Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah

12 reviews

wchereads's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

3.75

I am just a pool of tears

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Car accident

booklore_forevemore's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This was such an incredible novel. There are multiple timelines: one is the present day during a school shooting, and the others are various period from the main character’s life from her childhood to early adulthood. I initially had to put this book down after about 20% because it was so dark, but I’m glad I picked it back up a few days ago. 

I HIGHLY recommend this book to absolutely everyone. A vast majority of the book is from the perspective of Afaf, who is currently the principal of a Muslim girls school in NYC. From the eyes of Afaf, the reader gets the sense of what it’s like to grow up as a Muslim Arab girl in the United States (“spoiler alert” - there’s a lot of Islamophobia). There are also short chapters from the perspective of the school shooter (i.e., terrorist), which are infuriating to say the least. I think part of the reason his perspective was so upsetting was that it was eerily familiar - I have heard so many of his Islamophobic thoughts echoed in the words of people I was around growing up. 

As I was reading, I kept forgetting this book is not a memoir. Everything felt so real and personal; probably because the scenario is 100% realistic and the author drew from her personal experience. This isn’t a genre I typically read, but it’s definitely a stand-out of the year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Infidelity, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Sandy hook mention, lynching mention, Nazis mention, 9/11, Vietnam, Battle of Karameh, dialysis.

megelizabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

"You begin to see things in a new way. Or perhaps your losses have finally blunted to a bearable throb."

This wasn't quite what I expected. Above anything else, it's a character study and a look at trauma, race, religion, identity, and struggle. It covers a lot of topics, and it does so in a way that doesn't make it seem as if there's too much going on or as if some things are being brushed off. It's quite a slow, dense read, with a lot to unpack, and of course much of the subject matter is agonising, but it's definitely worth the read, and one worth taking some time with. The writing is also gorgeous and very visceral.

For me, this was a strong read throughout, but started to lose itself a bit by the end. The interactions between Afaf and the shooter didn't hit in the way I wanted them to, and I also found the way the storyline involving Afaf's sister ends up going a bit odd. I was ultimately left feeling a bit confused and not entirely sure exactly what I was supposed to have taken from the story, but maybe that was the intention. It definitely made me think about a lot of things, and maybe it being so devastating was enough of a point. It's for sure a book I'm glad to have read, and one I know will stick with me.

(Do check trigger warnings; there are many in addition to the obvious.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse and Vomit

Minor: Animal death and Domestic abuse

radfordmanor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

studiouspoppy's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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? No

4.25

I loved the writing and the evolution of Afaf, I enjoyed her perspective on migration, obviously did not enjoy the discrimination and hate she experienced but i was so interested in how she described her life, and how she survived it all. The pov of the shooter was truly disturbing, but that’s the point. There were some parts were it got confusing, and some tiny mistakes in the shooter’s perspective (using culturally appropriate language when he’s not an appropriate or a cultured man) so his voice got a little weird at times. It was still a really good book.

I specially enjoyed the final chapter were Afaf confronts the shooter and sees he’s so much more smaller and just a white old ignorant guy, and he’s so lonely he accepted her visit when he doesn’t even respect her as a human being.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility and Infidelity

jades1520's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Islamophobia, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Car accident

belle2008's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.0

This book was so heartbreaking in so many ways but such an incredible and important read. It explores finding Islam, experiences of Islamophobia, a hate crime, so much loss and grief. 
The only reason I felt like I really couldn't give it 5 stars was that the writing was a tad repetitive at times, and it would pull me out of the story. BUT I would argue that the story itself is 5 stars. 

We really need more people to read stories like this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

hannahrhian's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent