whole life, so she never stays in one place too long - allowing her to experience the bigoted, ignorant comments from all around the nation. When her family moves to a new town, she already has her mind made up about the people in it. When Ocean, a boy from school, is paired up as her lab partner, he tries to befriend her, which leaves Shirin confused as to why someone like him, a white, popular guy, would want to be friends with her.
Ocean and Shirin's feelings develop for one another through the book, but because of the animosity against Shirin, it causes a riff in their relationship. Ocean never lets the racist comments against Shirin effect his feelings for her, which was so so beautiful to read. He loved Shirin, regardless of what others said about her. It was Shirin who was always bothered by the comments, and she felt that Ocean's future was in jeopardy because they were together.
It's a hard topic to tackle, and Mafi did a stunning job at it. I know Mafi took a lot of her personal experiences and wrote them into this novel. It's painful to know that people in the world have so much hate in their heart against others. However, as Shirin learns, not everyone is the same, and even though there will be people who hate, there will also be people who love.
treniecereads9's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars! I absolutely adored this book! What a sweet, heartbreaking romance. I rooted for Shirin and Ocean the entire time.
I really love reading diverse stories and this one did not let me down. Tahereh did an excellent job taking us inside the mind of a hijabi girl after 9/11.
Overall, fantastic read!
I really love reading diverse stories and this one did not let me down. Tahereh did an excellent job taking us inside the mind of a hijabi girl after 9/11.
Overall, fantastic read!
haleighgerwig's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book and felt connected to the story. Representation is so important! My heart broke for Shirin and everything she went through all due to ignorance and unwillingness to educate. It really make me check the privilege I do have.
My biggest complaint is that there was so much “fluff” in the middle and the ending was so rushed. I wish the unnecessary details were left out of the middle and the ending was more developed. The bonus chapters didn’t really help either. Truly did enjoy this story, but I wish it had a more satisfying ending.
My biggest complaint is that there was so much “fluff” in the middle and the ending was so rushed. I wish the unnecessary details were left out of the middle and the ending was more developed. The bonus chapters didn’t really help either. Truly did enjoy this story, but I wish it had a more satisfying ending.
slsullivan03's review against another edition
5.0
DEEPLY obsessed with this story. Shirin is a girl facing unimaginable circumstances who meets a boy that is basically just unimaginable. This story is about high school horrors, especially for anyone who is different, the stereotypes we all carry every day, and the innocence and kindness it takes to break through it all. So special and I’m SO glad to have read it