Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

38 reviews

joensign's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-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, Cancer, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Death of parent, and War

char_a_lot_te's review

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

im going to give this book 4.75 stars because i feel like it deserves it but honestly i dont know how to rate it.

it is, an absolute bloody miracle the way Akbar crams, several lifetimes worth of stories into like 300 pages. i read this book in way fewer sittings than i probably should have read it in and felt a bit dizzy afterwards.

this is a story about… nationality and identity, i suppose. about trying to piece together your identity in a world fractured by borders, conflict. trying to find your place. its about love, family, and of course, Martyrs! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Lesbophobia

Minor: Racism and Islamophobia

orlagal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War

heidinay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War

alienguy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Islamophobia, Death of parent, and War

bedtimesnack's review against another edition

mysterious reflective 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

5.0

If you love the feeling of things crystalizing/clarifying in retrospect, you'll love this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Islamophobia, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, and Grief

acorny's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, 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

kalagrace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

Compelling and a bit too relatable. Beautifully written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Grief, and Abandonment

jenabest's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

4.0

Disclaimer: it is not the book's fault it took me absolutely forever to read. That award goes to life. 
Disclaimer 2: I was fortunate to meet Kaveh prior to reading this & it has certainly colored my perception. 

OK, so, now for the review! This book is.... A lot. It's weird and artsy and poetic and experimental and dark. There's a lot going on, but you're never quite sure what (seriously. WHAT HAPPENED at the very end?!) or at least, you're never quite sure of Cyrus's ability to explain to the reader what is happening. I know for a fact hearing Kaveh speak about this book and the experiences leading to it gave me a very positive experience - if you ever have a chance to see him speak, take it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Drug use

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Islamophobia, Death of parent, and War