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bobbijopmh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is not the best-written book you'll ever read—it has some issues with repetition, the plot wasn't particularly engaging, and was a little predictable—however, it's a perspective that is lacking in contemporary fiction. It's definitely a perspective we need to see more of—but it's only one perspective, and I feel like it simplifies the complexity of the issues it addresses. There is no subtlety and nuance in the stories of the characters.
That's not to say don't read it—do... But also look for broader perspectives because this is clearly not the experience of every Palestinian immigrant or every Muslim woman in America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
kylieqrada's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Don't mind me, just sitting in my car on my lunch break feeling ALL THE FEELS. This was such a timely read, given what's going on in Palestine atm. Israeli oppression of Palestinians is portrayed in heart-breaking clarity as a backdrop to the story. It is also a very intense read, so check CWs before jumping in. Etaf Rum's prose is lovely, and the voices of Deya, Isra, and Fareeda are so clear and uniquely their own in a way that I haven't experienced in a multiple POV story in a while. The treatment of women in traditional Arabic culture is portrayed so poignantly, and I really liked how the author made it clear that the Islamic faith does not condone that treatment. The different ways we cope with trauma and the effects of intergenerational trauma are also explored. Highly, highly recommend this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
kait_sixcrowsbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Rep:
- Palestinian/Palestinian-American cast
- written by a Palestinian-American
DNF @ p. 166
I understood what the author was trying to convey, but in the end...it did not work for me. So much so that I ended up DNFing about halfway through. To me, there's two big problems, the first being how the themes in the book are conveyed. It isn't...subtle? At all? I lost count of how many times something along the lines of "that isn't a woman's place" or "a woman isn't a man" is said throughout the book. It just kept repeating over and over, and it ended up just being tedious. We understand that the women in this story are trapped and/or helpless and aren't valued as they should be. That doesn't need repeating twice every chapter. On top of that, I felt like the other issues (alcoholism, domestic violence, generational trauma, and the like) kinda fell on the wayside? Weren't explored very much? Granted, they could be explored more in the latter half of the book, but what I got from the first half wasn't a ton. What I especially didn't like was the assumption that trauma only breeds more trauma (in terms of domestic violence) and that all Arab men were just stuck in that cycle forever, as if they couldn't be changed or change themselves in order to create a better future.
And the other thing that seemed off to me while I was reading was that...it seems like the book was written with the white gaze/audience in mind? Like, all Arab women are stuck in unloving relationship, all Arab girls are placed into arranged marriages that are ultimately full of domestic violence, rape, and hatred for one another, all Arab men are alcoholics and can't work through their own trauma in a healthy way, that's just the way things are. And like. I'm not saying these things don't happen or that they aren't problems that need to be addressed, but the majority of the characters in the novel, if not all of them, say "Oh, that's just how it is." in response to any of this. I dunno, just the way I read it, it seems to really other Arab folks in the eyes of non-Arab people, as if to say, "Well, at least we aren't that bad." and to further solidify stereotypes people have of the Arab community. And, as an extension, the Muslim community since Islam also seemed to play a large role in the characters' lives, and many non-Arab folks tend to conflate the two.
And to have these two issues clash together -- the non-nuance and blatant repetition of the themes and the appeal to the white gaze/audience -- just made for a real bad reading experience. I think if there was more nuance, I would have been able to fight my way through it, but what I've read? Nah, it definitely wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Misogyny and Xenophobia
The misogyny also includes internalized misogyny.shrionih's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Xenophobia