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fiercereadsfiction's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Islamophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Drug use
rebeccazh's review
4.0
Funny, irreverent and brutally honest, Amrou Al-Kadhi talks about living with identities that are shamed and unaccepted in both societies they grow up in - Saudi Arabia and England. I enjoyed their hilarious narration. Their descriptions of childhood are poignant, funny, but also terrifying and depressing because of the warnings about queer folk going straight to hell. Amrou is brutally honest about their motivations and actions, and it was hard to read about their shame and self-loathing and simultaneously the way they would lash out at others. The path to healing is difficult and painful, but Amrou's reconciliation with their mother and brother (if not their father) was very hopeful and moving. A really good memoir.
ida_ree's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I don't put stars on my reviews for reasons.
A memoir both heartbreaking and affirming, full of emotional honesty. What a journey this author experienced to come to a place of acceptance, not of their own identity, but of the positive aspects of their cultural heritage. I think, in one way or another, many people who have experienced being a misfit will relate. I came to a better understanding of drag, too, and why it's empowering for the performers.
A memoir both heartbreaking and affirming, full of emotional honesty. What a journey this author experienced to come to a place of acceptance, not of their own identity, but of the positive aspects of their cultural heritage. I think, in one way or another, many people who have experienced being a misfit will relate. I came to a better understanding of drag, too, and why it's empowering for the performers.
gmd316's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.25
Great reflection on being queer, Arab and Muslim - less about his internal realizations and more about how the world accepts him
librarian087's review against another edition
5.0
This book had me from the first page. Amrou's story of their interaction with hijabi women at a drag show gave me the warmest, most affirming emotional hug - from there, I didn't want to set the book aside. I usually don't go for non-fiction, but as a queer spiritual person from a very conservative religious background, reading stories like Amrou's give me so much hope and peace. Thank you for sharing your story with us!