A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum 5/5 Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction (2019), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Debut Novel (2019) Version française: Le silence d’Isra Synopsis In Brooklyn, eighteen-year-old Deya is starting to meet with suitors. Though she doesn’t want to get married, her grandparents give her no choice. History is repeating itself: Deya’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. My thoughts Reviews for mind-blowingly good books are always the hardest to write. Most times, there is little to say other than "Go! Go experience this marvellous piece of art!" Alas, that does not make for very pertinent content. A Woman is No Man is one of those indescribable novels. The power of the themes of feminism, immigrant integration and religion brought up shine a light on issues often hyper-politicized by the media. Sometimes it is easy to forget the people behind the movements, the people whose lives are fundamentally affected by politician's decisions, societal stereotypes and religious customs. AWNM is a much-needed reminder of the humans behind the debates. Now, I should also make clear that this book can the potential to trigger many individuals with scenes of assault and abuse. The book also has the potential to be misinterpreted. Rum herself feared that this book would further stereotypes against Palestinian and, more broadly, Muslim migrants particularly when it comes to women’s rights. However, as I believe Rum does wonderfully, the mistreatments of Isra and Deya are not inherently due to Islam itself, but rather the deeply ingrained gender hierarchy imposed by men to keep control over their wives and daughters. To judge an entire religion based on the interpretation of texts by some politically motivated individuals would not only be wrong, but also hypocritical considering that the Western Judeo-Christian society puts similar pressures on young women. Hence, when AWNM and this review discusses religion, it is important to note that both are not a critique of Islam, but rather of the nefarious use of its principles which have created a toxic environment for the characters. Rum’s construction of Deya and Isra’s identities were undoubtedly the most noteworthy part of this novel. Isra, the shy intellectual, and Deya, the courageous agitator, take us through the journey of both first-generation and second-generation migrants. Both were complex, fully realized characters. The few moments where they connect are powerful and brutally honest. Starting from the second half, we also get introduced in more details to Fareeda, Isra’s stepmother and Deya’s grandmother and caretaker. Fareeda in many ways represents the traditional housewife and mother. However, she also defies all expectations by continuously standing up to her alcoholic husband. To me, she was the most interesting character as she seems to represent a model of female empowerment, yet constantly judges Isra and crushes Deya’s dreams of an education. She seems to have interiorized the sexist expectations of Palestinian wives, yet also is painfully aware that doing so is the only way to survive. The male characters, particularly Adam, were powerful messengers as they showed the reader what it is like to move to a new country, start a business and live up to your family’s immense expectations. We witness Adam’s mental decline as he tries to balance his disappointments, challenging work life and expectations as the first son, the family provider. Nothing in AWNM is black or white. When things seem straightforward, they hide a level of depth that is not only a teaching moment, but also deeply moving.
The plot was slow for the first two-thirds of the book as we need a lot of context to properly understand the crux of the issue and Deya’s ensuing rebellion. However, it is not boring in the least. Rum's writing style and the characters' psychologies are interesting enough without the need to have a constant turn of events. It was like going on a boat ride: the conductor moves slowly to give you enough time to contemplate the carefully built scenery. On the other hand, the last third is fast-paced and has a proper plot twist, which is something quite rare in fiction these days. Additionally, without spoiling, the ending is also majestic. Overall, the plot feels like a complete full-circle moment. Rum is clearly not just a talented writer, but also a storyteller that knows how to keep her audience enthralled at all times. In conclusion, I believe that everyone needs to read AWNM. It is through literature and art that we come to understand each other better, that we become empathic of situations far away from our own. Combine a unique story with an amazing writer and a subtly powerful plot and you have the chance to change the world. Rum is just getting started and I cannot wait to see where she goes next. If you liked A Woman is No Man, you will love… Mãn by Kim Thúy We should all be feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck
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