Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

24 reviews

meganbyrd77's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape

Moderate: Xenophobia

ladyinverse's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

I will definitely think about this book for a long time. probably the most harrowing novel I've read and the writing was absolutely captivating and gripping. 

I found myself cheering or yelling oh no at the characters as I read the deeper and deeper I got into this story.

Etaf Rum is certainly a new auto buy author for me. Her writing is elegant and captivating and her story telling transports you to the characters she's portraying.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Xenophobia and War

Minor: Abortion

wtffffer's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape, Xenophobia, Blood, and Abortion

mmmmmm's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

this is the best book i’ve read in a long time (and i’ve promptly started evil eye). will need to grab a physical copy to reread with my eyes so i can underline things & such. 

absolutely devastating but in a way that felt so honest, with such an array of strong, complex characters. this is an absolute masterclass in exploring the damage of inter generational trauma, as well as how such a painful cycle is perpetuated. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

Minor: Xenophobia and War

misslaurenreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

Honestly this book was incredible. A lot of reviewers say it was repetitive, but bear in mind it is being told from three different perspectives so some of it is bound to repeat. It is a beautiful story of the strength of women and will definitely stick with me for a while.

the plot twist at the end?? So many different theories I may or may not have googled. The plot twist really is what knocked it down from 5 stars for me. I needed one more chapter…. Or even paragraph really… to give an explanation of what happens after the subway doors open.

all in all, it was a great read and I highly recommend it - just make sure you’re in the headspace for something pretty dark.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Islamophobia, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, and War

slouisehenry's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Abortion

Moderate: Violence and Xenophobia

meaghanslibrary's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I think it was really good but I also maybe wouldn’t recommend it to everyone because of the strong themes. I do wonder how much is based off of the author’s life because it was interesting reading her end thoughts about the book and it seems like it is really semi autobiographical. I think more of it is about her life then I initially thought. It was interesting to hear how she wrote this as a story fiction because she was afraid of what her family might think but yet she was also trying to break the silence and balance that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, War, and Classism

massara's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

This was an absolutely heart-wrenching read written in such a magnificent way. It is an excellent representation of generational trauma and how it can continue to affect families as they grow. I appreciate Rum's use of each of the character's different perspectives as they opened my eyes to the horrors my ancestors could have faced as well. This book is of course a novel but it might as well be non-fiction due to all the unfortunate truths within the pages of it. Highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Xenophobia

linesiunderline's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a difficult read - the kind of book that gives you the feeling of being there, right alongside someone going through traumatic, life altering experiences. I felt connected to all of the female protagonists and I think Rum did an outstanding job crafting women who were multifaceted and who seemed authentic.

Why not 5⭐️? For me, when reading this type of story that is often harrowing, I appreciate a style that is more poetic than I found here. This is not to say that Rum’s prose is weak. It’s more direct, and perhaps for some this might make the events / themes come across even more powerfully. Personally, I like a little more rich use of language in narratives with heavier themes and content. 

A strong reading experience that made an impact and left me eager to read more by this writer.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

hafsahrai's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy