Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

7 reviews

zara89's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and War

theelizabethjoy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

If you have been or are depressed and suicidal, please read this carefully. It does not glorify suicide or death but has deep conversations about it and the longing to not exist. I was in a good headspace when listening to it but I could see myself being pushed closer if I had been in a bad headspace. Gorgeous book, we need more like it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Islamophobia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Racial slurs, Vomit, and War

plantainicus's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I love me a book that can take me to places I've never been. My experiences of Iran have unfortunately mostly been limited to random google maps binges and a childhood filled with Fox News in the background blaring warnings of their nuclear program so l absolutely loved getting to know all of these characters and hear their stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Minor: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Abandonment

jazhandz's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

3.75

I’m a big fan of Kaveh Akbar’s poetry and a big hater of all autobiographical literary fiction, so this book averaged out to be pretty good, but not great. Some really lovely stuff and some things that didn’t work for me at all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Racism, Terminal illness, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Vomit

evanlorant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

4.75

this book is so full of beauty and vibrancy and love; it’s what i wanted from every sad girl novel i’ve ever read. the characters felt real and justified in their actions with beautiful development that you can feel, not just see. the writing is also so fantastic, full of  devices that are so creative but make perfect sense. 
the construction of the novel was interesting, it made the book imposing with many small three page sections bracketed by blank pages and section breaks. it broke up the flow a little bit, but didn’t have a huge impact on my reading experience. 
overall, the book felt really well conceptualized and i feel like it followed through on the huge question it sought out to answer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

cianishere's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Islamophobia

garyosu's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War