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We Meant Well
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
8 posts | 3 read | 10 to read
A woman is summoned by her charity to manage a crisis when her colleague is accused of raping a girl in an African village, causing her to question her identity, privilege, and allegiance.
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CuriousG
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
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It's been a busy day, but I'm so excited to sit down and read all evening now. This amazing pairing of chocolate and book was sent by @TheKidUpstairs - I'm so glad to hear you loved it. I'm very excited to get going on it tonight! Happy Jolabokaflod ❤️
#jolabokaflodswap #jolabokaflodswap23 @MaleficentBookDragon

TheKidUpstairs I'm glad you like it! Merry Christmas! 4mo
CuriousG @TheKidUpstairs Merry Christmas! And those chocolates were amazing - thank you so much 4mo
36 likes2 comments
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BookishTrish
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
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Pickpick

This short novel punches well above its weight - how was it not Giller Prize shortlisted?

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TheKidUpstairs
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
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Pickpick

I'm surprised this one didn't make the #GillerPrize Shortlist. One of the best of the year for me. A deftly crafted blend of engaging storytelling, genuine characters, and so many intersectional issues and questions - this is one that will sit in my thoughts and my heart for some time.

TW: rape

Maya works in logistics and administration for a charity working with programs in an unnamed war-torn country... cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs While at home in LA she is awoken by a late night phone call: one of her colleagues has been accused of a horrible assault on a local girl. Maya is asked to sort things out: the board wants damage control, she wants the truth. 6mo
TheKidUpstairs Hasan's extensive experience in international development shows - she clearly understands the tangled web at play here: colonialism, race relations, "white saviors", and more. And her skill as a writer brings the story to life and makes you think hard about what's happening without bashing you over the head with the issues. 6mo
squirrelbrain Sounds fascinating - stacking. 6mo
56 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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Lindy
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
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Pickpick

An emotionally intense novel about a South Asian American woman working for a charity in an unnamed country in the midst of civil war. One of her colleagues has been accused of rape and she has been called in by head office for local damage control, to protect the charity‘s image. She knows both the victim and the accused. A heartfelt page turner that looks at layers of consequences precipitated by global history. #shadowgiller2023 #CanLit

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Lindy
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
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The child soldiers here, they fight for food, for money, for guns that will protect their rogue group. They protect their own. Who knows who started the war, and surely no one will finish it, but these are children of war, born into it; they‘ve seen it hundreds of times and they remake it. That‘s the thing with war. You show it enough times and people become it.

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Lindy
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
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The Friday Reads that took forever (AKA 12 hours) to upload
https://youtu.be/dWN3nBSId7g

#shakespeare #theatre #CanadianAuthor #classic

26 likes1 stack add
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BookishTrish
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
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Giller Time! Giller longlist is out today. I first saw the list when I was out running errands. These two books coincidentally followed me home #gillerprize

BkClubCare Wow what a coincidence! 8mo
BookishTrish @BkClubCare Truly shocking, I know. 8mo
44 likes2 comments
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BookNAround
We Meant Well: A Novel | Erum Shazia Hasan
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Next up. This should ask some tough questions about charity, first world folks working in underserved countries, truth, and entitlement. I suspect it‘ll be a tough read.

51 likes1 stack add