Book Brief
336
Novel • Fiction
Brooklyn, New York • 2000s
2019
Adult
18+ years
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
176,111 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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 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.
176,111 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
336
Novel • Fiction
Brooklyn, New York • 2000s
2019
Adult
18+ years
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