This is immediately being added to my list of favourite books of all time and definitely includes some of the best writing that I have ever read in my life. The amount of annotations that I made is a testimony to how much this book touched me.

To explore such a large number of major issues (Islamophobia, feminism, morality, religion, mental illness, elitism, existentialism, teleology etc.) in just under 400 pages, is an enormous feat in itself but to do this with such complex, well-developed characters and absolutely beautiful writing has me in awe.

This book poses some of life's biggest questions in a way that is challenging without being patronising or dissatisfying. Is God real? If yes, what is God? What makes one life more deserving of suffering than another? Is there a meaning to violence and suffering? Is religion corrupt? Does life have meaning? These questions, and many more, are both posed in a more direct way, but are also carefully woven through the plot and characters, adding further complexity to a novel asking complex questions.

Beautiful writing. Perfectly paced. Well-developed characters. Important themes. Thought provoking. Life-changing.

I definitely recommend.