About the Book

A Woman is No Man

A Woman Is No Man

Author: Etaf Rum
Pages: 336
ISBN: 0062699768
Genre: Cultural, Fiction
Publisher: Harper
Released: March 5, 2019

Rating:

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Synopsis

This debut novel by an Arab-American voice,takes us inside the lives of conservative Arab women living in America.
In Brooklyn, eighteen-year-old Deya is starting to meet with suitors. Though she doesnโ€™t want to get married, her grandparents give her no choice. History is repeating itself: Deyaโ€™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 community.


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Our Review


“๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ, ๐˜ท๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ข ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ฎ๐˜บ ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ…”โฃโฃโฃ
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The book follows three generations of Arab woman and how their Muslim culture dictates their fate. Silenced, beaten, and unloved; a woman’s place is beneath her husband. Happiness is not an option and submission is a demand. It’s always been this way for as long as they can remember. This is just how itโ€™s supposed to be. โฃโฃ
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The story then follows the family as they emigrate to the United States and settle in New York. It’s difficult to uphold their cultural heritage here, but an Arab family must maintain their honor no matter the costs. โฃโฃ
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As the plot unfolds, you get an intimate glimpse inside the womenโ€™s struggles and courageous acts. While searching for their own voices the family secrets begin to surface… secrets that can tear a family apart. โฃโฃ
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I was emotionally invested in this book and really felt for the characters. The plot unravels seamlessly and the writing is beautiful. Cultural and/or Domestic Fiction fans will like this one! โฃโฃโฃ

This book was used for prompt #17: Members most loved on BOTM website, in the BOTM 30/30 Summer 2019 Challenge

Reading this book contributed to these challenges: