Scan barcode
gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Afaf was a phenomenal character; her life story is so multi-faceted and strife with grief, but Mustafah weaves her story with grace, showing the life of a woman who's lost so much yet finds solace in community and religion. The portray of Islam and the various character's relationship with faith was a breath of fresh air, allowing nuance but ultimately showing the rewarding merits of organized religion, even amidst the aftermath of 9/11.
The only facet of this book that I wasn't the biggest fan of were the chapters from the perspective of the school shooter. It was jarring having this bigot's life story humanized, even to a small degree, in the middle of Afaf's heart-wrenching story. Otherwise, this was a fantastic story for me, and I would recommend it to others though I would HIGHLY advise checking content warnings prior to reading.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Stalking
sbeierle's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
belle2008's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
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
madlads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Child abuse and Religious bigotry
hannahrhian's review against another edition
- 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
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
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
4.5
The Beauty of Your Face opens with a shooting at an an all-girls Muslim school. However, that’s not really what the book is about. Instead I see it more as a family story. When Afaf (principal of the school) was ten her 17 year old sister disappeared and her family never recovered. Her father turned to alcohol, her mother suffered from mental health issues, while Afaf sought solace with boys. However, a car accident provides her father with a wake up call. He turns to Islam as does Afaf.
What I liked about this novel was the way it highlighted the actuality of the immigrant experience, the frictions that can develop between migrants and their children, and the realities of experiencing racial and religious discrimination on a daily basis. I also appreciated seeing how faith provided healing, strength and community for Afaf and her father, but how their belief, especially Afaf’s decision to wear the hijab, divided the family since her mother and brother were not devout and didn’t understand or approve of her choice. I appreciate the nuanced look at community, especially when Afaf reports a suspected case of family abuse despite some pressure to turn a blind eye. The book also does a nice job portraying the way one person’s struggle with mental health can impact the entire family.
Normally I’m a fan of dual timelines but it didn’t really work for me in this book. The present day timeline with the school shooter wasn’t strong, well developed or particularly well integrated. It felt like an optional add-on and I think the book would have worked just as well, if not better, had it simply focussed on the story of Afaf’s family.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, and Religious bigotry
fatimak's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Islamophobia, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry