Today I have a review of A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum. Brace yourselves, friends. This is one of my favorite books of 2019! Thanks to Harper Books for the invitation to read and review!
My Thoughts:
Sometimes you read a book and you have no idea where to start because your emotions are all over the place? Am I right? But I also want to write my review now because my emotions are fresh, and this book was an emotional ride from start to finish.
Told in two past timelines with different narrators, we mostly hear from eighteen-year-old Deya, and her mother, Isra. We also occasionally hear from Fareeda, Deya’s grandmother and Isra’s mother-in-law.
The family is Palestinian, and the story begins with Isra living in Palestine and succumbing to an arranged marriage with a Palestinian American, Adam. I say “succumbing” because she did not want to get married and leave her family thousands of miles behind.
Isra also shares that she did not grow up in the most loving of homes, including insights into a daughter’s unique role in the family- getting the tea and coffee just right, not being educated, and keeping quiet about the physical abuse that occurs.
Deya also does not want to get married, and Fareeda is working hard to arrange her match. Deya Dreams of college and loves to read. She travels many of the same roads as her mother- being seen as a burden because she is a girl, not placing a value on her education, her voice not being heard, requiring constant supervision…
There’s also a mystery within this story. Deya has been told her parents died in a car accident, but she learns that is not the case. So what happened to them? There is a web of secrets Deya never could have imagined.
I savored A Woman Is No Man. I read it slowly and reflected throughout. The writing is beautiful, but precise, and completely engaging, and it begs thoughtfulness. In my own family, I received mixed messages about the roles of women, but mostly, my biggest takeaways were that I was to be educated and fierce. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be taught the exact opposite messages, repeatedly, day in and out, with total silence about reality being the norm.
Overall, A Woman Is No Man is a thoughtful, honest, powerful portrayal of a family, its cultural values, and its inner workings. Sometimes we remember the experiences we have while reading a book. The thoughts, self-reflections. I can tell you this story will never leave me.
This important article written by the author is not to be missed. https://lithub.com/even-after-writing-my-novel-shame-kept-me-from-sharing-my-story/
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
Introducing a brave, new Arab-American voice, an unflinching debut novel that takes us inside a world where few of us have been before: the lives of conservative Arab women living in America.
In Brooklyn, eighteen-year-old Deya is starting to meet with suitors. Though she doesn’t want to get married, her grandparents give her no choice. History is repeating itself: Deya’s mother, Isra, also had no choice when she left Palestine as a teenager to marry Adam. Though Deya was raised to believe her parents died in a car accident, a secret note from a mysterious, yet familiar-looking woman makes Deya question everything she was told about her past. As the narrative alternates between the lives of Deya and Isra, she begins to understand the dark, complex secrets behind her fragile community.
Set in an America that may feel removed yet is all too close at hand, A Woman Is No Man is both a gripping page-turner and an intimate family portrait. Fans of The Kite Runner and Everything I Never Told You will be drawn to this powerful novel.
Have you read A Woman Is No Man, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
I will add this to my wishlist. Great review as always 😀
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Thanks, Jules! This was such an unforgettable read. ♥️
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This sounds really interesting, Jennifer! I love learning about other cultures, especially from this kind of vantage point. Well done💜
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Thanks, Jonetta! Yes, it was absolutely fascinating to have Palestinian American characters because there was so much to learn about the culture. This book is so memorable and well-done. ♥️
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Beautiful review and picture of sleeping 😴 kitty, Jennifer. I have not read this one and added it to my tbr list. Happy Reading! 🌼🌼❤️📚🐱😘🌺🌺
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Thanks, Virginia! This book is gorgeous in so many ways, and I definitely strongly recommend it for you. I think you’ll love it. ♥️
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This sounds like an important book, Jen. I can’t imagine what that must be like to be put down all the time like that especially after being brought up the exact opposite like you mention. Amazing review. Glad this one turned out to be unforgettable. ❤
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Thanks, favorite M! This book is so special, so well-done. I can hardly believe it’s a debut, and I’m so grateful I read it. It’s so important that everyone has a voice. ♥️ xoxo
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Lovely review!
It’s nice to find books that make you reflect and think about stuff ❤
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Thanks, Norrie! I think so too! We really come to learn that way! ♥️
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What a wonderful review. I can tell that this book really had a big impact on you. Glad to hear that you loved it so much. Adding it.
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Thanks, Diana! It truly did impact me and left a mark on me. I hope you get a chance to read it. ♥️
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Oh my gosh, your kitty is adorable! This sounds like a very powerful read, and the fact that it’s a favorite 2019 book really makes me want to grab a copy😊
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Thanks, Tammy! She plays hard and rests hard, too! 😂 If this book at all interests you, I hope you get a chance to read it. It’s so memorable and eye-opening.
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Wow what a wonderful review Jen! I’m going to have to read this one NOW!! 😍Happy Wednesday my friend!!💜💙
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Thanks, Sus! I hope your Wednesday was lovely and I hope you get a chance to read this book. It’s so, so good! ♥️
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Wow. Sounds like a very powerful book! It’s already on my list! Great review!!
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Thanks, Heather! It should most definitely be on your list, my friend! ♥️
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Fabulous review! I have this one on audio and I need to get to it sooner than later, your review has really intrigue me even more!💕
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Thanks, Berit! It’s such a great book! ♥️
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This book sounds fantastic! Wonderful review.
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Thanks, Yvo! It’s so memorable and important.
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My copy finally arrived in the mail, and I can’t wait to have time to read it! I may have to try to work it in as a book for my Popsugar Challenge, hmm! If you loved it this much, then I know that I will. Beautiful review, Jennifer! xoxo ♥
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Thanks, Steph! I’m excited for you to read it. It’s so memorable and special. I think you are going to love it too. ♥️
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You’re welcome! I am too! I can’t wait until May and summer break…now if I don’t start piling up with ARCs and ruin my plans to read my own books (mostly) all summer then I’ll be good! I think I will too! ❤
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I’m so ready for summer too! ♥️
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Me too although I won’t look forward to 100 degree temps, ugh!
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So much raw emotion in this review. I am almost scared to go read the book and that is a really good thing because I am a sucker for reading things that get my emotions all worked up. I think I need to go and get this book off my shelf ASAP.
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Thanks, Kala! I hope you get a chance to read it! It’s definitely powerful and emotional. I love those kinds of stories too. ♥️
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The book sounds wonderful. And that is the best cat pic yet! Aww, adorable! 😀
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This book is so memorable and important, FF. Aww, thank you! She’s so funny and makes me laugh every day!
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Oh wow! This sounds incredible. What a great review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Chrissi. It is high on my favorites list!
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One of your favourite books of 2019? I need to read it then! Sounds amazing Jenni 😍
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Beth, I thought of you while I was reading, and I wished we were reading it together. It’s a slower-moving story that goes deep into this family and culture. I definitely think you’d find it memorable, too. ♥️
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Not THIS is book I definitely will search out and read! I am very involved in the rights of the Palestinian people and their stories, their lives are so seldom told in literature. Going off to look for this now. Thank you Jennifer!
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My pleasure, Mackey! I know you are right. I have only read one other book, Sadness is a White Bird, that offered perspective on Palestine, but it was written by a Jewish American. This book added tremendously to my understanding, and I’m so grateful the author bravely wrote this story.
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Don’t think the book is for me but you can definitely send me the cat 😂 That pic 💜💜💜
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♥️ 😂 Kelly, I can’t send her to you! I’m miss her way too much! She is so funny and sweet! She stepped in a piece of her food just now and kicked up her heels like a horse! 😂 Love her! Thank you so much!
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😂 I have a little furry friend here who probably won’t want the company anyway 😄 Cats are supposed to be elegant creatures but they can be so clumsy, Mel always makes me laugh too!
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I saw your furry friend- adorable! ♥️
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Your love for this book shows through, Jennifer. I have already added this book to the Book Mountain.
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Thanks, Marialyce. Thank you for saying that, too. This is one of those books I want to put in everyone’s hands. I hope you enjoy it! ♥️
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Look at Kitty in the background!! 🥰
I like the sound of this book, Jennifer. I hadn’t heard of it. Great review!!
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Thanks, Laurie! I loved this one! Tops for the year, really! That’s my silly Harper back there! 😂 ♥️
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I just read the article you recommended about Etaf Rum. Powerful!! (I grew up in Brooklyn too, and now live in NC.) I’m totally curious about this book now, Jennifer. It’s calling to mind a book I read about 27 years ago called “Princess.” It had such an effect on me.
Thanks for sharing this. I think I’m going to get this book. 😊
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I hope you have a chance to read it, Laurie. I just really connected with it and learned so much. I’ll have to check out Princess. That wasn’t made into a movie, by chance, was it?
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I don’t think it was made into a movie. 🤔 Princess is actually based on the life of a Saudi Arabian woman, not a Palestinian woman, but A Woman Is No Man conjured up memories of Princess. The book is by Jean P. Sasson. I actually still have it!
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