misscarrots's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
wellredphd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
timetotalkbeauty's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, and Suicide
megansoetaert's review
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
A Woman Is No Man left me in tears. it is the story of womanhood, familial oppression & violence, identity, and voice. it shows how women replicate the patriarchy, enabling the men around them & forcing harm onto women and girls.
Rum’s story is but one Palestinian story, one that is partially her own & one that many women experience. her bravery in writing about Isra, Deya, Sarah, and even Fareeda created a heartwrenching book that refuses to accept the way many Palestinian and Palestinian-American women are treated.
I loved Isra and Sarah so much, and their influence on Deya & Deya’s own bravery.
Rum’s story is but one Palestinian story, one that is partially her own & one that many women experience. her bravery in writing about Isra, Deya, Sarah, and even Fareeda created a heartwrenching book that refuses to accept the way many Palestinian and Palestinian-American women are treated.
I loved Isra and Sarah so much, and their influence on Deya & Deya’s own bravery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
lchambers's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
megansgc's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 🌟 A well written book that is very thought provoking. It is full of insight into the challenges of moving from one culture to another, and the challenges of elders struggling to move forward in the world when elements of the culture are outed as unacceptable. I really enjoyed getting a close inside perspective on the Palestinian day to day life and culture. The author did a very good job of juggling all points of view in this book. One thing I would’ve wished for is a glossary of Arabic sayings (google was working hard as I read this), and maybe even recipes while we’re at it! Thank you Etaf!
joanagsilva's review against another edition
3.0
3,5⭐️
Ler sobre as mulheres da Palestina é sempre algo que me atrai. Gostei das personagens desta história, que tem uns toques da realidade também. Gostei da escrita. No entanto senti por vezes um pouco repetitivo. Tocou-me mas não me arrebatou.
Ler sobre as mulheres da Palestina é sempre algo que me atrai. Gostei das personagens desta história, que tem uns toques da realidade também. Gostei da escrita. No entanto senti por vezes um pouco repetitivo. Tocou-me mas não me arrebatou.
helencantread's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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
wellreadsinger's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Consider the ways trauma is generational and some traditions potentially dangerous. We seem to pass pain down to our loved one like we pass salt at the table. Normalizing our suffering so much to a point we don’t even realize that’s what we’ve done. Suffering should not be a commonality; human beings should be able to live without having to constantly endure life.
It felt like I was sat at the sufra with Deya to my left, Sarah to my right, Isra directly across from me, and Fareeda off to the side willfully trying to resist the conversation happening. I’m surrounded by women who have had their voice silenced, who are finding their voice, and who have had to sacrifice for the sake of tradition. The heat of the chai tea Isra brewed does not compare to the one pulsing through my body as she tells her story. A story filled with depression, silent suffering, and shame. I can’t appreciate the taste of za’atar because my stomach is in knots when Fareeda decides to join the conversation to detail her heartbreaking life. The Mackintosh chocolates taste bittersweet as Sarah tells me how her freedom came with consequences. Deya offers me some freekeh soup but my stomach is full and my heart shatters at the threat of tears in her eyes.
I’m challenged to hold space for the boy Adam never got a chance to be while simultaneously being horrified at the man he became. I grieve the girl that was beaten out of Fareeda while holding the woman accountable for the choices she made. How can people know better when they’ve only experienced the worst?
Despite a missed opportunity to utilize the melting pot that is Brooklyn to her advantage, I devoured Etaf Rum’s semi- autobiographical novel with a ravenous hunger like it was shakshuka. Vague character descriptions aside from those that resided in the tight-knit Arab community were apparent, but I realize this slight obscurity emphasizes how these characters were sheltered for cultural preservation. With seamless dialogue and authentic characters, A Women is No man urges the reader to use your voice despite the consequences. A woman is no man, but that does not mean she has to prove her worth to you. A woman is no man, but her naseeb is in her control.
It felt like I was sat at the sufra with Deya to my left, Sarah to my right, Isra directly across from me, and Fareeda off to the side willfully trying to resist the conversation happening. I’m surrounded by women who have had their voice silenced, who are finding their voice, and who have had to sacrifice for the sake of tradition. The heat of the chai tea Isra brewed does not compare to the one pulsing through my body as she tells her story. A story filled with depression, silent suffering, and shame. I can’t appreciate the taste of za’atar because my stomach is in knots when Fareeda decides to join the conversation to detail her heartbreaking life. The Mackintosh chocolates taste bittersweet as Sarah tells me how her freedom came with consequences. Deya offers me some freekeh soup but my stomach is full and my heart shatters at the threat of tears in her eyes.
I’m challenged to hold space for the boy Adam never got a chance to be while simultaneously being horrified at the man he became. I grieve the girl that was beaten out of Fareeda while holding the woman accountable for the choices she made. How can people know better when they’ve only experienced the worst?
Despite a missed opportunity to utilize the melting pot that is Brooklyn to her advantage, I devoured Etaf Rum’s semi- autobiographical novel with a ravenous hunger like it was shakshuka. Vague character descriptions aside from those that resided in the tight-knit Arab community were apparent, but I realize this slight obscurity emphasizes how these characters were sheltered for cultural preservation. With seamless dialogue and authentic characters, A Women is No man urges the reader to use your voice despite the consequences. A woman is no man, but that does not mean she has to prove her worth to you. A woman is no man, but her naseeb is in her control.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
christinecasey's review against another edition
4.0
Impressive debut novel from an underrepresented voice in American literature; a Palestinian American woman. I was especially moved when I realized it was semi-autobiographical. Don’t skip the interview with the author at the end!
I appreciated the author’s note about being compelled to tell her story thereby erasing the shame associated with her decisions, but also fearing that the story would be taken as the only one about Arab Americans.
This novel tells the story of multiple generations of women being raised under the idea that their naseeb (or destiny) is already written. Told through multiple perspectives over multiple timelines, the story reinforces that their purpose is to be married, have children, and serve their husbands, regardless of their own hopes and dreams. Although unhappy with their own path in life, the women don’t see how to break the cycle for themselves, let alone their daughters.
I appreciated the author’s note about being compelled to tell her story thereby erasing the shame associated with her decisions, but also fearing that the story would be taken as the only one about Arab Americans.
This novel tells the story of multiple generations of women being raised under the idea that their naseeb (or destiny) is already written. Told through multiple perspectives over multiple timelines, the story reinforces that their purpose is to be married, have children, and serve their husbands, regardless of their own hopes and dreams. Although unhappy with their own path in life, the women don’t see how to break the cycle for themselves, let alone their daughters.