Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

33 reviews

mamaofperfectpayton's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I have been trying to find the words to adequately describe how much this book touched me, but there are no words adequate enough. When I say I want to read a book that touches me, fills me with emotion and provides a true human experience in fiction, this is the type of book that I’m talking about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

frogggirl2's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

It's really hard to cope with this particular brand of misogyny which wraps itself in a false flag of religiosity.  It doesn't matter what religion it is - using any religion as an excuse to belittle, dehumanize, sell, rape, beat and murder women is unequivocally inexcusable, disgusting and pathetic. 

Every character in this book serves the same purpose - every character is one note and serves to hammer on the theme of oppression.  It's unrelenting and it's hard to bear.

This book just has no nuance at all.  The way it portrays the men and the way it betrays the women is the same  they are equally culpable in the abuse of women.  

I don't think there's really anything to learn here.  All this does is subjugate the characters.  I honestly wish I wouldn't have subjected myself to this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

emboivinguay's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

berlylovestoread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

Arranged marriage, abuse, women being kept out of school & not allowed rights. These are things still happening today. This was hard to listen to in so many ways but so important to learn about, too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Child death

Minor: Abortion

salemander's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, and Classism

lnolen01's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Death of parent

pipettesandpages's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this as apart of the Asian Readathon and this book was beautiful and raw. I felt the pain as our main ladies, Deya and Isra, tell their stories. One that has grown up in America and one who left Palestine to move to America after marriage.

I am not even sure how to put my thoughts into words. I’ve been spending the last couple of days trying to share my thoughts. The only thing I can express is that I think everyone should read this. While I know this book does not represent every Palestinian, based on other reviews, I have also seen that it also resonates with so many others who come from more conservative families. Now more than ever, we need to raise the voice of the Palestinian people as what is happening is not a new occurrence. But one of many many years.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Murder

Minor: Addiction, Blood, and Grief

trilli_pop's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow. How devastating. Women should really stop letting men tell them how to do life. Generational trauma is real. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

bookishbaker25's review against another edition

sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 A Woman is No Man is a standout read of the year, easily making it into my top 10. From the very first page, I found myself completely absorbed in the story, holding my breath until the end. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it even more than I expected.

For fans of Khaled Hosseini's storytelling, Rum's narrative will resonate deeply. She skillfully captures a sense of despair and sadness that runs through the entire book. The characters weave together seamlessly, yet the reader is constantly faced with the harsh reality of the abuse and hopelessness they endure.

The book not only explores domestic violence but also sheds light on how cultural norms and expectations contribute to systemic abuse. While it's important not to stereotype an entire culture, it's equally important to acknowledge the struggles of women who face such challenges daily. Rum gives voice to the marginalized, highlighting their experiences.

While I appreciated the book's structure, with multiple points of view spanning three generations, there were moments where the story felt repetitive, slowing down the pace.

All in all, I think this is a great read, but please beware, it is a heavy and hard book to get through! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, and Abortion

michaelion's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I read Evil Eye last month and gave it 5 stars, and it's near impossible for me to give things 5 stars, so I figured this woman must be amazing I gotta read what else she has. Only one other book?! How heartbreaking! I need more! Etaf Rum the woman that you are!!!

I do feel that if I had read this book first and Evil Eye second, I still would've given Evil Eye 5 stars. These books were written for the culture. Not my culture, but the importance of them, the weight of them, were not just to represent Palestinians and Arabs, but to show other Arabs "this is who we are, we have stories to tell, and we have to be honest with ourselves" and I love that SO much. Etaf Rum you will always be famous!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Deportation

Minor: Body horror, Drug use, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Islamophobia, Stalking, and Car accident