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A review by viveelan
Evil Eye by Etaf Rum
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved Etaf Rum's first book A Woman isn't Man. I enjoy reading about women from other cultures and the Palestinian people have suffered so much. I enjoyed her stories of her grandmother and the stories about food: her cooking with her mother, with Silas, for her family, Silas and his mother's Southern cooking.
I appreciate* the story about generational trauma. (I think appreciate is the right word here. I don't "like" it. It is what it is. I think it's good that the world in general is becoming aware of it.)
I wish she would have gone into more details about Fadi's lie. It seems like he was cheating on her.
I was disappointed in the way the college handled her altercation. It was her story but it didn't seem to ring true. Racism is a serious offense and should be dealt with, especially on a college campus.
Of course, I loved the role art played in the story and it her life.
Things I didn't like: a lot of the book felt whiny. I have to think of a way to articulate that better (Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt was excellent but 'tis was whiny)
While I think her therapy was integral to the story, and I think she created both therapists with grace and accuracy, I struggle with books that feel like a therapy session. (I hate children's books that "preach" or are therapy sessions.) This didn’t feel like a therapy session but came close. I did like the character of Esther and her whole person therapy, even though she was a minor, underdeveloped character.
I appreciate* the story about generational trauma. (I think appreciate is the right word here. I don't "like" it. It is what it is. I think it's good that the world in general is becoming aware of it.)
I wish she would have gone into more details about Fadi's lie. It seems like he was cheating on her.
I was disappointed in the way the college handled her altercation. It was her story but it didn't seem to ring true. Racism is a serious offense and should be dealt with, especially on a college campus.
Of course, I loved the role art played in the story and it her life.
Things I didn't like: a lot of the book felt whiny. I have to think of a way to articulate that better (Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt was excellent but 'tis was whiny)
While I think her therapy was integral to the story, and I think she created both therapists with grace and accuracy, I struggle with books that feel like a therapy session. (I hate children's books that "preach" or are therapy sessions.) This didn’t feel like a therapy session but came close. I did like the character of Esther and her whole person therapy, even though she was a minor, underdeveloped character.