A heartfelt and touching story about mental illness, and the difficulties of growing up as mixed, and the complexities of those two together. I have struggled with depression most of my life, and this book wonderfully depicted it, without falling into the same story I see time and time again about it. I also felt the depiction of Iran felt so real and beautiful, and human, like I was there, learning with Darius about the culture he came from. I plan to read the second book, and I will be re-reading this one. ( )

understanding of people who are similar and different

3.5 rounded up less because I personally felt excited about it and more out of recognition of how well written it is. ( )

I went into this knowing very little of what to expect, and it was perfect that way. The fact that this book takes place mostly in Iran was a delightful surprise. ( )

See my review for [b:Merci Suárez Changes Gears|38185346|Merci Suárez Changes Gears|Meg Medina|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1520954438s/38185346.jpg|50140884] as I read these at the same time and kind of reviewed them together.

This made me cry. And if a book makes me cry, it pretty much has to get five stars. Also, I really love tea. Almost as much as Darius. I also love Star Trek TNG. But my favorite part of this book was the portrayal of having a long-distance relationship with family. Can you love someone you've only met over Skype? On top of the literal distance, this also explores the cultural gulf between the US and Iran/Persia.

Additionally, I want to say that I'm not sure why this book is labeled LGBTQ. Is it because the author is gay? Nowhere in the text does Darius identify as LGBTQ unless I somehow missed it. If you are looking for a story that hints at LGBTQ themes without addressing them directly, then this is the book for you, I guess. ( )

Specifics:

Book: Darius the great is not okay

Author: Adib Khorram

Published: 28 August 2018

Genre: Young adult fiction, Bildungsroman

LGBTQIA literature: Not Sure, Yet!

Publisher: Penguin Books

Cover design: Samira Iravani

Pages: 317

My rating: 5/5


Blurb:

Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's a fractional Persian - half, his mom's side - and his first-ever trip to Iran is about to change his life.

Darius has never really fit in at home, and he is sure things are going to be the same in Iran. His clinical depression doesn't exactly help matters coma and trying to explain his medication to his grandparents only makes things harder. Then Darius maids Sohrab, the boy next door, and everything changes. Soon, they are spending their days together, playing soccer, eating faludeh, and talking for hours on a secret rooftop overlooking the city's skyline. Sourabh calls him Darioush - the original Farsi version of his name - and Darius has never felt more like himself than he does now that he is darioush to Sohrab.

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Adib khorram's brilliant debut is for anyone who's ever felt not good enough - then met a friend who makes them feel so much better that okay.

Review:

Why do good books do this thing? I mean, come to an end? I cried enough to fill a pond and that's not just during the ending.

Darius the Great is not okay was a book that I chose to read after being overwhelmed by how much people have to say about other people going through depression. As a doctor and someone who has been through something similar but was lucky enough to survive because of the support of my family and friends, I know better than to be the voice of others going through it.

I honestly do not understand why and how a person can even assume that would understand a feeling that they've never been through. Darius the Great is not okay was a book that spoke volumes about the very topic without coming off as overwhelming.

The story is set around a high schooler, Darius who suffers from depression and is constantly bullied in school for being from a different ethnicity (Persian on the mother's side), his name and being plump. He is also in dismay of being nothing but a disappointment to his father.

Darius has a supportive family but he has seen his father drift away from him over the time. The only constant thing in his life that I felt was his sister Laleh.

Darius' mom is originally from Iran but she has never been there after the wedding and hence Darius and Laleh haven't been their either. They talk to their grand parents and other relatives via Skype and Darius has always felt distant because of his lack of 'Farsi' speaking or understanding abilities.

Darius' granddad is close to death due to a life threatening disease and they make a plan to go visit them. This experience changes Darius' outlook on life.

The story continues as Darius struggles to feel belonged to some place and tries to mend his differences with his dad and gets to know his maternal side of the family.

The plot, as you can see, is very well set and explained. It'll get you hooked from the beginning. The book, though initial felt medium paced, picks it up after the first few chapters and then it gets hard to put it down.

It's not only relatable and needed but also feels so real. I absolutely loved reading it. There are definitely going to be several instances where the taps in my lacrimal glands were forced open and I do not mind it at all.

The writing is really good. The author has made me cry twice in a single page and several times before and after that.

We learn a lot of the Farsi culture. There are a lot of star wars and Lord of the rings references in the book. You can never go wrong with a book that has that.

There is no cliffhanger to the book even though there is a part II coming out soon. There however is a longing to know more because of how skillfully Adib Khorram managed to steal our hearts away with this beautiful story.

I have thought about everything and I really can't find a thing I would like to change about the story. It's one of those books which devour you completely.

The book made me cry even while writing the review!

I wouldn't mind re-reading the book. This is one of the very few books I'd add to that list. I cannot wait for Darius the Great deserves better.

I rate the book 5/5 stars and also a special thank you for making me drink water.


Spoiler alert:

The book has a lot of beautiful and relatable situations. Especially, mental health being a taboo when Darius goes to his home country. Darius always being the _target of bullying and then coming back home only to feel like he is not enough and that his sister was just a compensation for his failures was truly heart breaking.

I was so glad by how much he was loved when he went to Yazad. It changed his outlook at life. He mended his relationship with his father and made a friend for life.

I am in awe of all the things I felt while reading this story. I somehow feel like there is chance for Darius and Sohrab to be together. That would be great if it happens in book 2.

Some of my favourite parts include the stories that Darius learned about his mother's childhood and how easily Sohrab made Darius feel like he belonged.

'Jaye Shoma Khali', the Persian version of 'Your place was empty' translating to you were missed was the most heart touching line from the book.

Coming to the characters:

Darius Kellner: Our beloved Darius has had a rough school life. From being teased for his weight and bullied for his name and origins, it doesn't help that his relationship with his father is on the rocks. He is under medication for depression alongside his father and he does not know if there is anything in particular that has triggered it. He used to be a football player but the meds spoiled it for him. He always feels like whatever he does, it's only going to dissapoint his father. (hard relate) I felt like he was a very passionate and heart felt kid who gave his 100 percent but sometimes the 100 percent isn't enough and it's okay. Darius loves his sister and learns to love his family that he meets for the first time when he goes to Yazad. I want to adopt and spoil him. I absolutely loved this character and the growth he had through the book.

Sohrab: Sohrab is the sweetest friend anyone could ever imagine having. He is very welcoming and mixes well with anyone that happen to cross paths with him and does not care that you have flaws. Everyone do, don't they? He lives with his mum and his dad was falsely arrested because of his ethnicity. Sohrab in an attempt to mix with his peers, makes a wrong decision to tease Darius but realises what he has done and apologises immediately. Now, I'm not saying that it's okay to lose it once in a while but I know how friendships can be lost to ego. We Stan a friend who can apologize and make up for the mistakes of their own. He yells at Darius when his father passes away and proves to us that how ever calm and collected you are, when your lost and angry, you say things that you don't mean. He makes up to him again Inspite of grieving and that went to show how important he felt Darius was to him.

Stephen Kellner: Boy! Did I hate him in the beginning! In the process of fending for his own mental health, Stephen Kellner became one of the reason for destroying Darius'. I don't blame him though because him being mentally stable was much more important than being there for Darius at the cost of his mental health. We do find out that he went through a very bad phase where he contemplated suicide but he did conquer it and is alive and well now. He was the silent parent who did everything without saying. The way he goes out of his comfort zone to express all his feelings to make Darius understand itself shows how much his kids mean to him and how hard he has tried to hold on.


What I liked about it:

1. The LOTR references! Keep em coming!
2. How the author managed to make me cry twice on the same page and many more times before and after that
3. How casually having homosexual parents is mentioned
4. How much more I love with my family after reading the book
5. How amazing it is to have read this
6. The cover
7. A very easy read
8. The afterword
9. Darius'guide to tea!
10. THE THEME OF THE BOOK and how effortlessly it fills your mind


Cons:

1. It came to an end
2. I'm dehydrated
3. I need more ( )

At 32% I'm going to have to give up on this one, and it's not the novel's problem. Sometimes a YA novel works great for me even though I am well out of the intended demographic, and other times one just isn't interesting enough for someone in her 60s. Go figure, right? But I give it five stars anyway, because I can feel its value. I'm glad it exists. I don't regret buying it. If you enjoy YA, don't avoid this one. ( )

This was a great read - 4.5 stars. I loved the fact that instead of the experience of a boy from the Middle East coming to America, it is an American Iranian boy visiting his family in Iran. Discovering his family and his heritage was beautiful. It's also a story of a teen struggling with mental illness and fitting in and gaining confident and self-acceptance. I loved the MC and all his extended family, too. There are also a lot of references to Star Trek: TNG which is my favorite Star Trek so my inner nerd was all over that. I am very excited to see there is a sequel to this book too! Definitely added to my TBR list and highly recommend this one. ( )

I’m kicking myself so hard right now because this book was so hyped when it came out four years ago and at any point during the last four years, I could have read it… and I didn’t. For some reason I don’t even remember, I avoided Darius the Great is Not Okay. Maybe, at the beginning, just because it was a contemporary YA and it took me some time to get acclimated to that genre? Either way, I’ve been missing out, and the steady theme about living with depression that runs through Darius the Great is something I needed to read years ago.

Let this be a lesson – be openminded about your books. You never know which ones you’ll end up loving.

I deeply appreciated Khorram’s discussion of depression in this book. This is one of those moments where the line in the sand is drawn and it become abundantly clear who is writing from personal experience vs. research – Darius’ depression consumes him in a way I think only someone else living with depression could write… and this is something I know a little bit about. I am grateful to Khorram for his vulnerability and creating a character who is so full of life and so consumed by storm clouds. Sometimes there are stereotypical moments, but that’s normal… right? Seriously, I can’t think of a single way Darius’ depression could have been handled better, and it was huge.

While there is a little bubbling romance deep under some interactions in this book, Darius the Great is Not Okay is largely about the relationship between fathers and son and how complicated that can be. It’s about growing up and growing distant. It’s about mental health and health and family. These moments of untraditional discussion within the story brought it to the next level while making it that much more relatable. I am not a fractional-Iranian (Darius’ words) or a male-indentifying person or a teenager, but there were a whole lot of revealing moments in this book for me. If that’s not good writing, I don’t know what is.

I connected with the mental health aspects of this book, so I will admit I didn’t focus as closely on some of the other pieces, like Darius’ relationship with Sohrab, but the soccer games were an interesting piece that helped Darius find purpose and strength. We also see him grow a little in empathy, although I do think he has more to learn. The trip to Iran is interesting, as well as the range of faith in the book. I loved the day they spent at the ruins of ancient Persepolis. My historian’s heart flowed over!

Altogether, Darius the Great is Not Okay is a wonderful read. But it’s twice as good – and twice as important – if you live alongside depression. The representation is fantastic. ( )

There is too much to say. This is honestly one of the best books I have ever read and this author deserves numerous awards and much praise. If you have the option I highly recommend you listen to the audiobook. ( )

Yeah I wasn't a fan, ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the narrative voice, and I found the depiction of mental health very realistic and well done. I also adored all the Star Trek references. However, I did find the ending a bit rushed. Overall, I highly recommend this book. ( )

Touching and very real feeling story of a teenager coping with his own mental health problems while finding his way in his parent's culture. ( )

Darius is an awkward 16 year old boy who loves tea, Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, and doesn't quite fit in because he is half Persian. He also suffers from depression, has a strained relationship with his father, and deals with bullying in school. His family has to take a sudden trip to Iran to visit his mother's family in order for Darius to meet his grandfather who is dying from a brain tumor. Aside from the regular travel concerns and nerves about interacting with family he has never met, Darius also has to worry about discrimination at the airport when he arrives in Iran. This special story is thematically about love for family, friendships, family history, and mental health.

Though the book deals with bullying, political controversy, death and decline of elderly, LGBTQ themes, and deals with mental health, I don't find any of it concerning for teens to read. I think books that realistically deal with the real-life issues provide both a blueprint and a support system for teens who encounter these issues every day. We can not shield our young adults from real life, so we might as well provide them with resources to help them work through life in a sensitive manner. ( )

Darius calls himself a Fractional Persian. His mom is Iranian, and his dad is not. Darius has not learned Farsi like his little sister, but he does look Persian and he has inherited the Persian love for tea. Darius suffers from depression, like his dad, but that seems to be the only thing he has in common with his dad. They do share a love for Star Trek, but that is really the only time he feels a real connection with his dad.

Darius has never met his grandparents who live in Iran other than to talk to them on the computer. But when his grandfather gets sick, Darius’s parents make the decision to take the family to Iran to spend time with his grandparents. Darius is at first nervous about being in Iran but as he gets to know Sohrab, a boy his age, he starts to feel like he fits in for the first time. Sohrab is a good listener and he really tries to understand Darius, his relationship with his dad, and his depression. As the two boys become close friends, Darius begins to find himself.

This is a good story for anyone who is trying to find themselves and where they belong.

For more resources on teen mental health, check out these websites!
https://www.kidshealth.org/en/teens/your-mind/
https://au.reachout.com/explore-articles ( )

Darius works at the local tea emporium, and calls himself a "fractional Persian" because his mother is Persian, while his father is a blonde German, referred to as the Übermensch. He is bullied by others in high school, and really only has a single friend, who happens to be Persian. When his maternal grandfather is diagnosed as terminal, the family heads for Iran to say goodbye, where Daryoush becomes fast friends with Sohrab. The development of their friendship, his family and cultural dynamics, and the direct manner in which author Khorram deals with childhood depression are the highlights of the novel. ( )

I listened to this on audio and it was an absolute pleasure. I love how the main character related to everything via Star Trek and tea. Quirky yet full of depth and skillfully written. ( )

the tags queerbaited me lmao yet still a good read ( )

One of the most realistic and beautiful family novels I've ever read. I'm drinking tea with cardamom as I write, inspired by tea-drinking Persians. I love Darius and his Darius-isms. I love Adib Khorram's humor and sensitivity. I learned so much about Persian culture. The characters are so real, I felt I would know them if I met them, that I'd like to know and meet them. For me, that is the highest praise of a novel. Thank you, Adib Khorram, for Darius and his family, for the inclusion Star Trek and Lord of the Rings (I'm a fan!), his trip to Yzad, his relationship with Sohrab, his openness about depression (and your own in your Afterword), in fact, for everything you wrote. I loved being in Darius' world. You are a master storyteller. ( )

I loved the cultural element in this book. ( )

"Darius Kellner suffers from depression, bullying by high school jocks, and a father who seems to always be disappointed in him.

When Darius’ grandfather becomes terminally ill, Darius, along with his parents and younger sister, travels to Iran for the first time in his life. Iranian on his mother’s side and white American on his father’s side, Darius never quite fits in. He’s mocked for his name and nerdy interests at Chapel Hill High School in Portland, Oregon, and doesn’t speak enough Farsi to communicate with his Iranian relatives either. When he arrives in Iran, learning to play the Persian card game Rook, socializing, and celebrating Nowruz with a family he had never properly met before is all overwhelming and leaves Darius wondering if he’ll ever truly belong anywhere. But all that changes when Darius meets Sohrab, a Bahá’í boy, in Yazd. Sohrab teaches Darius what friendship is really about: loyalty, honesty, and someone who has your back in a football (soccer) match. For the first time in a long time, Darius learns to love himself no matter what external forces attempt to squash his confidence. Khorram’s debut novel is filled with insight into the lives of teens, weaving together the reality of living with mental illness while also dealing with identity and immigration politics.

This tear-jerker will leave readers wanting to follow the next chapter in Darius’ life. (Fiction. 12-adult)" A Kirkus Starred Review, www.kirkusreviews.com

Before you start reading this book, look up a good Persian restaurant near you. There are so many descriptions of food in this book, you will be starving by the end. On a more serious note, Darius is Persian American and is visiting Iran for the first time because his mother's father has a brain tumor. Darius (like his father) struggles with depression and has a hard time fitting in and feels like he is a constant disappointment to his family. The author reveals in the afterward that he also struggled with depression growing up and that struggle adds a depth and visceral realness to Darius's experiences that totally affected me as I was reading. It was very easy to get smothered by Darius's fear, frustration, anger, and feelings of inadequacy. But it made for a very powerful read. Darius is also a bit of a nerd and his allusions to Star Trek and Lord of the Rings were fun and revealing. ( )

A candid and moving coming-of-age story about a young man living with depression and visiting his family in Iran. Darius is someone you want to succeed, even if he gets in his own way. I appreciate what Adib Khorram brings to YA lit, and I hope he writes more! ( )

This book had me crying through the last few chapters. It was so powerful, especially in its description of what depression and anxiety are like from the point of view of the person experiencing them. Please give this a try if you have someone with these disorders in your life. It might help you understand a bit better. ( )

DNF 32%
the Aristotle & Dante vibes. very strong. in all the not-so-great ways. if i'd read this five years ago i would'a been all over it but for now i'm distracted by "THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE WOULD LIKE THIS BORING LOSER."