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.
love reading your opinions/thoughts on things that u love pls post more i love hearing abt other peoples interests
ReplyDeleteanyways i havent read the book so i cant say much but the part where u said how people's reaction to muslims after 9/11 got less mentioned as the book went on isnt that a good thing
idk maybe its just me but i like it when stories focus less on the character's struggles towards the end and instead be more about the character(s)' closure and finding peace with whatever problems they have
anyways would u recommend this book to others
waaa tysm,.. 🥺🥺 also love hearing abt ppl's interests and abt things they love its super fun to hear abt like yes girl tell me everything you love abt ur latest obsession! i could listen for hours fr
Deleteabout the reactions getting less mentioned, yeah i mean its good. i just thought this book would be more of a social commentary of sorts on racism and how muslims are treated after 9/11 bc of the synopsis and the beginning of the book, but it was mostly abt shadi's personal life+struggles.
also if you like characters finding closure and peace idk if you'll like the ending cuz it doesnt have like a neat conclusion or anything 😭 this book is mostly hardships and sorrow and struggles. i would recommend tho if you like reading books with the types of themes this book has.