Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

37 reviews

ratnix's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child 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, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Murder, and Alcohol

clovetra'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

this book was heartbreaking in so many ways
ill be honest, i find trying to put my thoughts of this novel into words is quite difficult. i have many feelings over this story. 
i felt like crying most of the time whilst reading this book. i did not expect this book to be *this* harrowing. 
i love how there are perspectives from all three generations, and i enjoyed seeing each woman challenge the others thoughts and at times reinforce them.
ill be honest and say many aspects of this book were played up with an air of mystery, which seemed quite predictable for me. i don't feel like its right for me to comment on if its predictable nature was fair or not, but i will say it was a tad frustrating solely from a reader's perspective when mysteries were dragged on for so long.
i'll also say i am a bit disappointed at the ending. i understand the point of the last chapter - im not mad about that. i more so would've liked to see a general change in the atmosphere of fareeda's household. sure change doesn't happen over night, but i don't know, even possibly a chapter of fareeda

reconnecting with sarah, or deya visiting isra's grave

would've been nice. 
im conflicted on this book. it was quite a serious, emotional, and heavy story, which i usually stray from (i use my books as escapism, so reading incredibly depressing books usually destroys my mental health), but i will say this was written incredibly well. it feels tone-deaf to describe the writing as "beautiful" due to the content & subtext of this book, but i will say etaf rum has a magnificent way with words - it toes the line of lyrical yet colloquial which i adored. 
i was very tempted to give this 5 stars, but i didn't scramble to read this book at certain parts, but i will say at the end of part II is when i got really into this book. before that, i wont deny, i was gripped by the plot, but only once the plot picked up, so did my interest. i also do think some of the speech the characters use is a bit forced and clunky, but it wasn't a glaring issue
the book can also be a bit repetitive at times with its dialogue, and it does sometimes feel like groundhog day. i feel i cant properly fault the book on this issue as it fits in its context, but yet again, as a reader it was a bit boring. that feels mean im so sorry
i don't know. i feel like this review is all over the place. and honestly, that's how i felt emotionally reading this book. i can see myself loving this book a lot more through a re-read though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Suicide, Medical content, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Genocide

jordynkw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

underwaterlauren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Islamophobia, Abortion, and Alcohol

jlfields925's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child death and Car accident

Minor: Miscarriage, Islamophobia, and Abortion

rmaff's review against another edition

challenging informative

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

I haven't been inclined to read literary fiction for the past few years but with current events in Palestine, I felt compelled to read this book. It's also worth noting that I live in the neighborhood in which this book takes place.

All that being said, this is the best, most moving and gripping book I've read in years. Although the story was mercilessly dark and hard to read at times, I could not put it down. I feel a new sense of appreciation for my own culture where I am a woman who's free to make my own choices; and I feel enlightened to how women in other cultures are treated and seen (or not).

After the big reveal around the 2/3 mark I wasn't sure how the rest of the story would play out but that final chapter was heart-wrenching.

Every woman should read this book regardless of their race, cultural background or home.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Alcohol

ranbara's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Never before has a book brought me to tears.. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Islamophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Car accident

karo_g's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol

kiramke's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

I'm glad this book exists for people who need it. But it was a drudge of a book, not well-written except maybe to a very specific target audience.  That does not impact my sympathy for anyone in any similar situation, of course.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Alcohol

myachap's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Alcohol