A review by allygator
Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Big thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Abdi Nazemian is one of those authors that I know will blow me away every time I pick up something he writes. I fell in love with his writing when I picked up [book:Like a Love Story|40190305] in high school, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it changed my life. The intricacy with which he is able to weave stories across generations is astonishing and is one of my favorite things about his books. This book in particular is a feat in its time span alone. Following three generations of men in an Iranian-American family, Only This Beautiful Moment explores what it means to feel out of place even amongst the people you love the most.
When I started reading this, I was immediately struck by the voices of the characters and how distinct they are. Moud is full of heart, unashamed of his sexuality but yearning for connection with the father he barely knows. Saeed is angry and proud and dreaming of a better future. Bobby is gentle and genuine and more than a little tragic. To pick a favorite would be impossible. Each of them is unique, but each of their stories is so intertwined with the others that to try and separate them to pick a "best" would be a detriment to the whole book. The impact is in the way that their differences and similarities converge to paint a picture of sadness and hope against a shifting global atmosphere.
And beyond the three main characters, the side characters are also vibrant and full of life. I'll admit that I was a bit nervous when we met Vicente, Bobby's Mexican love interest in the 1920s. I was scared that he and his family would be reduced to caricatures of Hispanic-ness in America because they lacked page space to be developed. I should never have worried. Yes, they experience racism, but the lovingness that Nazemian shows them and their culture is constant and it is clear how proud they are to be from Mexico, even when it brings them hardships. Other stand-out side characters are Margaret, Zip Lamb (one of my favorite characters in the book, I would read a whole book about him, although it would probably make me bawl lol), Ava, and Shane. In particular, Shane stands out to me because as flawed as he is there is a part of him that is working to change. That understands that he is prejudiced and is, by the end of the book, working to unlearn what he thinks he knows about the rest of the world. He is an interesting character, even if he drove me a little crazy, and the book wouldn't be as good as it is without him.
Truly, I think this is a book that teens need, especially now. There is so much hate being sent out to Middle Eastern people, and this book is a celebration of culture while acknowledging that things need to change. It is joyous even when it is tragic. It celebrates queer people across generations -- those who had to hide, those who aren't here anymore, and those who are able to live freely in the world we are creating. And I think stories like this one will always, always be necessary. Cheers, Abdi Nazemian. To art, to love, and to queer teens. <3
Abdi Nazemian is one of those authors that I know will blow me away every time I pick up something he writes. I fell in love with his writing when I picked up [book:Like a Love Story|40190305] in high school, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it changed my life. The intricacy with which he is able to weave stories across generations is astonishing and is one of my favorite things about his books. This book in particular is a feat in its time span alone. Following three generations of men in an Iranian-American family, Only This Beautiful Moment explores what it means to feel out of place even amongst the people you love the most.
When I started reading this, I was immediately struck by the voices of the characters and how distinct they are. Moud is full of heart, unashamed of his sexuality but yearning for connection with the father he barely knows. Saeed is angry and proud and dreaming of a better future. Bobby is gentle and genuine and more than a little tragic. To pick a favorite would be impossible. Each of them is unique, but each of their stories is so intertwined with the others that to try and separate them to pick a "best" would be a detriment to the whole book. The impact is in the way that their differences and similarities converge to paint a picture of sadness and hope against a shifting global atmosphere.
And beyond the three main characters, the side characters are also vibrant and full of life. I'll admit that I was a bit nervous when we met Vicente, Bobby's Mexican love interest in the 1920s. I was scared that he and his family would be reduced to caricatures of Hispanic-ness in America because they lacked page space to be developed. I should never have worried. Yes, they experience racism, but the lovingness that Nazemian shows them and their culture is constant and it is clear how proud they are to be from Mexico, even when it brings them hardships. Other stand-out side characters are Margaret, Zip Lamb (one of my favorite characters in the book, I would read a whole book about him, although it would probably make me bawl lol), Ava, and Shane. In particular, Shane stands out to me because as flawed as he is there is a part of him that is working to change. That understands that he is prejudiced and is, by the end of the book, working to unlearn what he thinks he knows about the rest of the world. He is an interesting character, even if he drove me a little crazy, and the book wouldn't be as good as it is without him.
Truly, I think this is a book that teens need, especially now. There is so much hate being sent out to Middle Eastern people, and this book is a celebration of culture while acknowledging that things need to change. It is joyous even when it is tragic. It celebrates queer people across generations -- those who had to hide, those who aren't here anymore, and those who are able to live freely in the world we are creating. And I think stories like this one will always, always be necessary. Cheers, Abdi Nazemian. To art, to love, and to queer teens. <3