by: Etaf Rum
Goodreads description:
The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of A Woman Is No Man returns with a striking exploration of the expectations of Palestinian-American women, the meaning of a fulfilling life, and the ways our unresolved pasts affect our presents.
Raised in a conservative and emotionally volatile Palestinian family in Brooklyn, Yara thought she would finally feel free when she married a charming entrepreneur who took her to the suburbs. She’s gotten to follow her dreams, completing an undergraduate degree in Art and landing a good job at the local college. As a traditional wife, she also raises their two school-aged daughters, takes care of the house, and has dinner ready when her husband gets home. With her family balanced with her professional ambitions, Yara knows that her life is infinitely more rewarding than her own mother’s. So why doesn’t it feel like enough?
After her dream of chaperoning a student trip to Europe evaporates and she responds to a colleague’s racist provocation, Yara is put on probation at work and must attend mandatory counseling to keep her position. Her mother blames a family curse for the trouble she’s facing, and while Yara doesn’t really believe in old superstitions, she still finds herself growing increasingly uneasy with her mother’s warning and the possibility of falling victim to the same mistakes.
Shaken to the core by these indictments of her life, Yara finds her carefully constructed world beginning to implode. To save herself, Yara must reckon with the reality that the difficulties of the childhood she thought she left behind have very real—and damaging—implications not just on her own future but that of her daughters.
Helen says: 🤓🤓🤓 1/2
This is the story of a life of misery. It has a slow start. The main character, Yara, is deeply depressed. It was kind of boring and monotonous to read how unhappy she was, but then… it picked up…so keep reading…Yara didn’t have anyone on her side- her husband, he family, her coworkers. I can’t imagine how horrible that would feel. This book was a tad draining. I preferred A Woman is no Man, which was a similar theme and written by the author a few years ago. My review sounds kind of negative, but it was a good book and worth reading.
Holly says: 🤓🤓🤓3/4
This book is heavy and very original. A heavy topic that spans all societies and is addressed and written about here in a very beautiful and relatable voice. The pain is palpable, and the effects throughout Yara’s life are tangible. You will want more for Yara, and you will feel deeply for her as you learn more and more about her life, from childhood to her current married life. Very interestingly, the author, Etaf Rum, of Palestinian heritage, lives near Rocky Mount, NC, and owns Books and Beans coffee shop and bookstore there. I would love to meet her! I think an outing to Rocky Mount and a definite stop at Books and Beans is in store! Read this one too – read them all this month!
Helen and Holly Hit the Books 