Lydia V. Simms's Blog, page 2
July 26, 2024
My Thoughts on DáZhane Thomas's CJ AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME: POEMS BY BELLA
I liked this book a lot. DáZhane Thomas is a very talented young author and I hope they are inspired to write many more lovely stories throughout their career.
This book is one that can stir up many emotions while reading. It's a story of a young man called CJ, a college football star. His life is complicated and filled with lust and temptations, leading him to dealing with severe baby momma drama, which is the main part of the story.
Although I loved the story and found the poems very thought-provoking and beautiful, I believe that this book was published without enough editing. There are plenty of grammatical and structural issues that make it hard to read. The story is also very rushed, which is why it was finished in a little over 30 pages. The rest of the book contains well-written and meaningful poems.
I took off one star for these issues, but other than that, I enjoyed this story and loved it so much as it's a realistic representation of the messes a lot of young men get involved in when they become young adults.
This book is one that can stir up many emotions while reading. It's a story of a young man called CJ, a college football star. His life is complicated and filled with lust and temptations, leading him to dealing with severe baby momma drama, which is the main part of the story.
Although I loved the story and found the poems very thought-provoking and beautiful, I believe that this book was published without enough editing. There are plenty of grammatical and structural issues that make it hard to read. The story is also very rushed, which is why it was finished in a little over 30 pages. The rest of the book contains well-written and meaningful poems.
I took off one star for these issues, but other than that, I enjoyed this story and loved it so much as it's a realistic representation of the messes a lot of young men get involved in when they become young adults.
June 25, 2024
My Thought's on Paul O. Scott's Trouble Ain't Nothin' But a Word: Conquering Fear
Paul O. Scott's Trouble Ain't Nothin' But a Word: Conquering Fear is a powerful and thought-provoking memoir that should change your perspective on life.
Imagine dying and coming back to life. That's a sign you're being given a second chance by God. Rights your wrongs. Apologize to the ones you hurt. Love your family. Care for your children. Thank your parents.
It's really important to treasure the moments you have on Earth before you pass away. And you shouldn't live your life recklessly.
There are so many lessons I learned. This memoir is a memoir like no other. Scott shares his story without hiding anything. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I can't imagine myself telling all of the good and bad things I did. He doesn't fear judgment, and that's what makes this memoir special. It's an uncensored look into his life, with the full truth laid out for readers. It's entirely up to you to read and learn with an open mind or to scrutinize.
I normally read books really fast, finishing hundreds of pages in less than a week. But this was one of those books where I had to process each and every page and slow down with the skimming.
I don't remember reading this slowly. Whenever I start reading a book, I have a goal to finish it quickly and leave a review. But this time, I spent a lot of time relating to Scott, much to my surprise.
Racism and discrimination back then were way worse than it is now, and I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to live during a time when a black person's views and perspective were considered unworthy. I related to Scott when he recounted experiences with racism and discrimination as I have been underestimated and stereotyped for being a black person. And my experiences with racism are online because I don't socialize with people in real life very often.
I found it relatable when Scott recounted losing family members because I've lost family members across the globe in another continent and have not been able to reach out to their families or attend their funeral. It's heartbreaking and it makes me feel helpless. The current civil conflict prevents us from being able to check in with my mother's family members living in Ethiopia or attend the funerals of those who were brutally killed because of the war. I related to the feeling of resentment and loss of hope Scott had. I totally understood where he was coming from, even though the way he handled it was wrong.
This book has a lot of sensitive topics. I have to applaud Scott for the tremendous changes he went through. I don't believe I would have held up. I must admit, if I had been through all of those terrible things, I would've given up and committed suicide. Trust me, I would've.
That being said, thanks to this book, I've been trying to change my perspective on life and trying to stop judging people solely based on the wrong they do, a bad habit I have. I also want to get to know more about people before I come to conclusions. If you don't believe that people can change, you should read Scott's story. It shows how human beings can change in ways you'd never imagine.
This is a 5 out of 5 star read. It's an excellent book that highlights a black man's journey in life. Congratulations, Paul O. Scott! 🥳🥳
Imagine dying and coming back to life. That's a sign you're being given a second chance by God. Rights your wrongs. Apologize to the ones you hurt. Love your family. Care for your children. Thank your parents.
It's really important to treasure the moments you have on Earth before you pass away. And you shouldn't live your life recklessly.
There are so many lessons I learned. This memoir is a memoir like no other. Scott shares his story without hiding anything. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I can't imagine myself telling all of the good and bad things I did. He doesn't fear judgment, and that's what makes this memoir special. It's an uncensored look into his life, with the full truth laid out for readers. It's entirely up to you to read and learn with an open mind or to scrutinize.
I normally read books really fast, finishing hundreds of pages in less than a week. But this was one of those books where I had to process each and every page and slow down with the skimming.
I don't remember reading this slowly. Whenever I start reading a book, I have a goal to finish it quickly and leave a review. But this time, I spent a lot of time relating to Scott, much to my surprise.
Racism and discrimination back then were way worse than it is now, and I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to live during a time when a black person's views and perspective were considered unworthy. I related to Scott when he recounted experiences with racism and discrimination as I have been underestimated and stereotyped for being a black person. And my experiences with racism are online because I don't socialize with people in real life very often.
I found it relatable when Scott recounted losing family members because I've lost family members across the globe in another continent and have not been able to reach out to their families or attend their funeral. It's heartbreaking and it makes me feel helpless. The current civil conflict prevents us from being able to check in with my mother's family members living in Ethiopia or attend the funerals of those who were brutally killed because of the war. I related to the feeling of resentment and loss of hope Scott had. I totally understood where he was coming from, even though the way he handled it was wrong.
This book has a lot of sensitive topics. I have to applaud Scott for the tremendous changes he went through. I don't believe I would have held up. I must admit, if I had been through all of those terrible things, I would've given up and committed suicide. Trust me, I would've.
That being said, thanks to this book, I've been trying to change my perspective on life and trying to stop judging people solely based on the wrong they do, a bad habit I have. I also want to get to know more about people before I come to conclusions. If you don't believe that people can change, you should read Scott's story. It shows how human beings can change in ways you'd never imagine.
This is a 5 out of 5 star read. It's an excellent book that highlights a black man's journey in life. Congratulations, Paul O. Scott! 🥳🥳
May 29, 2024
My Thoughts on Nujood Ali's I am Nujood Ali, Aged 10 and Divorced
One of the most beautiful memoirs I've ever read. I've never read a story like this before, and this book gives me so much insight into an issue that is covered up and hidden for the sake of pedophilic men's "honor" so they can rape and torture little girls without facing any repercussions of their actions.
Suddenly it was as if I'd been snatched up by a hurricane, flung around, struck by lightning, and I had no more strength to fight back. There was a peal of thunder, and another, and another--the sky was falling down on me, and it was then that something burning, a burning I had never felt before, invaded the deepest part of me. No matter how I screamed, no one came to help me. It hurt, awfully, and I was all alone to face the pain.
Nujood and Delphine do a great job telling this painfully traumatic story. Nujood is one of the few fighters against child marriage in Yemen, and she's a spectacular women's rights activist who wants to protect other young girls in her country from what happened to her. She was married without her consent, beaten, raped, and treated as if she were a mere servant, a slave, and an object. Her father sold her into marriage, and there was little to be done to oppose the decision.
I want Americans to read this book. We live in a so-called "first-world" country where people are so individualistic and self-absorbed to the point they show little to no care for others, even those within their own family. I'm sick of going on the internet and finding social media influencers crying about getting the wrong coffee or not finding clothes in their favorite color. Meanwhile, Nujood returns to the family who betrayed her after she divorces the monster, showing how tenderhearted and loving she is. She is there to protect her little sister, Haifa, from getting the same treatment she did.
This story should be read by every young girl. I'm allowed to be an author, rather than being forced to beg for a living and being sold off in a marriage so I can be "one less mouth to feed" and a meal ticket for a greedy father. So many Americans are taking the luxuries they have for granted. For many children, "school" is a place they'll never see, but here in America, parents are required to send their kids to school or they'll be jailed, and child marriage is punishable by the law.
Overall, great book. I'm so happy Nujood got her justice and is following her dreams, and I hope that one day, life will change for those who live in Yemen and surrounding regions.
Suddenly it was as if I'd been snatched up by a hurricane, flung around, struck by lightning, and I had no more strength to fight back. There was a peal of thunder, and another, and another--the sky was falling down on me, and it was then that something burning, a burning I had never felt before, invaded the deepest part of me. No matter how I screamed, no one came to help me. It hurt, awfully, and I was all alone to face the pain.
Nujood and Delphine do a great job telling this painfully traumatic story. Nujood is one of the few fighters against child marriage in Yemen, and she's a spectacular women's rights activist who wants to protect other young girls in her country from what happened to her. She was married without her consent, beaten, raped, and treated as if she were a mere servant, a slave, and an object. Her father sold her into marriage, and there was little to be done to oppose the decision.
I want Americans to read this book. We live in a so-called "first-world" country where people are so individualistic and self-absorbed to the point they show little to no care for others, even those within their own family. I'm sick of going on the internet and finding social media influencers crying about getting the wrong coffee or not finding clothes in their favorite color. Meanwhile, Nujood returns to the family who betrayed her after she divorces the monster, showing how tenderhearted and loving she is. She is there to protect her little sister, Haifa, from getting the same treatment she did.
This story should be read by every young girl. I'm allowed to be an author, rather than being forced to beg for a living and being sold off in a marriage so I can be "one less mouth to feed" and a meal ticket for a greedy father. So many Americans are taking the luxuries they have for granted. For many children, "school" is a place they'll never see, but here in America, parents are required to send their kids to school or they'll be jailed, and child marriage is punishable by the law.
Overall, great book. I'm so happy Nujood got her justice and is following her dreams, and I hope that one day, life will change for those who live in Yemen and surrounding regions.
May 23, 2024
My Thoughts on Jenny Han's Always and Forever, Lara Jean
LOVED. THE. ENDING! IT. WAS. PERFECT!
This book is amazing. The entire series has been enjoyable, and I loved every part of the story, even though I was annoyed by characters like Josh, Peter, and Genevieve. In this book, I didn't approve of how Margot was treating Trina Rothschild, but I do understand where she was coming from. Losing a mother and seeing your father with another woman is hard. It feels like the woman who raised you and loved you is being replaced.
I also like how Lara Jean is navigating her way through young adult life and is learning how to make difficult decisions. Going to college is hard, and going to a college away from home is even harder, especially for a young shy girl like Lara Jean who has a boyfriend.
Lara Jean has to make some difficult choices, and she does end up changing a little bit throughout the book. I love how Jenny added a third book to this series to give the story a flourishing finish. Margot has an awesome new boyfriend, Kitty is still such an adorably amazing badass, Mr. Covey is still a quiet and awkward father who has some very wholesome moments with his kids, and Lara Jean is trying to learn how to balance school life, preparing for college, going to college, and keeping up her relationship. Margot is learning how to adjust to her father's love life and accept that he has moved on and wants to be with Ms. Rothschild, despite having a deep attachment to her dead mother and not wanting any woman to take her place.
The ending was amazing and summed up the entire series. Beautiful. Five stars for the entire series!
P.S. Happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
This book is amazing. The entire series has been enjoyable, and I loved every part of the story, even though I was annoyed by characters like Josh, Peter, and Genevieve. In this book, I didn't approve of how Margot was treating Trina Rothschild, but I do understand where she was coming from. Losing a mother and seeing your father with another woman is hard. It feels like the woman who raised you and loved you is being replaced.
I also like how Lara Jean is navigating her way through young adult life and is learning how to make difficult decisions. Going to college is hard, and going to a college away from home is even harder, especially for a young shy girl like Lara Jean who has a boyfriend.
Lara Jean has to make some difficult choices, and she does end up changing a little bit throughout the book. I love how Jenny added a third book to this series to give the story a flourishing finish. Margot has an awesome new boyfriend, Kitty is still such an adorably amazing badass, Mr. Covey is still a quiet and awkward father who has some very wholesome moments with his kids, and Lara Jean is trying to learn how to balance school life, preparing for college, going to college, and keeping up her relationship. Margot is learning how to adjust to her father's love life and accept that he has moved on and wants to be with Ms. Rothschild, despite having a deep attachment to her dead mother and not wanting any woman to take her place.
The ending was amazing and summed up the entire series. Beautiful. Five stars for the entire series!
P.S. Happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
May 20, 2024
My Thoughts on Katharine McGee's Inheritance
Read this book in one day. ONE DAY.
Katharine McGee is so good at writing a gripping series. The characters are almost so real that they invoke emotions in me as I read and whatever they do actually gets to me in a way that I can't really explain. (Or maybe I can explain, when I can find the right words.)
So, I remember reading American Royals and Majesty, and I was waiting in anticipation for the third book. I was waiting, just sitting down, trying to find entertaining books to take my mind off of waiting for the release of the book.
And then, when I was trying to find a website that would reveal the prologue or first chapter of Rivals, I found Inheritance.
At first, I assumed Inheritance was gonna be a short history of the fictional kingdom of America, because of the title. But when I read the description, I realized it was a prequel novella, a short story that looks into the past, in depth into the events mentioned in the first book of the series.
It's an amazing prequel. Juicy. Dramatic. Tense. Had me wondering what's next and what would happen to the characters. I loved it. And I read it all in one day. I've never really read a book in one day. But here's why I finished this book so fast.
The characters were so realistic. Normally, a lot of YA novels have boring, flat, characters who don't develop or change in any way throughout the book.
This was different. Each girl's feelings and thoughts were reflected through the way they carried themselves and their actions. As I've said before, I was emotionally provoked by the characters and the plot. I didn't feel like crying, but I either empathized with them, felt sorry for them, or was downright furious at them. I like it when characters are realistic and multi-dimensional, not entirely good or entirely bad. And Katharine always delivers when it comes to juicy royal drama.
Five stars for you, McGee! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
P.S. I know this probably isn't the appropriate time to promote myself, but if you're reading this review, please check out my website. Thank you.
https://sites.google.com/view/boundle...
Katharine McGee is so good at writing a gripping series. The characters are almost so real that they invoke emotions in me as I read and whatever they do actually gets to me in a way that I can't really explain. (Or maybe I can explain, when I can find the right words.)
So, I remember reading American Royals and Majesty, and I was waiting in anticipation for the third book. I was waiting, just sitting down, trying to find entertaining books to take my mind off of waiting for the release of the book.
And then, when I was trying to find a website that would reveal the prologue or first chapter of Rivals, I found Inheritance.
At first, I assumed Inheritance was gonna be a short history of the fictional kingdom of America, because of the title. But when I read the description, I realized it was a prequel novella, a short story that looks into the past, in depth into the events mentioned in the first book of the series.
It's an amazing prequel. Juicy. Dramatic. Tense. Had me wondering what's next and what would happen to the characters. I loved it. And I read it all in one day. I've never really read a book in one day. But here's why I finished this book so fast.
The characters were so realistic. Normally, a lot of YA novels have boring, flat, characters who don't develop or change in any way throughout the book.
This was different. Each girl's feelings and thoughts were reflected through the way they carried themselves and their actions. As I've said before, I was emotionally provoked by the characters and the plot. I didn't feel like crying, but I either empathized with them, felt sorry for them, or was downright furious at them. I like it when characters are realistic and multi-dimensional, not entirely good or entirely bad. And Katharine always delivers when it comes to juicy royal drama.
Five stars for you, McGee! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
P.S. I know this probably isn't the appropriate time to promote myself, but if you're reading this review, please check out my website. Thank you.
https://sites.google.com/view/boundle...
My Thoughts on Brian Jeffs's My Parents Open Carry
I think this book was written to propagate children and make them pro-gun activists. The entire book revolves around guns and everyone in this book seems to be pro-gun rights. I have nothing against people who arm themselves for protection, but who would even want to talk to kids about guns? I know guns can be used for self-defense and are important in situations like a robbery or a break-in, but it's not appropriate to teach young elementary-school-level kids about guns. Safe sex is important but we don't teach elementary-school-level kids about safe sex and using condoms because they're not at the appropriate age to learn such things.
