evkrieg's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
faliiza's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mateusjobim's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
stephjones71's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
savannahheil's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ohhellokelli's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jazzzzzis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I felt utterly raw and laid bare by this story. It follows Yara, a Palestinian American woman haunted by her volatile upbringing and is now struggling to find herself. Juggling her love for her daughter, expectations from the community, and expectations from herself, Yara starts a journey to uncover herself. She is worried she is cursed and her journal entries and inner thoughts are achingly human and vulnerable.
I wanted to wrap Yara in my arms and at the same time I wanted to wrap myself up in a big hug. Perhaps one might find Yara’s growth through therapy cliche at times, but I felt utterly seen and held by those passages. It made me feel a little braver about how I view myself and my relation to my family. Maybe brave enough to start therapy again.
I wanted to wrap Yara in my arms and at the same time I wanted to wrap myself up in a big hug. Perhaps one might find Yara’s growth through therapy cliche at times, but I felt utterly seen and held by those passages. It made me feel a little braver about how I view myself and my relation to my family. Maybe brave enough to start therapy again.
moonlightpgs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
blythehill's review against another edition
3.0
It must be hard to follow such a killer novel as her debut, A Woman is No Man. This one attempted to offer similar drama of the cultural limitations placed on Palestinian American women (and children of immigrants), but it fell a bit flat. I wanted to love it, but It was repetitive and predictable. Also—and this might not be fair since I’m married to a painter myself—but the bits about art and painting (and eventually, earning income from selling art) felt overly simplistic and unrealistic— even idealistic. I don’t know if others would have a hard time getting past that, but I did.
duranceau22ced's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0