Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

65 reviews

gkaltam's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting

msvernier's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

taliabasma's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed reading Yara’s journey however, it was so frustrating throughout the whole book, which I’m sure was the author’s intention anyway so in that regards, she was successful at making me feel the frustration that Yara felt as she tried to break free from the chains of her trauma. 

Had I not been reading this for a bookclub, I would’ve stopped ages ago - not because the writing was bad, but because I hate reading anything that isn’t a romance lol

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Racism and Islamophobia

bitesizedbeet's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

rachelfayreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, and War

nerp's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Absolutely stunning and heartbreaking. It’s such a brilliant study of intergenerational trauma and identity—something many people of color face, but some of which is very distinct to the experience of being Palestinian. Beautiful prose (especially in Yara’s journal) and thoughtful in its approach to its themes. The audiobook is lovely.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Racism and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Domestic abuse and Violence

author2223's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Islamophobia

Minor: Genocide and War

meimeililylil's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

Okay, so I devoured this second book after loving her first one.  NOT a warm and fuzzy read nor is it action-packed, so if you’re looking for that type of story, this is not it. A Woman is No Man has more action. However, Evil Eye is still a great read for other reasons.

This novel paints a heartbreaking picture of generational trauma. The story drags for most of the book, I’m talking barely any action, but it seems that the author did this intentionally to really make the reader experience the hopelessness emotional landscape of Yara’s life. Part of me just wanted her to resolve the conflicts and create some action early on! But the other part of me was in awe at Etaf Rum’s ability to bring such a hard to verbalize reality to life on the pages. 

It might seem less exciting than if she applied for the trip behind her husband’s back or had an affair or divorced him right away, and yes I would love to see Yara live those stories in detail, but that wasn’t the point of this novel.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Racism and Suicidal thoughts

notthatcosta's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-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

3.5

My favourite parts of the book were the loving descriptions of cooking Palestinian food and the exploration of generational trauma, both of which resonate particularly hard considering the plight of Gaza. On the other hand, the dialogue felt a bit static and watered down at points which pulled me out of the story often - as did the reputation of the physical manifestations of Yara's grief. 

As a Cypriot, stories about the Nakba and reverence for olive trees and our ancestral land hit me hard and add gravitas to the ways in which Yara's heritage informs her struggles and create conflicts within her head. 

The journal entries are challenging to read, and Yara's lack of self belief make it hard to root for her at points because of the extent to which she is suffering from generational trauma and PTSD, but ultimately the sense of liberation and self-discovery feels really earned and grounded with the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War

tenderbench's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting