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_soraya_pl's reviews
311 reviews
Maame by Jessica George
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I was so excited to read this book. It was a little slow and I had to take breaks because it was relatable and emotional. It’s a coming of age story for Maddie at 25 in London navigating holding life together for her Ghanaian parents and becoming a young adult with her own troubles. I’m turning 25 in a few days, still live at home with my immigrant mom; a mirror in a book. To daughters of African immigrants, this book is for you.
Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.0
The stories are cute but honestly I’ve never read a whole book in AAVE. I’m sure the audiobook made more sense to listen to (from the opinion of a Black American). I think the evictions occur around 2009 as they reference the newly elected President Barack Obama and ipods many times. I expected a book centered on gentrification to discuss the new hipster white neighbors but the evictions are the beginning of what we think of us gentrified neighborhoods - those who have been displaced and priced out. The stories are of people you know and neighbors you slightly are aware of. The last story felt like it was written by a different author, if anyone reading this review also gets that vibe.
All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This is a 2.75 because I was able to read it but was falling asleep bored the whole time. It’s character driven and all the characters are immature and annoying. Sneha is in love with Marina in a very unhealthy sapphic relationship. Sneha’s friends Antigone, Thom and Amit all play different roles in her story in Milwaukee but Sneha doesn’t undergo any growth in this story. Sneha’s internal monologue is all woes is me and doesn’t make changes to her life of her own choice and waits for people to force change upon her. It was a poor assessment of the pitfalls of capitalism and 20 somethings wanting to create a socialist society.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
4.75 and I simply can’t give it 5 stars because it didn’t need to be 400 pages as a YA novel. It was beautifully written and Katouh described it as “a halal love” story which makes you love the characters. Chapter 29 is a jaw dropper and I appreciate discussing Salama’s PTSD after the atrocities in Syria and the deaths of her relatives.
The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
It did leave me wanting more like not scratching the itch but ending the book at my alma mater was so random I have to give Barry credit for that. It was written well and I felt connected to Felicity.
Don't Look Back: A Memoir of War, Survival, and My Journey from Sudan to America by Achut Deng, Keely Hutton
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0
The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
2.5 would be brave because it’s not a 3. There’s no plot and all the characters except the best friends Nia are delusional. The main character is a barely employed 30 something year old Black female lawyer Aretha in NYC. She gets pulled into her boyfriend Aaron’s survivalist lifestyle except he’s never around and Aretha is stuffing unable to befriend the roommates James and Brittany. The book starts very slow and there’s no chapters, just 290 pages of text. One paragraph will be Aretha talking to Nia and the next she’s somehow at a different location with Aaron. One or two sentences of transition to say “Aretha leaves Nia at the diner and catches the train to meet with Aaron at their favorite bar” would suffice to ground the reader in physical location but that doesn’t happen so good luck figuring out time and space. The book is just Aretha’s endless thoughts about not being good enough at her job and grappling with the stockpile of guns in the house. The end of the book comes out of nowhere and seems so out of character for Aretha it’s difficult to believe that’s how she reacted. If you told me the last 10% of the book was written by someone else I’d believe it.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Crying reading the afterword. Perfect YA novel that covers immigrant stories, depression, expectations of masculinity and is lightly queer coded. If I read this in high school I would’ve sobbed the last 3 chapters. Must read and I’ll be reading the next one.
The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen
1.0
Don’t bother. There’s no plot and it’s ~400 pages describing the commonwealth and maybe 7 characters.