Take a photo of a barcode or cover
abbie_ 's review for:
Silence is My Mother Tongue
by Sulaiman Addonia
3.5 stars
Thank you to @theindigopress for gifting me this copy of Silence is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia!
.
This book centres around a group of refugees in a refugee camp, and explores the dynamics of such a place, addressing themes of sexism, ableism and sexuality. There were some absolutely beautiful passages concerning sexuality, and I love how the main character Saba takes control of her own desires and needs!
.
I do think though, that the author has a bit of a problem with telling instead of showing. Two characters will have a meaningful exchange or interaction, and although the message is clear, there’ll then be a clarifying sentence to explain the moral, which sort of undermines the impact. It can even come across as a bit patronising, as if the reader can’t figure out from context what’s being put across.
.
But Addonia’s own experiences in a refugee camp definitely shine through, I think he nails the atmosphere, and I also enjoyed his portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in an environment where it’s taboo. Very compelling!
.
And again, I have to reiterate how beautifully written a lot of passages are, which (at the risk of sounding patronising myself here) is even more commendable given that the author learned English as a foreign language as a teenager!
Thank you to @theindigopress for gifting me this copy of Silence is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia!
.
This book centres around a group of refugees in a refugee camp, and explores the dynamics of such a place, addressing themes of sexism, ableism and sexuality. There were some absolutely beautiful passages concerning sexuality, and I love how the main character Saba takes control of her own desires and needs!
.
I do think though, that the author has a bit of a problem with telling instead of showing. Two characters will have a meaningful exchange or interaction, and although the message is clear, there’ll then be a clarifying sentence to explain the moral, which sort of undermines the impact. It can even come across as a bit patronising, as if the reader can’t figure out from context what’s being put across.
.
But Addonia’s own experiences in a refugee camp definitely shine through, I think he nails the atmosphere, and I also enjoyed his portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in an environment where it’s taboo. Very compelling!
.
And again, I have to reiterate how beautifully written a lot of passages are, which (at the risk of sounding patronising myself here) is even more commendable given that the author learned English as a foreign language as a teenager!