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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth is set in Casablanca and tells the story of Jmiaa, a sex worker, whose life takes a major turn when she is introduced to a filmmaker. Much of her story is dark and depressing but Jmiaa - mostly - refuses to be bitter and resentful. Rather she is an unabashed, resilient survivor. I loved her voice. She is witty, an astute observer of people, irreverent, independent and loyal. She lives life large and is unapologetic about doing so. She is straight-shooting rather than self-pitying. The ending was definitely fairytale-like, but I didn’t care. I was cheering for Jmiaa all the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
eleigh17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
now_booking's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Amusing, Self-Aware, Unusual Perspective
In a word, this was different. At its core, it’s sort of a colorful slice of life story of the daily life and doings of a Moroccan sex worker in Casablanca. Jmiaa might not have dreamed of sex work as a girl but now she’s unapologetically dealing with the cards she’s been dealt with a sharp tongue, an eye for the absurd, and lot of moxie. If light dealt her lemons, she’s bootlegging a lemon gin and drinking away her problems. Jmiaa is practical, critical, sarcastic, self-aware and basically making the best she can of a very toxic situation with as much pragmatic enjoyment as she can.
This isn’t a particularly action/plot-driven book. It’s very character-centric. But that’s fine because Jmiaa has a lot of personality and a lot of stories to carry this story along. Reading this, you feel like you know her and know about the people she’s inevitably dragging and falling out with. The outcome of the story could only ever have been what it was because her star radiates of the page. Yes this is humorous and amusing, but what makes it especially attractive is that it’s such an eminently human story, told by an imperfect protagonist who knows a lot about the foibles of people and the imperfections of humanity and because of that, it’s a compelling read. Content warnings apply for assault, abuse, and heavy alcohol and drug use. Other than that, highly recommend for something unique, different and actually quite fun and interesting.
In a word, this was different. At its core, it’s sort of a colorful slice of life story of the daily life and doings of a Moroccan sex worker in Casablanca. Jmiaa might not have dreamed of sex work as a girl but now she’s unapologetically dealing with the cards she’s been dealt with a sharp tongue, an eye for the absurd, and lot of moxie. If light dealt her lemons, she’s bootlegging a lemon gin and drinking away her problems. Jmiaa is practical, critical, sarcastic, self-aware and basically making the best she can of a very toxic situation with as much pragmatic enjoyment as she can.
This isn’t a particularly action/plot-driven book. It’s very character-centric. But that’s fine because Jmiaa has a lot of personality and a lot of stories to carry this story along. Reading this, you feel like you know her and know about the people she’s inevitably dragging and falling out with. The outcome of the story could only ever have been what it was because her star radiates of the page. Yes this is humorous and amusing, but what makes it especially attractive is that it’s such an eminently human story, told by an imperfect protagonist who knows a lot about the foibles of people and the imperfections of humanity and because of that, it’s a compelling read. Content warnings apply for assault, abuse, and heavy alcohol and drug use. Other than that, highly recommend for something unique, different and actually quite fun and interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Trafficking, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bookishcori's review against another edition
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
filaughn's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book, and Jmiaa. She was a complex character with a very distinct, unique voice throughout. I loved seeing her perspective on things. I did think the ending wrapped things up a little too neatly and quickly, but that's a small quibble. I admire how the author made this book so entertaining and funny while never avoiding the darker parts of life or Jmiaa's situation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Police brutality
thecolourblue's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The strength of this book is the authenticity and rawness of Jmiaa’s voice. She is contradictory, insecure, jealous, angry, caring, vulnerable, sometimes cruel and truly feels like a fully realised human character.
While if I were being truly objective, the end of the book might feel like a somewhat fast neat wrap-up in the context of the first half’s slower pacing, by then I was caught up enough in Jmiaa’s character and life that it just made me smile.
While if I were being truly objective, the end of the book might feel like a somewhat fast neat wrap-up in the context of the first half’s slower pacing, by then I was caught up enough in Jmiaa’s character and life that it just made me smile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
sarah984's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a quick read about a sex worker in Morocco and how her life changes after she agrees to star in an independent film. The main character is kind of a jerk but she's got a lively voice - it really does feel like someone is telling you a story. Sometimes she interrupts gossiping about one person to gossip about another person!
The downside to the telling a story format is that a lot of the time nothing is happening and things that seem like they should be important plot points kind of get pushed aside. At one point the main character is hit by a motorcycle, which hardly ends up mattering and the reader only finds out about it after the fact. It seems like a weird choice.
The parts once they start filming are great, though, and even though the ending is kind of silly and unrealistic I liked it.
The downside to the telling a story format is that a lot of the time nothing is happening and things that seem like they should be important plot points kind of get pushed aside. At one point the main character is hit by a motorcycle, which hardly ends up mattering and the reader only finds out about it after the fact. It seems like a weird choice.
The parts once they start filming are great, though, and even though the ending is kind of silly and unrealistic I liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, and Police brutality