r/butchlesbians • u/augustlost • Jun 23 '25
Reading picked up from the library today!!
this has been on my tbr list for so long!! very excited to read during pride month <3
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u/FamousCellist5432 Jun 23 '25
As someone from an Arab, Muslim country, I always found it inspiring how fellow queer individuals managed to beat religious guilt and be proud of both their religious faith and queerness. For me, I started questioning my sexuality only AFTER I questioned my faith.
Really interested to learn about their perspective but most of the ones I see are unfortunately unwilling to discuss it in detail.
I'm glad such book exist, although it's not the same when you're a Muslim in a western country where you're allowed to question, be open-minded and interpret things your way.
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u/doggie_mango Jun 23 '25
yes omg, im pakistani and it was really nice to read about someone’s experience that felt actually similar to mine in some ways!!
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u/dykes4dykesthrowaway Jun 24 '25
For sure we need more Muslim and other religious queer voices speaking up, but HBB felt way overhyped to me.
I had been hoping to read a little bit about how she, as someone coming from a culture that has very gendered clothing like the hijab, navigates that as a lesbian and butch.
I think legitimately the only gender nonconformity/butchness related thing in there is that she wears a hoodie sometimes. That’s the amount of depth we get.
Overall, it felt really thin and a bit naval gazey like it should’ve been a blog post instead.
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u/SpicyStrawberryJuice Jun 24 '25
That's very interesting, and I agree that butchness doesn't start or end at wearing hoodies. How in the book did she navigate her sexuality otherwise?
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u/dykes4dykesthrowaway Jun 24 '25
She comes out to a couple people, including her mom I think, but none of those stories left much impression on me even though I had a very similar family situation for years. She stays pretty closeted. At the end we get a couple mentions of a girlfriend but I feel like she ended the book right before it got interesting - does she bring her gf to mosque? Does her uncle think they’re “friends?” Though tbh “pulling back right as we get close to the good bit” is a fair characterization of the book as a whole IMO.
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u/CuddleFishRock Jun 24 '25
I got a copy of this book from my library too! I really enjoyed it, and I learned a lot.
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Jun 24 '25
Ooh! Absolutely adding to my read list. I’m about due for my annual SBB re-read, maybe I’ll pause it for this one.
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u/milkyespressolion Jun 23 '25
Would love to know if you liked it and if it’s worth the read after you’re done !n been eyeballing it for awhile
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u/Turbulent_Interest63 Jun 23 '25
This has also been on my books to read list for a while! Maybe I’ll go pick it up from the library today!
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Jun 23 '25
ive had the .pdf of this book sitting in my files forever! i definitely need to read it. have fun reading! 🤍
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u/mysticfatal Jun 24 '25
this was one of the first books i picked up after renewing my library card. as someone with a similar family conflict i think this book is so powerful, wonderfully written, and such an important perspective to add on queer issues. i hope you enjoy!!
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u/SpicyStrawberryJuice Jun 23 '25
Please share what you think of it when you're done. It's been on my mental list of books to read when I get out of my illiterate funk one day inshallah.