Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib KhorramMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an understated but interesting read, and I enjoyed learning more about Persian culture and being Persian in America. The story is definitely more character driven than plot oriented. I mean, there is a general plot, but you read this one for the coming of age journey, more than anything else.
Darius is a bit of a misfit, with his misunderstood depressing, being overweight and emotional, and frequently being bullied. He struggles in his relationship with his father, which is a constant concern and core theme of the book, and he does not really have a true friend. In the end, it’s about relationships and how those impact the quality and course of your life, from grandparents, to parents, to siblings, to friends.
Bonus points for making me desperately crave a good cup of tea. I also enjoyed all of the Tolkien references, the solid representation for depression, the diversity, the very subtle questioning of sexuality, and the setting (Iran).
This isn’t one of those loud stories that grabs your heart in a fist and squeezes until you can’t breathe. It’s much softer and the quieter than that. I enjoyed it overall.
Pages: 316
