Just finished this book and I wanted to write a review bc I have nothing else to post :) Also want to get better at analyzing critiquing whatever cuz I feel like I just sort of mindlessly consume content and don't come up with unique opinions or anything.
Ok this book I'm just pasting a short synopsis I found: An Emotion of Great Delight is a searing look into the world of a single Muslim family in the wake of 9/11. It's about a child of immigrants forging a blurry identity, falling in love, and finding hope--in the midst of a modern war.
Overall I think it was pretty good and entertaining. I absolutely adore Mafi's writing style, it def stood out to me and felt a little more unique than other books I've read. It's very poetic and eloquent, beautiful and emotional. Her imagery is vivid as well, you can really feel the emotions of Shadi (the protag). I also enjoyed the little contradictions within the book; within the meanings of things, how character feel about each other, and in the writing/how characters feel about other things. I liked how romance wasn't the main focus in the book. Also loved the emotional turmoil and the drama..!! It was interesting, but a little frustrating to read sometimes.
I wish there was more on the characters' relationships to each other though. Esp Shadi and Zahra, it felt kinda unfinished/too open ended. (And Shadi and Noah? He felt underdeveloped.) Also not sure on the ending of the book. I didn't expect it to finish that way at all. Don't really like it. And the book was way shorter than I thought I'd be. I flew through most of it today😭I think some topics maybe could've been explored further but idk. There's a lot of diff topics, like unhealthy family and friendship issues, mental health, betrayal, grief, loss, how people react to Muslims/hijabi after 9/11 (which I feel was maybe a little less mentioned as the book went on?? I thought it would mostly be about this topic when I went into it tbh), loneliness, and identity.
I'd give this an 8/10, it's an interesting and captivating book despite everything, love all the different themes and ideas within it.
