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Etaf Rum

A Woman Is No Man

Etaf RumFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

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Book Brief

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Etaf Rum

A Woman Is No Man

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019
Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Brooklyn, New York • 2000s

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum is an intergenerational story following Isra, a Palestinian immigrant in Brooklyn, and her daughter Deya, who grows up in the same household 18 years later. Isra navigates a difficult life dictated by cultural expectations, marked by domestic duties and abuse, while Deya uncovers long-hidden family secrets, leading her to take control of her destiny. Themes of domestic violence, abuse, and trauma appear throughout the book.

Challenging

Emotional

Melancholic

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.3

176,111 ratings

85%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Etaf Rum’s A Woman Is No Man is praised for its poignant and evocative portrayal of Palestinian-American women's struggles across generations. Reviews commend the novel's authentic voice and powerful narrative but note that the pacing occasionally feels slow and some character development lacks depth. Overall, it's an impactful, though imperfect, exploration of cultural and familial pressures.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Woman Is No Man?

A reader who would enjoy A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum is likely interested in multicultural narratives, family dynamics, and women's experiences in patriarchal societies. Fans of Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns and Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere will appreciate its emotional depth and cultural insights.

4.3

176,111 ratings

85%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Brooklyn, New York • 2000s

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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