Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Evil Eye

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum is a deeply powerful and raw novel that sheds light on complex and challenging topics such as DV, power imbalances in relationships, gaslighting, manipulation, and the lasting impact of generational trauma. I’ve rarely seen these issues portrayed in such a nuanced and insightful way.

While this book can be incredibly difficult to read at times due to the weight of its subject matter, it's also profoundly impactful. Rum doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of these issues, making the story both heart-wrenching and incredibly validating for those who have experienced similar struggles. As someone who has felt isolated by these kinds of experiences, I found Yara's journey to be a beacon of understanding. Her story made me feel less alone and deeply seen.

That being said, readers who have a personal history with DV or manipulation may find certain parts of the novel especially tough. However, I believe the depth of understanding and empathy that Rum offers makes this a must-read. The way she explores these difficult topics is unlike anything I've encountered in literature before.

I wholeheartedly recommend Evil Eye for anyone ready to engage with a story that is both challenging and cathartic. It's an incredible piece of work that will stay with me for a long time.

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clovetra's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

etaf rum has done it again. god she’s such an amazing storyteller.

if i was the type of reader to give half stars, this would 100% be a 4.5/5. alas i am too anal about my storygraph & goodreads ratings matching so here we are.

i’ll say the only real “downside” i found with this novel is from purely an enjoyment stance, yara becomes very repetitive in her dialogue, sometimes making this book feel like im just reading the same chapter over and over again. i understand it is likely a commentary on the generational trauma yara is experiencing, and the fact she literally points out many times how she feels like she is going in a circle and needs to break the cycle in her family. purely as a reader, it does become tiring and frustrating, but honestly im not too mad at it as i understand the reasons thematically for it. the book at times also felt slightly devoid of anything beyond yara. yes i know she’s the protag but literally i know nothing about her kids. yet again another commentary on how yara is in her head so much she literally cannot define her children’s personalities but as a reader i wanted more!

i really enjoyed rum’s depiction of mental illness in this book. it felt very realistic, and having read rum’s previous book, i was worried we would get another incredibly depressing ending, so im thankful that in some form things were looking up for yara. this book really did feel like an extension of themes introduced in ‘a woman is no man’ in the best way, where instead of just making the author feel the depths of despair with a downer ending, i like that in this story yara is beginning to break free from her traumas one step at a time. i also thoroughly adored her character development. honestly this book felt like it rectified everything “missing” within ‘a woman is no man’, and even then that book was absolute fire. and so was this.

the ending was quite cute too, and i’m very pleased this book didn’t give in to letting the protagonist suffer a tragic fate, and instead let her grow beyond what is expected of her.

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boop123's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring 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

A very poignant read that touches on the intricacies and complexities of motherhood, intergenerational trauma, being a woman of color, and living with a family with conservative values. I highlighted so many quotes on here so you know it’s good!

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anni_banani's review against another edition

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emotional reflective relaxing tense 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

Thank you for this book wow. I can’t recommend it enough
This is so unique to me to go through an entire self love healing journey including mental health tools and resources, dealing with your shadow side. I love a moody novel about a character dealing with their emotional health but a healing journey so thorough like this is novel for me.
I found the MC deeply relatable, sometimes she was badass and didn’t take any bullshit fed to her from the world and sometimes she is lost in self doubt, she struggles but is not defined by it, she has blessings and privileges but finds herself stuck in the compliance society thrusts upon us, she overcomes. I am so deeply invested in Yara’s journey that not only did i weep deeply at the end but I still hope the best for her.

I loved how the story alternated between Yara’s experience and the diary entries.

The way we find out this is her journey incited by the loss of her mother was breathtaking

Heads up any time you read Rum’s books you will need a lot of amazing Palestinian food!

I will be reading all of Rum’s work to come. Lifelong Fan for sure!

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thunderling's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

god, this book...i finished it in one day. this book made me feel everything. i was angry about 70% of the time because the gaslighting was doing my head in. but that's the sign of a good author because golly does she make you feel.

i'm not one for character-driven books because i find that the plot usually falls on the wayside but etaf rum does a wonderful job by exploring yara's journey. the writing is beautiful but not too flowery so it didn't fall flat. i was so invested in yara's journey and i didn't understand why people said it was boring. perhaps because i relate so heavily to yara's identity!

my one tiny critique is that i wish the whole situation about the trip was less insistent. i think if etaf rum had shown how

fadi isn't emotionally invested in his wife's interests some other way

that would have been more impactful. but honestly, it's not major that i would lessen my rating.

i also wish we got more of silas! i thoroughly enjoyed his friendship with yara.

it's definitely a book that will stay with me for a looong time. definitely gonna read a woman is no man next!

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mrlsdevos's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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theboricuabookworm's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring fast-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

I knew this book was going to wreck me, especially after reading A Woman is No Man but reading this, which followed many of the same themes but also many new ones of A Woman is No Man, was such a emotional rollercoaster. I'm going to need everyone to pick up a book by Etaf Rum (preferably all of them). The way that Etaf can create a story of women, especially daughters of immigrants, who come from a background of such pain and grief is something I think everyone needs to experience. Her works are literally indescribable.

Yara, I saw so much of myself in her. How her anxiety would manifest, how once she gave words to what was she feeling, only then was she able to start on her journey of healing and acceptance. I'm so glad that even though Yara had poor therapy experiences prior to Esther, she did not let that dissuade her from going back and trying again and realizing the importance of having someone to talk to. When Esther said: "There is no hierarchy of pain when it comes to traumatic experiences." I wanted to reach into the book and hug her. She was not the perfect therapist but she is one that helped Yara come to terms with how she had been living her life until that point and how she can make it better for herself and her daughters.

Every time someone asked if she had someone she could talk to or rely on and she would reply in the negative was such a gut punch. That loneliness is so visceral and it crept up on her before she knew it. But how she became more open to letting people in, even unwittingly at first, had me smiling through my tears.

I know my words and review will never be able to do justice to the way Etaf wove such a heartbreaking yet restorative story of breaking generational cycles and realizing that while you have such immense privilege that others prior to you and adjacent to you do not, you are still valid in your feelings and your grief.

Content Warnings

nithya_natalya's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-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

4.0

Trying to read more books by Palestinian authors, and this one showed up on a few lists of recs. I'm not normally a literary fiction fan, so I struggled through this. So much of this book is Yara's inner thoughts, and not a lot of plot. Normally, I would hate that. However, I'm giving it 4 stars though because it made me cry multiple times, and the fact that it brought such strong emotions at me means it was doing something right. I saw myself and my family in Yara's experience. I also am a sucker for storylines involving platonic love, and there was a great friendship in this.

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