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Reviews tagging 'Bullying'
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib
19 reviews
parsa's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Homophobia
garynoplastie's review
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Incest, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Car accident
kelly_e's review against another edition
4.0
Author: Samra Habib
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: June 4, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Fierce • Redemptive• Insightful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
We Have Always Been Here details Samra's own personal experiences growing up in Pakistan where she faced regular threats from extremists; immigrating to Canada only to be faced with bullying, racism, poverty and an arranged marriage; and finding herself. An exploration of the intersections of sexuality, religion, and race.
💭 T H O U G H T S
In an effort to read more Canadian content, exploring Canada Reads picks from years past seemed like a good starting point, and I was not disappointed with the Canada Reads 2020 winner We Have Always Been Here. Samra's memoir is beautifully written, oftentimes down right raw and deeply personal, and yet also inviting. It reads somewhat like a diary, offering a sense of connection (despite quite different upbringings and circumstances), which is what I love most in a memoir. Exploring themes and intersectionalities of identity and the need for safe spaces for self-exploration and the power of chosen family this memoir is both beautiful and heartbreaking.
I will say the first two thirds are considerably stronger than the remaining third, and yet her talent is evident.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• memoir lovers
• readers who enjoyed The Death of Vivek Oji
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Maybe home was simply any place where you felt seen and welcome."
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
moodreaderlesbian's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infertility
surelyinthefountain's review against another edition
3.75
Moderate: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Islamophobia
Minor: Pedophilia and Self harm
dania_'s review against another edition
4.5
I 100% recommend this book, no matter your identity or knowledge of the LGBT+ community or Islam. If you relate to Samra's identity, you will see a lot of yourself in this; if you don't, you'll learn many new and brilliant and sometimes sad things.
Moderate: Bullying, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
nikolas_fox's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really great. I don't read a lot of memoirs, but I am so glad I picked this one up. Samra's unapologetic queerness in combination with her Muslim identity was amazing to read about. So many people say that queer Muslims don't exist and like the title says 'We have always been here' just because you don't see something doesn't mean it's not there.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
annaminunlukea's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt
the_literarylinguist's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, and Islamophobia
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt