Book Review : Darius the Great is not Okay

Imagine you have lived somewhere your whole life, and have never been anywhere else. Then, a shocking turn of events leads you to migrate to a completely different place, a polar opposite of your previous home. That is the plot of Darius the Great is not Okay, Adhib Khorran’s 2018 fiction novel. Through the novel we experience life with Darius as he moves from Portland, a city in the northwestern region of the United States, to Tehran, the Capital of Iran, and meets the family that he never knew he had. Ridiculed by some for his depression issues, Darius forges a path ahead, and forms unbreakable bonds with new friends. I feel very passionately about Darius the Great is not Okay.

Exploring themes of jealousy and friendship, Darius the Great is not Okay tells a very powerful story. After his father stops watching Star Trek with him, and starts watching it with his sister, Laleh,  Darius starts to feel jealous of her. Nevertheless, his friend Sohrab reassures him that he is Sohrab’s best friend, and Laleh is not, restoring his benevolence towards his sister.  Sohrab and Darius are very good friends. Sohrab stands up for Darius when he is being bullied, and makes Laleh talk in english, since Darius can’t understand Farsi. Darius treasures his friendship with Sohrab, and feels very hurt when Sohrab lashes out at him after Sohrab’s father dies.

Darius the Great is not Okay also taught me you should never let yourself get affected by others. Although Darius gets bullied for being a fractional persian while working at Tea Haven, he ignores the comments and works like usual. While in Iran, Darius is made fun of for taking anti-depressants. He lets this affect him, and starts to feel ashamed. However, after having a talk with his father, Darius realizes that being depressed is nothing to be ashamed about.

Reading Darius the Great is not Okay completely changed the way I think. I learned that true friends should be valued, and the only thing jealousy can do is hurt your own personal relationships. I also learned how to ignore people who make rude or racist comments about me, and that having mental or physical issues is nothing to be afraid of. I would give this book a 5/5.