Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

85 reviews

shay43geek's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse

queenkath32's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad

• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Grief, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia

andi_moller's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book is a beautifully written story in the perspective of a Palestinian-American woman struggling through complex trauma, and multi-generational trauma. It takes you along her journey to find healing but it also brings you through a glimpse of how it is like to live as a Palestinian wife and mother, the pressures it brings, the trauma that is passed down. She reflects on memories with her Teta (grandmother), who lived during and survived the Nabka. 

This book has given me so much love for Etaf (the author) and Palestinian women. It's given a much needed perspective that provides empathy and heart for palestinian women, instead of dismissal and justification. I'm so thankful for Etaf's vulnerability through her writing and stories.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Domestic abuse

courtthelionberryanne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A poignant story of a Palestinian American woman struggling with trauma and finding her own identity. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

clalaure's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Violence

Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia

megansoetaert's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i really, truly love etaf rum. her writing is so emotional, conveying so much in her characters and stories. this book deals with intergenerational trauma, mental health, cultural expectations, what it means to be a “good” woman and mother, and passion as an artist. I don’t know how Rum puts so much of herself out there while writing fiction, but Evil Eye is better for it. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

shakira19's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

letsgolesbians's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Physical abuse

mandi_lea's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Racism, Misogyny, Xenophobia, and Grief

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I Listened to the audiobook version and the narrator did an amazing job! I loved this maybe even more than Rum’s first book🩵 I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Evil Eye is told through the POV of Yara, our MC, both in the present but also sometimes switches to her journal entries reflecting on/flashing back to her childhood and relationship with her family. The flashbacks also share stories of Yara visiting Palestine and her grandparents experience in refugee camps following the Nakba.

I enjoyed getting to learn more about Palestine and Palestinian culture. The food descriptions and imagery as a whole was very well written! I also enjoyed the discussions on white feminism and the idea of “saving Arab women.” The character development and getting to know Yara, as well as the side characters, was incredible. I really felt like I got to know everyone in this novel!

The novel was very insightful, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking novel. Giving readers a complex look at facing childhood trauma, marriage, mother-daughter relationships. and finding your voice. I highly recommend Evil Eye, especially if you love complex characters and deeply emotional/moving stories!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Colonisation

Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, Islamophobia, and Grief

Minor: Infidelity and Suicidal thoughts