Throughout the book, Mr. Strong, Brenna's dad, has multiple conversations with people about guns why it's good to open-carry, and how guns deter people from doing crime. The book only shows positive facts and completely refutes negative opinions and thoughts about gun ownership and gun rights, going as far as calling some negative opinions "myths" to further establish the message that guns are good and are needed to ensure one's safety.
The main character, Brenna, ends up getting a shotgun as a reward for her good grades, but she can't use it until she's eighteen. I think it's a dumb idea to buy someone a gift they can't use until several years later. That's like buying a two-year-old a phone for their birthday that they aren't allowed to use until they're sixteen. The gun obsession and the talks about guns really made my head spin. And the illustrations are creepy-looking.
I actually wish I could rate this 0.5 stars, but I can't, so one star it is.
Throughout the book, Mr. Strong, Brenna's dad, has multiple conversations with people about guns why it's good to open-carry, and how guns deter people from doing crime. The book only shows positive facts and completely refutes negative opinions and thoughts about gun ownership and gun rights, going as far as calling some negative opinions "myths" to further establish the message that guns are good and are needed to ensure one's safety.
The main character, Brenna, ends up getting a shotgun as a reward for her good grades, but she can't use it until she's eighteen. I think it's a dumb idea to buy someone a gift they can't use until several years later. That's like buying a two-year-old a phone for their birthday that they aren't allowed to use until they're sixteen. The gun obsession and the talks about guns really made my head spin. And the illustrations are creepy-looking.
I actually wish I could rate this 0.5 stars, but I can't, so one star it is.
My Thoughts on Jenny Han's P.S. I Still Love You
This sequel to To All the Boys I've Loved Before is perfect. I typically don't like to read sequels because I find them an unnecessary continuation of the original story that drags on the plot and ruins it, but this one was gold. Still is. Jenny Han is an amazing author.
I loved the close-knit family storyline. Margot is a very concerned and sweet eldest sister. She has an aura of motherliness and is protective of her sisters. She cares for her family and supports Lara Jean when she needs it the most.
Lara Jean is still her timid and quiet self, and she's having relationship issues with Peter because he keeps getting involved with his ex, Genevieve, (who is also Lara Jean's former friend) and starts being a jerk to her. She leaves him and gets a response to her letter from John Ambrose McClaren, and it starts a "love triangle" because she realizes she still has feelings for him but also likes Peter. In the end, she sorts things out and she and Peter become a couple again.
Kitty is badass as always. I love her and her personality. She's funny and adds vibrance to the story even though she isn't the main character. I must appreciate Han's ability to create characters that impact the story despite not being the main focus.
Mr. Covery is still awkward but he's a great dad. I think his personality suits him so well and makes him the perfect father for the Covey girls.
Peter was a good due but he became a jerk and a good dude again, so I'm not really sure how to feel about him. But Josh— didn't like him at all.
I liked the ending as well, and it made me rush to read the third and last book of the series, Always and Forever, Lara Jean.
I loved the close-knit family storyline. Margot is a very concerned and sweet eldest sister. She has an aura of motherliness and is protective of her sisters. She cares for her family and supports Lara Jean when she needs it the most.
Lara Jean is still her timid and quiet self, and she's having relationship issues with Peter because he keeps getting involved with his ex, Genevieve, (who is also Lara Jean's former friend) and starts being a jerk to her. She leaves him and gets a response to her letter from John Ambrose McClaren, and it starts a "love triangle" because she realizes she still has feelings for him but also likes Peter. In the end, she sorts things out and she and Peter become a couple again.
Kitty is badass as always. I love her and her personality. She's funny and adds vibrance to the story even though she isn't the main character. I must appreciate Han's ability to create characters that impact the story despite not being the main focus.
Mr. Covery is still awkward but he's a great dad. I think his personality suits him so well and makes him the perfect father for the Covey girls.
Peter was a good due but he became a jerk and a good dude again, so I'm not really sure how to feel about him. But Josh— didn't like him at all.
I liked the ending as well, and it made me rush to read the third and last book of the series, Always and Forever, Lara Jean.
