Synopsis

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.
Review
5 “eye opener” stars
“It didn’t matter how unaccented my English was. It didn’t matter that I told people, over and over again, that I was born here, in America, that English was my first language, that my cousins in Iran made fun of me for speaking mediocre Farsi with an American accent -it didn’t matter. Everyone assumed I was fresh off the boat from a foreign land.”
A Very Large Expanse of Sea is why I read.
Thank you Tahereh Mafi for helping me to keep my eyes open.
Thank you for helping me get less prejudiced.
I finished A Very Large Expanse of Sea in one day. I devoured this book like my life depended on it.
From the very first sentences I was horrified by what Shirin had to endure every day. Just for her choice to wear a scarf around the head.
How many violences were imparted on her.
Because of the heinous actions of some she was assimilated to terrorists and treated like one.
And then I thought:” how many times haven’t you be slightly frigthened by someone looking muslim and looking menacing to you? How many times have you been suspicious because they were different and terrorists had taken a stand, drawn a line?”
And each time I felt guilty because my frightened mind kept associating stranger with danger. Yet I knew this was false and wrong.
How many times did I think “Don’t let them win. Don’t let them create a cleavage. Don’t let them manipulate you and turn you into someone you are not: a hater.”
Reading Shirin’s struggle was both heartbreaking, humbling and enlightening.
Tahere Mafi speaks with her heart to your soul.
She makes you see from the inside what it is to be hated by people who don’t even know you.
Shirin was brave and strong. So strong.
She never backed down . Wearing the scarf was her decision. No one coerced her. It would have been easy to take it off. She would not have been scared every day.
All the time.
But then they would have won
In this Shirin reminded me so much of Starr from THUG. Another frightened girl but who faced her fears, did the right thing.
I loved seeing all this battle, all the unfairness from the inside. For as much as I felt ashamed somehow it also opened my eyes a little bit more. I hope it helped make me a better person. Wiser . Kinder.
Ocean was just the perfect choice for Shirin. Because he had the all american good look on the outside but he too suffered. He was vulnerable and had his own kind of strength. More than physical it was moral strenght. He was remarkable. Level headed, determined and mature beyond his age.
I loved the romance of course. With its slow blossom. With Shirin’s reluctance and her fears for what would come their way.
“You don’t know how complicated something like this would be. You don’t know how your life would be different with me. You just don’t know”.
It brushed a strong and realistic portrait of the difficulties many mixed couples have to face in small towns or after shocking circumstances.
This book is an open scream to the world.
A plea not to make amalgams.
A shout to never judge people without getting to know them first.
An ode to equal and fair treatment.
Have you read it? Or any similar book?
Thanks for reading!
Sounds like a wonderful read! I’ll look it up in Hebrew.
What a great review Sophie! It does sound very eye opening and like many people need to check this out too!
It is Daisy I swear!!!
Fantastic review my friend and a view that we all could stand to see!!!
Thank you SO MUCH Trisy!!!
This sounds truly wonderful! And soo, sooo eye-opening! I’m glad you had such a great experience with this story! Great review !:)
Thank you so much Lashaan! I hope you’ll give it a chance 😉
I need this book! Love your heartfelt review, Sophie.
Thank you Astrid!!
I love Mafi, and am excited she wrote a contemporary-ish book. You have me convinced it was wonderful, and I am excited to read this book.
I really hope you’ll love it Sam!!!
Your wonderful review makes this a must read. It sounds fabulous.
Thank you Laura and it is!
Wow, these sound like great characters and a great, timely story! Glad to hear you loved it so much!
They are just fantastic characters Kristen!!!
I cannot wait to read this! I am patiently waiting for my library hold to come in and you have me super excited with those quotes. It is such an important read and I am so happy that you enjoyed it so much.
Thank you and I really can’t wait to read your review!!
Fantastic review, Sophie! This sounds like an incredible read! I’m glad you loved it! I have it on my TBR list and I’m planning to read it in November.
I so hope you will love it Raven!!!
A timely book, with a timely reminder. But, sadly, I wonder how many people will read it, understand, and or learn from it?
I hope many Alexandra. Honestly this is a gem.