Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

64 reviews

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

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

5.0

Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Stayed up all night to finish it. Thought of my own mom the whole time - Yara and my mom had a lot of similar crossroads. Yara made choices I wish so many women could too. The story was told at the right pace and with well developed characters, with childhoods overlapping a lot of familiarity with my own immigrant experiences that made the story feel even more authentic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, and Racism

bookoline's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry

bellabooks0423's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

jmiles758's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad 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: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Racism, Domestic abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse

readingwithtemperance's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

5.0

Evil Eye's main focus is generational trauma. How it seeps into every nook and cranny of our lives. And how breaking the cycle can be excruciating but so freeing at the same time. 

The therapy sessions/journal entries were so personal. My heart ached for Yara so much. I loved watching her finally be able to begin to heal and find out who she truly is/what she wants out of her life. 

Etaf Rum's writing is so engaging. Every time I stopped reading I just wanted to jump back in. I would love to read more from her in the future! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Violence, Child abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Death of parent

jilliand973's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

I gravitate towards stories with human-ness. Yara’s journey towards self love, self acceptance, and allowing herself to break through was beyond powerful.  Yara is so human, I saw specks of myself in her words, thoughts, and views of herself. This book offered me a lens to a perspective I will never fully experience, I am grateful to be able to read and share this book with others.  This book speaks on intergenerational trauma and the internal processes one goes through, and offers hope in showcasing Yara’s journey through it, accepting then challenging it. As a future counselor, the dialogues with the therapists opened my eyes and I hope to take this story with me as I work with clients through all walks of life. This is my first work by the incredible Etaf Rum and will certainly not be my last. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racism and Death of parent

readingwithgoose's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Racism

amberlfaris's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Violence, and Mental illness

shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment