Darius the Great is Not Okay: Book Review

Darius the Great is Not Okay plot summary

Darius feels like a constant outsider. At school, where being half Persian marks him as different. With his mum and sister, who are able to talk Farsi fluently while he only understands fragments. With his dad who, despite sharing his depression, seems perpetually disappointed in him. A trip to Iran to meet the grandparents he’s thus far only known through Skype doesn’t seem likely to help with Darius’ sense of isolation. But Sohrab, his grandparents’ neighbour, becomes the first person to help him discover what belonging feels like, despite the differences between them.

Content warnings:

• Depression
• Fatphobia and disordered eating
• Racism
• Discussion of suicide and suicidal thoughts
• Terminal illness

My thoughts on Darius the Great is Not Okay

Darius the Great is Not Okay is a debut YA contemporary novel by Adib Khorram. It’s an incredibly sweet book. The more I’ve thought about it since turning the final page, the more I’ve appreciated it, which is unusual for me. I often find myself thinking about books after finishing them, of course, but I usually feel more critical of a book as time passes. Not so much with this one.

Told from Darius’ perspective, we first get an introduction to his life in America. He’s picked on by the more popular kids at school, the ‘Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy’, and a clear let-down to his architect father. His mother is Persian, making Darius a ‘fractional Persian’, and a much less judgmental presence in his life. But she also seems closer to his little sister Laleh, who is fluent in Farsi. A Star Trek nerd and tea enthusiast, on antidepressants, Darius never seems to feel entirely comfortable.

When the family goes out to see his maternal grandparents in Iran for the first time, Darius doesn’t have high hopes for fitting in there either. His Persian family don’t really understand depression, judging him and his father for their use of medication. He doesn’t naturally understand the social cues around him, and he’s left out when people start chatting in Farsi. But then he meets Sohrab. And everything changes.

I fell in love with Darius as a character

Darius is nerdy and vulnerable and sensitive and sweet. He’s very attached to his nightly ritual of watching an episode of Star Trek with his dad, the only thing they seem to be able to do without getting on each other’s nerves. He loves his little sister, despite occasionally feeling jealous of how effortlessly she seems to fit in with their extended family.

I also appreciated the way his depression was explored in the book. This is a character who is living and dealing with depression, without the story being about it. Darius briefly goes over some of the journey that was involved in finding the right medication for him, and I loved how clearly and honestly that was discussed. He talks about mood swings, or ‘mood slingshot maneuvers’. He also discusses the weight gain he’s experienced as a result of his medication. It just felt like a really thorough and sensitive depiction of a young person with depression.

Speaking of the weight gain; Darius is overweight, which is something he’s self-conscious about. He’s made all the more so by his dad’s pointed looks and comments when he eats something sub-optimal. While it was tough to watch him go through that, there was something refreshing about the acknowledgment of body image issues and insecurity in a male teenage protagonist.

The main theme of Darius the Great is Not Okay is identity

The big thing of course is his identity, and that issue of where Darius does or doesn’t belong. He frequently comments on the differences between fractional and non-fractional Persians. He’s keenly aware of when he’s doing or wearing things that make him feel more or less Persian. Watching him try to figure out where he fits into this side of his family, and indeed how much he can claim ownership of this side of his identity, got me right in the feels. It’s something I think a lot of people can identify with, from trivial things like buying foods that make you feel like a grown-up to more personal and integral ones.

Of course, quite early in the book he meets Sohrab and makes his first real friend. Darius does have a friend back home – Javaneh, also Persian. But he seems to view that as more of a relationship of mutual convenience. Sohrab is the first person his own age he’s really connected with, and the two start to hang out increasingly frequently.

Sohrab was a major highlight!

I really enjoyed Sohrab as a character, he’s earnest and generous and straightforward. He’s a teenager, so obviously flawed, but good at apologising when he knows he’s done something hurtful. Although he and Darius (who he calls Darioush) are quite different, there’s immediate connection and mutual affection and respect. And the way their friendship throughout the book is lovely.

He helps Darius to recognise that he doesn’t have to be more Persian, or more American, to belong. That he can find places where he fits in as he is. It’s not a lesson that I think Darius has fully learned by the end of the book, which makes sense! It’s the kind of thing you spend your life trying to really internalise. But he definitely starts to feel that he’s enough, and it’s a beautiful process to watch.

There were themes and ideas I’d have loved to read more about

I would have been interested in more exploration of Darius’s relationship with both his parents, rather than just his dad. Things with his dad get some resolution, which I appreciated. Although if I’m being really nit-picky it was maybe a bit too tidy given the layers of complexity the author had introduced. And aside from that, I’d also be interested in reading more about his relationship with his mother. Although in fairness I thought the interactions we did have between them were great, both interesting and very cute.

Some of the wrap-up towards the end of the book felt a little rushed. I obviously won’t address specific plot points. But considering the rest of the story felt really well-paced I found the acceleration at the end a bit strange.

All in all though, I felt like Darius the Great is Not Okay handled a number of important themes and storylines pretty deftly.

I would absolutely recommend Darius the Great is Not Okay

The plot isn’t much of a driving force here. It’s definitely a character-led and character-focused story, but as long as that isn’t a dealbreaker for you I’d recommend picking it up. It’s a pretty quick and easy read, a heartfelt and hopeful story with some very sweet characters. It also has a phenomenal sense of place, so that’s a bonus! Transporting you to another country without having to leave your sofa.

Have you read Darius the Great is Not Okay? I’d love to know what you thought – let me know in the comments!

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