Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Life as a Unicorn: A Journey from Shame to Pride and Everything in Between by Amrou Al-Kadhi

8 reviews

mattyb's review against another edition

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Drug use

watermelleon's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

Whizzed through this one!! 

An excellent memoir, with a surprising amount of nuance.  I was somewhat cautious it would be told in a more spiteful way (which would be completely valid!), but it was fascinating to hear about the queerer aspects of the quran and the endless struggle of religion vs culture, and amrou's relationship with and journey within Islam. I have had so many conversations with Muslim people about this exact topic, and it was wonderful to have such a detailed account. 

I felt a lot of interpretations closely mirror actions of other religious family groups which receive far less stigma in britain, which amrou was able to address delicately with a lot of thought. This was very intelligently written! 

It has been a great experience reflecting on my own queerness and whiteness, and the in depth experience of queer Muslims which I so often look for but rarely find! 

Definitely recommend this, marked as a 4 as the writing style at times felt perhaps a little too overwhelmed with metaphors and overblown artistic style that wasn't quite to my personal liking (but seems very in line with the writers character!) 

Also absolutely loved the absolutely bizzare likening of Allah to some sort of sadistic DM at the beginning, and how religious trauma can be processed through the queer and kink scene. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Gaslighting

emcatbee's review

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

kellys_bookcase's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Animal cruelty, Racism, Self harm, Drug use, Islamophobia, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Classism, Animal death, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, and Religious bigotry

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Drug abuse, Racism, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Self harm

epellicci's review

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

4.5

An incredibly moving account of growing up Queer and Muslims. Life as a Unicorn is a powerful recounting of trauma and rage, and the slow creeping towards healing. Emotional and astoundingly honest, I was so struck by Amrou's strength, spirit, and ability to find it within themslef to forgive. What an amazing soul.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Bullying, Dysphoria, and Body horror

Minor: Drug use and Self harm

katiewhocanread's review

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Bullying, and Child abuse

Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Rape

questingnotcoasting's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

 This is a poignant but ultimately hopeful memoir. Al-Kadhi reflects on their strict Muslim upbringing and their time at Eton and Cambridge and describes the devastating impact it had on their mental health and sense of self. It was a hard read at times, particularly when they described their feelings of isolation and how they turned to obsessive compulsive behaviours while trying to be perfect and fit in with their surroundings. They also write really movingly about their complex relationship with their mother and I was so pleased to read about their reconciliation at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault