A Woman Is No Man - Etaf Rum - ★★★.½

AUTHOR: Etaf Rum

GENRE: Middle-East Fiction.

PUBLICATION DATE: March 5, 2019

RATING: 3.5 stars.

Some books aren't cushy reads. When you read through the story, you experience all the varying emotions from rage to helplessness to sadness to disgust. This is one such book.

The book tells the story of three women of Palestinian descent: Deya, Isra, and Fareeda. Each of a different generation, each of a different ideology, each with a different personality. Their life in Brooklyn is neither smooth nor carefree and each battles a separate demon secretly. Thus their circumstances are similar to a great extent but how they react to it is very different.

There are many scenes in this book that just caused me to boil in fury. Like I said, it isn't an easy book to read. You just feel like shaking some of the women characters in the hope of drilling some sense in their head. Many of the situations in the book hit too close to home, and you begin to wonder why such regressive beliefs about gender are so common in certain parts of the world, including India. I have no answer to this.

The basic concept of the book is superb. The age-old tussle between tradition and modernity, and between conservatism and liberalism is illustrated quite nicely through the story. Though the entire book is from the female perspective, it also highlights the unfair pressure on men to live up to social requirements.

Sadly, it is not a very well-written book. Though it is very interesting to read the personalised narratives from the three female voices, the book stumbles in certain parts and indulges in quite a lot of needless rhetoric. But as this is a debut work, I think I ought to be a bit more forgiving towards the author.

You'll find yourself remembering Khaled Hosseini's work, especially 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', many times in the course of reading 'A Woman is No Man'. But there's no comparison. He is a master of his art and Etaf Rum still has some way to go before she can grip the readers with her writing. Yet, this book is compelling in its own way.

Do I recommend it or not? I'm still not sure. Fabulous story, above average but not excellent writing. The story won't leave you easily. If you think you can look beyond the flaws and focus on the (unfortunately) realistic narrative, you must read it. But mind you, it is not a pleasant read. If you are grappling with depression or aren't in a frivolous mood, don't pick up this book. It can rattle your confidence in the world.