A Book I can't stop thinking about:

“Great passions grow into monsters in the dark of the mind; but if you share them with loving friends they remain human, they can be endured.”

― Sabaa Tahir, All My Rage

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I finished 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑀𝑦 𝑅𝑎𝑔𝑒 a week ago, and it still has this pull over me, resonating on many levels; as a reader, a survivor, a writer, a mother and a teacher. Not many books hold that power． This is one that everyone should read.

𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚: 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑀𝑦 𝑅𝑎𝑔𝑒 is told from three different perspectives; Misbah is a dreamer and storyteller, newly married to Toufiq in an arranged match. They give birth to a son, Salahudin. Who befriends Noor. They become not only best friends, but family; as well as outcasts. It is from these three that the story grows.

The story is woven from the past, 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣: Misbah and Toufiq struggle as newly weds, move to the United States, and open the Clouds Rest Inn Motel. We get glimpse into their life, and ultimately find out about a tragedy that has occurred.

We also get to look at Noor's life; 𝙉𝙤𝙬: She is battling her uncle-turned-guardian, who wants her to work at his liquor store rather than follow her dream of attending college. Meanwhile, Salahudin is trying to manage his family’s motel, with little help from his alcoholic father, as his mother’s health deteriorates.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧: the way that Sabaa Tahir has written this novel is astounding. It is rich and layered. You have several plot lines and conflicts that move the story forward, and makes for an interesting and fast paced read. Underneath it all the characters are connected not only by the idea of what it feels like to be an outcast, but more prominently, trauma. Tahir handles this in such a way that it is not thrown about, or in your face, but subtle, just underneath the surface. It's that handling of tough subject matter that resonates with the reader.

𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩: Libby audio, 10 hours 25 minutes. If you are looking for an amazing audio experience, look no further, this book is meant to me listened to. Our narrators Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan, Kausar Mohammed give a powerful performance.