A review by curatoriallyyours
The Other Half of You by Michael Mohammed Ahmad

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.0

This was such a western Sydney story in the best way! The parts I loved the most were the beautiful, poetic ways Bani spoke about and to his son. I also think the author managed the tension well between first and second generations in migrant families - the pull to be both in the culture of the country you grew up in (Australia, in this case) while honouring and continuing the culture of your migrant parents, especially when there is an educational disparity. This book does not shy away from addressing racism in both obvious and subtle forms. I think it also addresses the complexity of the lives of characters who might come across as two-dimensional to others due to bravado. One thing I found difficult to read were the casual racist epithets used to describe both Lebanese and other migrant communities - most of the time being said by the main character. There is also a whole lot of swearing in this book so if that’s not your thing this may not be the book for you! Without giving too much away, I was also unhappy with the resolution for the character of Fatima. All in all this book was a compelling read and I enjoyed it.