Review: How It All Blew Up, by Arvin Ahmadi

How It All Blew Up
by Arvin Ahmadi

Edition: 2020
Pages: 272
Publisher: Bonnier Books UK - Hot Key Books

Summary:
Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew that coming out to his Muslim family would be messy, but he wasn't expecting it to end in an airport interrogation room. Now, he's telling his side of the story to the stern-faced officer.

Amir has to explain why he ran away to Rome (boys, bullies, blackmail) and what he was doing there for a month (dates in the Sistine Chapel, friends who helped him accept who he is, and, of course, drama) . . . all while his mum, dad and little sister re being interrogated in the room next door.

A nuanced take on growing up brown, Muslim and gay in today's America, HOW IT ALL BLEW UP is the story of one boy's struggle to come out to his family, and how that painful process exists right alongside his silly, sexy romp through Italy.

Rating:2.75/5

Review: 
I received an online copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange of a honest review. 

 

I haven't read Young Adult Fiction for awhile, but this Covid situation made me look for brighter and simple storylines. With that in mind, I looked on Netgalley for something that seamed fun and joyful but with a true story. This is the reason I requested "How It All Blew Up" by Arvin Ahmadi. 

We can't deny that what made us all start reading this book was not only the prospect of spending a good time reading about a runaway teenager in Italy, but also to discover what brought him and his family to a detection room in an international airport. 

In the begining those bits of testimonials seamed forced to me but they engraind themselves all the way with the story development and they became the best part of it. What grabs the readers attention isn't what is said on these excerpts but what isn't. They create a space in our heart for this family and make us think how we are treating other religious and ethnic groups out of fear. I do believe a simple discussion on an airplane by a white family would not end like this. Let's not forget the story of the Math Teacher who was accused of terrorism by another passenger due to her ignorance and terror, and got him out of a plane direct to a detention room. That wasn't fiction back then and is a result of the institutionalized terror the ocidental world started experiencing after September 11th. 

What we sometimes forget is the terror is way worse for someone whose origins are determined by a geographical region ou religion, because suddenly they all become the prime suspects in every ocasion.

 

We can get how Amir's sister, being raised in USA since she was child, feels part of that country as a wholesome citizen (as she is). Because of that, she deals with that situation with a witty eye that her parents could never have. Their answers are cautious and temerous, and even knowing they didn't do something wrong, they know what can happen if they don't cause the proper impression. 

But let's get back to Amir. This could have been an amazing coming out story, but got a little sloppy in the middle. As a reader, I can accept the reason why he went to Italy and how he got there. I also understand his fears and all the try-outs to avoid the subject near his new friends (specially in a group that for the first time in his life fully accepts him and makes him feel comfortable). But Amir doesn't improve or learn anything from this experience. And remains a one dimensional character until the end. 

We don't get a fully acceptance from his part. Of course there were things restraining his full-self back home, besides his family. A guy who would only come out to a some sort of boyfriend, still in search of his identity as a gay boy/man, would probably not do the things he did in Italy. At least, without any thoughts about it. The reader is inside the head of this boy and we still don't get why his interest jumps from one person to another, without giving a proper though. C'mon, (there will be some spoilers here, jump to the following paragraph), he is finally dating a guy with whom he is sharing something real and he sleeps with another one just because? When that character didn't even shown up properly in the book? 

The relationships he has with the other friends also get a bit nonsense sometimes and there are scenes that make zero sense to the plot. That nipple scene can be even worse than the peach one on "Call Me By Your Name", and that's saying much.

Even Italy, that could shine a lot there, was almost reduced to pasta and a visit to Vatican. And finally, the ending was rushed and nonsense. I don't mind open endings, but they need to make sense at least and make the readers think about it. With this one I just felt there were missing pages because it couldn't end like that!

With that said, I'm giving it 2,75 because it got me back to reading, with a fast pace, which is kind amazing during this chaotic period we are living in. 

Also, I've seen the potential and what it could have been. I liked the family storyline, and I wish it had shinned a bit more.

Cláudia

About the author:
 

Addicted to the library Claudia loves to read on the move and we can usualy find her sitting in a train or bus reading while commuting to and from work. But don't be fooled she is also keeping an eye on the landscape and all around her. She is an avid defender of sustainability and volunteering and it's as easy to find her starting a new project as it is to find her chatting with her friends. She is a dreamer and loves good stories so she keeps looking for them in her personal life.