Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

2 reviews

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad 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

4.75

This was a rough one, and I was surprised that it was on Jenna Bush Hager's reading list, but I'm probably judging her unfairly based on her father. I thought the book unfolded very well, and I will definitely read this author again. Lots of digging fingernails into legs, though. Maybe that was on purpose to connect the generations of women?

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Child death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Car accident, Alcohol, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Abortion, Alcoholism, and Blood

Minor: Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Infertility

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: Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Islamophobia, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Child death, Car accident, Bullying, and Body shaming