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lucyka's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully drawn characters and family relationships. Poignant reflections on Islam and parenthood hood.
breannamontoya's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
rishmac's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.5
larafrances's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lindsayaunderwood's review
5.0
Super emotional multi-generational story about a Muslim family dealing with a daughter's non-arranged marriage, an overly angry father, and an estranged son. Loved it so much.
racheyohh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chelseatm's review
5.0
How I adored this book! It was moving and captivating in (for me) a surprising way. I felt so engaged with each character and was so caught up in the story. The only thing I wish was that Huda's perspective was included, although I'm not sure what value would have been added. I mostly wish that because I feel bad that she wasn't - but that's the power of this book! I genuinely care about these people.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
melodys_library's review
4.0
I’m so drawn to stories of first generation immigrant parents and their second generation immigrant children - The parents fulfilling the dream of giving their children better lives in the land of the free, yet reprimanding and forbidding them those freedoms and reinforcing the rules and expectations of the lifestyle, religion and culture of the country they left, leaving the children feeling at odds within themselves, eventually making conscious choices to preserve what is most important to them, shed what is not, and create lives and experiences that are uniquely theirs.
I felt a real emotional connection to each character in this novel. At first, I had to keep reading to find out what catastrophic event caused Amar to leave; but wound up getting so emotionally invested in the family that I too clung to the hope that Amar would return home.
The first-person perspective by Baba at the end got me. I could relate to the lengths that families go to in order to save face and protect their children - over protection is the only way they know. It is their act of love. That secret pride that parents conceal from their children when their children are only seeking praise and comfort. The author shows these emotions in little anecdotes, splicing the stories together with snapshots in time to tell the story of then and now, why and why not.
I felt a real emotional connection to each character in this novel. At first, I had to keep reading to find out what catastrophic event caused Amar to leave; but wound up getting so emotionally invested in the family that I too clung to the hope that Amar would return home.
The first-person perspective by Baba at the end got me. I could relate to the lengths that families go to in order to save face and protect their children - over protection is the only way they know. It is their act of love. That secret pride that parents conceal from their children when their children are only seeking praise and comfort. The author shows these emotions in little anecdotes, splicing the stories together with snapshots in time to tell the story of then and now, why and why not.