Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

35 reviews

endemictoearth's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

Moderate: Terminal illness and Mental illness

koplomps's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad 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

4.75

Absolutely loved this, loved Darius too. I have a distant relationship with my grandparents and had a little cry when it felt too relatable. None on the characters were perfect, and that was totally okay.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Terminal illness, Body shaming, and Bullying

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Racial slurs

Minor: Emotional abuse

bladelikesbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

5.0

In this novel, we see Darius struggle socially, internally and also within his family unit. Darius is bullied at school by racist peers and just general assholes and when he reaches out to his father for help, he portrays textbook toxic masculinity and blames Darius for the bullying. He’s the perfect example of being your child’s first bully. 

Due to the illness of a loved one, Darius’ family goes to Iran for a trip. During this, we see many culture differences and Darius’ struggle with not feeling “Iranian enough”. He forms a friendship while there that is just wonderful for him and really helps him build confidence and connection and who helps him feel like he belongs. I really think this friendship with Sohrab truly healed some parts of Darius that he was really struggling with. It was truly a beautiful depiction of friendship. I was so sad when Darius had to go back home. 

I really felt for Darius when he was struggling with wanting to be more involved in his family on his Iranian side but not knowing how to communicate. I have family struggles myself so it’s safe to say I cried throughout the majority of this book. Darius and his dad have a really great conversation where his dad apologises and explains why he acts the way he does and that one conversation was so healing in their relationship.

I think this book does a great job of portraying familial relationships in such a real and honest way and it really resonated with me. This is definitely one of my favourite books of all time and I can’t wait to read the sequel. Also, I loved the afterword and I really appreciated the inclusion of helplines at the end of the book. 

Representation - Bahá’í (SC); Depression (MC); Fat (MC); Iranian/Persian-American (MC); Muslim (BGC); POC (MC)

TWs/CWs - Blood; Bullying; Death; Death of a Parent; Fatphobia; Homophobia; Institutionalised Racism; Islamophobia; Medical Detail; Racism; Stool; Suicide; Suicide Attempt; Suicide Ideation; Terminal Illness; Toxic Masculinity 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Fatphobia, Islamophobia, Bullying, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death

Minor: Blood

aexileigh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Fatphobia and Suicidal thoughts

caouellette's review

fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Terminal illness

queerloras's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Grief, Confinement, Body shaming, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

anniereads221's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Terminal illness, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Mental illness, Death, and Grief

noahsingh's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

tbh an Immediate favourite book, really hit home as someone who is also mixed race and depressed and queer lol would b 5 starts if not for the weird occasional fatphobia:/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Body shaming, Colonisation, Terminal illness, and Islamophobia

Minor: Torture, Cancer, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, and Confinement

riannesdijkstra's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book has my whole heart

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Grief, Terminal illness, and Fatphobia

Minor: Xenophobia and Suicidal thoughts

ceilisbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Bullying, Fatphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs