A Woman Is No Man Book Review
“Where I come from, voicelessness is the condition of my gender, as normal as the bosoms on a woman’s chest, as necessary as the next generation growing inside her belly.”
Etaf Rum weaves an emotional, multigenerational tale of Arab women in New York City. The own-voices, debut novel speaks frankly of power, abuse, and the freedom of choice as seen through the eyes of the women of the Ra’ad family - Fareeda, the matriarch, her daughter-in-law, Isra, and Deya, the outspoken, rebellious , granddaughter.
At the center of the story is an exploration of domestic abuse, the value of women in the Arab community, and the place of women in the world.
This novel left me reeling. Etaf Rum writes beautifully about Arab tradition and values. You will feel each blow and shed tears along side Irsa.
The dialogue between characters is, however, often awkward and clunky. It feels out of place from the gorgeous prose. Deya and her sisters are simultaneously wise beyond their years, especially considering how sheltered their lives are supposed to be, and completely naive.
This is a story that wants and needs to be told but unfortunately, I feel that it did not get the attention it deserves due to this discrepancy in writing styles sitting juxtaposed on the same page.
I do feel this is worth the read. Don’t read it expecting it to be the most beautiful piece of literature you’ve read in 2020 but read it anyways. Read it because the voice of women depends on the visibility of these ugly truths; because not all females have the right to speak.
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