My Thoughts on Alden Wicker's To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick--and How We Can Fight Back
This book was recommended to me because I have severe eczema that comes and goes, and sometimes, certain clothes trigger my eczema and make it itch worse. The urge to scratch is irresistible. When my mom told some people about this, a very kind woman she knows recommended this book to see how it could help me make better fashion choices that would ease up my eczema slightly.
This book deserves five stars. It opened my eyes to the injustices faced by those who make our clothes and those who wear the clothes. I never realized how dangerous the fashion industry is and how it ruins the lives of many fashion consumers, mainly women, and hurts them in all aspects of life. Toxic fashion causes diseases and health conditions in all parts of the body. It hurts women more than anyone else. Alden Wicker impressively writes a very entertaining and factual non-fiction story using anecdotes, statistics, laws, measurements, and details of her travels and investigations. The author is an incredible writer. This book raises awareness effectively by telling us the truth about fast fashion. I found it hard to read about the conditions of the factory workers who dye clothes and the stories of women almost dying because of the toxic chemicals in their uniforms, which are linked to incurable, chronic diseases.
Please take this book as a wake-up call to be more careful about your fashion choices and how they affect your health and lifestyle in general. As a person with eczema, I'm going to be much more cautious about skincare products as well, because as the author explains, some things that are designed to "help" can just be more harmful.
Peace!✌🏽
This book deserves five stars. It opened my eyes to the injustices faced by those who make our clothes and those who wear the clothes. I never realized how dangerous the fashion industry is and how it ruins the lives of many fashion consumers, mainly women, and hurts them in all aspects of life. Toxic fashion causes diseases and health conditions in all parts of the body. It hurts women more than anyone else. Alden Wicker impressively writes a very entertaining and factual non-fiction story using anecdotes, statistics, laws, measurements, and details of her travels and investigations. The author is an incredible writer. This book raises awareness effectively by telling us the truth about fast fashion. I found it hard to read about the conditions of the factory workers who dye clothes and the stories of women almost dying because of the toxic chemicals in their uniforms, which are linked to incurable, chronic diseases.
Please take this book as a wake-up call to be more careful about your fashion choices and how they affect your health and lifestyle in general. As a person with eczema, I'm going to be much more cautious about skincare products as well, because as the author explains, some things that are designed to "help" can just be more harmful.
Peace!✌🏽
May 19, 2024
My Thoughts on Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before
2021. I was bored as ever, looking for a book. I searched "Teen YA Books" on Google, and this book was one of the first results that popped up. At first, I was really cautious when reading this book and I thought it was going to be boring, or full of unnecessary sex scenes.
I was so wrong. I love Lara Jean and she reminds me a lot of myself. She's very timid, doesn't speak up for herself, and she's family-oriented. I felt genuine sympathy when I learned about her mother's death. Even though she's a fictional character, I understood what she felt because losing a parent is difficult and can change someone in ways they've never known before.
I found it very awkward when I found out Lara Jean secretly had a crush on her older sister Margot's boyfriend, Josh, and I cringed at the nickname "GoGo" for Margot. (Sorry, just my honest opinions here.)
Margot was an adorable older sister. I loved her because of how sweet, calm, and responsible she was. Ever since her mother died, she took the role of being a mother to her two younger sisters. I loved her advice, the way she spoke, and how she carried herself.
Lara Jean was an amazing and super relatable character. I relate to her a lot because I don't like socializing at all, I'm a nervous driver who never remembers directions and is always lost, and as a child, I never really responded to bullying (I won't back down and I will take action against those who try to hurt me now).
Lara Jean is timid, humble, quiet, and just as responsible as Margot. It's nice to see that she doesn't have a toxic relationship with either of her sisters or her father, but it's easy to see that her mother's death has left an impact on her and hurts her a lot.
Kitty (Catherine) is the typical little girl. Fierce, fun, and so cute! I thought what she did to Lara Jean was a bit far but I'm glad something great blossomed out of it.
I found their dad an awkward guy, but overall, I loved this book and it was such a wholesome read that I instantly read the other two books in this series!
I was so wrong. I love Lara Jean and she reminds me a lot of myself. She's very timid, doesn't speak up for herself, and she's family-oriented. I felt genuine sympathy when I learned about her mother's death. Even though she's a fictional character, I understood what she felt because losing a parent is difficult and can change someone in ways they've never known before.
I found it very awkward when I found out Lara Jean secretly had a crush on her older sister Margot's boyfriend, Josh, and I cringed at the nickname "GoGo" for Margot. (Sorry, just my honest opinions here.)
Margot was an adorable older sister. I loved her because of how sweet, calm, and responsible she was. Ever since her mother died, she took the role of being a mother to her two younger sisters. I loved her advice, the way she spoke, and how she carried herself.
Lara Jean was an amazing and super relatable character. I relate to her a lot because I don't like socializing at all, I'm a nervous driver who never remembers directions and is always lost, and as a child, I never really responded to bullying (I won't back down and I will take action against those who try to hurt me now).
Lara Jean is timid, humble, quiet, and just as responsible as Margot. It's nice to see that she doesn't have a toxic relationship with either of her sisters or her father, but it's easy to see that her mother's death has left an impact on her and hurts her a lot.
Kitty (Catherine) is the typical little girl. Fierce, fun, and so cute! I thought what she did to Lara Jean was a bit far but I'm glad something great blossomed out of it.
I found their dad an awkward guy, but overall, I loved this book and it was such a wholesome read that I instantly read the other two books in this series!
My Thoughts On Lamya H.'s Hijab Butch Blues
I know it wasn't the best idea to read this book. I read You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen and I loved it despite some weird things I noticed about it, but this book was too much. I know that I'm probably not the target audience because I'm a Christian (born and raised in Saudi Arabia for fourteen years) and I don't have an Islamic perspective on books written by Muslims for Muslims.
I want you to read this blurb, which tells you all you need to know about the book before you even start reading it.
A queer hijabi Muslim immigrant survives her coming-of-age by drawing strength and hope from stories in the Quran in this daring, provocative, and radically hopeful memoir.
When fourteen-year-old Lamya H realizes she has a crush on her teacher--her female teacher--she covers up her attraction, an attraction she can't yet name, by playing up her roles as overachiever and class clown. Born in South Asia, she moved to the Middle East at a young age and has spent years feeling out of place, like her own desires and dreams don't matter, and it's easier to hide in plain sight. To disappear. But one day in Quran class, she reads a passage about Maryam that changes everything: when Maryam learned that she was pregnant, she insisted no man had touched her. Could Maryam, uninterested in men, be . . . like Lamya?
From that moment on, Lamya makes sense of her struggles and triumphs by comparing her experiences with some of the most famous stories in the Quran. She juxtaposes her coming out with Musa liberating his people from the pharoah; asks if Allah, who is neither male nor female, might instead be nonbinary; and, drawing on the faith and hope Nuh needed to construct his ark, begins to build a life of her own--ultimately finding that the answer to her lifelong quest for community and belonging lies in owning her identity as a queer, devout Muslim immigrant.
This searingly intimate memoir in essays, spanning Lamya's childhood to her arrival in the United States for college through early-adult life in New York City, tells a universal story of courage, trust, and love, celebrating what it means to be a seeker and an architect of one's own life.
OK... we're already going a bit too far with this.
1. Suspecting that Allah is non-binary when He is referred to with male pronouns in the Quran and all Islamic texts. This blasphemy in Islam to try to label Allah as a non-binary person, because pronouns such as they/them would suggest Allah is more than one person, which goes against the values of the Quran.
2. The Virgin Mary was not a lesbian, as the author suggests. If the Virgin Mary not being touched by any man makes her a lesbian, all Catholic nuns who make a vow of remaining chaste for life are also automatically lesbians because they live around other women and seldom associate with men.
3. Comparing openly becoming queer to Moses freeing the Israelites is a whole other level of low. And I'll explain why. The Israelites were in bondage in Egypt. They were slaves. They were tortured, beaten, forced to do free labor, and traumatized beyond imagination. Moses went through so much and had to gather plenty of courage to free his people, with the help of the Almighty God. The story of Exodus isn't comparable to someone openly expressing their queerness. Was Lamya being enslaved while closeted? Did she feel enslaved as a closeted queer? I can't read her mind, but this comparison was beyond disrespectful and disgraceful. The situation of the Israelite slaves was much worse than Lamya's. Trying to find similarities between Moses freeing the slaves from the stony Pharaoh of Egypt and coming out of the closet is like comparing a plane crash to a toddler falling off of their tricycle.
I am not a supporter of the LGBTQIA+, but I do know that coming out is a very challenging process that takes a toll on someone's mental and emotional health. It strains relationships as well. However, it can never be compared to enslavement and severe torture.
With that being said, I believe this book shouldn't have been a nominee for Best Memoir & Autobiography, and it shouldn't have gotten an award from Goodreads. It is disrespectful to not only Islam but also Christianity since she uses Bible stories to justify her queerness (the Virgin Mary & Moses Freeing the Israelites). Disappointed and I'm glad I saw the warning coming when I read the description. Never will read another book by Lamya H. because of this.
I want you to read this blurb, which tells you all you need to know about the book before you even start reading it.
A queer hijabi Muslim immigrant survives her coming-of-age by drawing strength and hope from stories in the Quran in this daring, provocative, and radically hopeful memoir.
When fourteen-year-old Lamya H realizes she has a crush on her teacher--her female teacher--she covers up her attraction, an attraction she can't yet name, by playing up her roles as overachiever and class clown. Born in South Asia, she moved to the Middle East at a young age and has spent years feeling out of place, like her own desires and dreams don't matter, and it's easier to hide in plain sight. To disappear. But one day in Quran class, she reads a passage about Maryam that changes everything: when Maryam learned that she was pregnant, she insisted no man had touched her. Could Maryam, uninterested in men, be . . . like Lamya?
From that moment on, Lamya makes sense of her struggles and triumphs by comparing her experiences with some of the most famous stories in the Quran. She juxtaposes her coming out with Musa liberating his people from the pharoah; asks if Allah, who is neither male nor female, might instead be nonbinary; and, drawing on the faith and hope Nuh needed to construct his ark, begins to build a life of her own--ultimately finding that the answer to her lifelong quest for community and belonging lies in owning her identity as a queer, devout Muslim immigrant.
This searingly intimate memoir in essays, spanning Lamya's childhood to her arrival in the United States for college through early-adult life in New York City, tells a universal story of courage, trust, and love, celebrating what it means to be a seeker and an architect of one's own life.
OK... we're already going a bit too far with this.
1. Suspecting that Allah is non-binary when He is referred to with male pronouns in the Quran and all Islamic texts. This blasphemy in Islam to try to label Allah as a non-binary person, because pronouns such as they/them would suggest Allah is more than one person, which goes against the values of the Quran.
2. The Virgin Mary was not a lesbian, as the author suggests. If the Virgin Mary not being touched by any man makes her a lesbian, all Catholic nuns who make a vow of remaining chaste for life are also automatically lesbians because they live around other women and seldom associate with men.
3. Comparing openly becoming queer to Moses freeing the Israelites is a whole other level of low. And I'll explain why. The Israelites were in bondage in Egypt. They were slaves. They were tortured, beaten, forced to do free labor, and traumatized beyond imagination. Moses went through so much and had to gather plenty of courage to free his people, with the help of the Almighty God. The story of Exodus isn't comparable to someone openly expressing their queerness. Was Lamya being enslaved while closeted? Did she feel enslaved as a closeted queer? I can't read her mind, but this comparison was beyond disrespectful and disgraceful. The situation of the Israelite slaves was much worse than Lamya's. Trying to find similarities between Moses freeing the slaves from the stony Pharaoh of Egypt and coming out of the closet is like comparing a plane crash to a toddler falling off of their tricycle.
I am not a supporter of the LGBTQIA+, but I do know that coming out is a very challenging process that takes a toll on someone's mental and emotional health. It strains relationships as well. However, it can never be compared to enslavement and severe torture.
With that being said, I believe this book shouldn't have been a nominee for Best Memoir & Autobiography, and it shouldn't have gotten an award from Goodreads. It is disrespectful to not only Islam but also Christianity since she uses Bible stories to justify her queerness (the Virgin Mary & Moses Freeing the Israelites). Disappointed and I'm glad I saw the warning coming when I read the description. Never will read another book by Lamya H. because of this.
