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xiang_lin's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
The uses short stories powerfully to capture the views of numerous characters that come and go through the life of our main protagonist.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Child death
vaguelyrestless's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Suicide
anxiousnachos's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A must read for Australians or anyone wanting to know more about the Australian refugee situation. This is a very lyrical, very confronting look at the situation through the eyes of a young child as she and her family escape the war in Afghanistan and journey to Australia via Nauru. The innocence of the voice contrasted to the really shocking horrors faced in such a powerful way. There’s also a touch of magical realism weaved through, with this person Firuzeh imagines back from the dead to “eat her nightmares” as a way of dealing with her fear which I loved the imagery of.
Content warnings: war, refugee camp, refugees attempt to reach Australia via boat (note: a child dies in this section of the plot) , racism, Islamophobia, military/police brutality, child death, suicide, domestic violence, death (of child; of parent)
Content warnings: war, refugee camp, refugees attempt to reach Australia via boat (note:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Self harm, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, and War
espeon's review
I got about 1/5th of the way through the book before putting it down. I wouldn't say the book is bad; rather, it got a little too upsetting for me personally. Clarifying so that me marking it as unfinished doesn't necessarily discourage people from checking it out. It does have an interesting writing style, and while I was worried about how it would be handled being written by an author who isn't Afghan, it didn't feel necessarily too fake or voyeuristic. So the stuff she had been saying in interviews about how much she talked to refugees before writing this is certainly true, I think.
Overall, while I didn't finish, I love this author's other work, so I encourage people who are interested in experimental prose to give it a shot. The racism and negative sentiment about refugees is extremely vicious in this book, however, so do be careful.
Overall, while I didn't finish, I love this author's other work, so I encourage people who are interested in experimental prose to give it a shot. The racism and negative sentiment about refugees is extremely vicious in this book, however, so do be careful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Child death
livmm's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Islamophobia, Domestic abuse, and Child death
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