Book Review: A Woman Is No Man

Title: A Woman Is No Man

Author: Etaf Rum

Format: Advance Reader Copy

Published: 2019

Thank you to Goodreads for this giveaway win of the advance reader copy of A Woman Is No Man!  See, I am proof that real people win those giveaways, keep entering them!

When I won this book I wasn’t excited.  I thought, well, it’s a free book, what’s the harm in it?  This was one of those, why did I enter this giveaway books.  First, let me give you some background on the story.

This book starts off with women not having a voice.  We are told the story of Palestinian women living in America through the mother-in-law/grandmother, our main character the daughter-in-law/mother, and daughter/granddaughter.  Caught all that?  Basically the mother-in-law came to America to try and make a better life for her family.  Her son married a woman from Palestine and she moved to America.  The daughter was born and raised in America.  Isra, the mother, is the one who really carries the story.  All three characters get developed nicely through this story with the daughter, Deya, growing the most.

When I say the son married a woman from Palestine what I mean is the family picked this one woman, they spoke for a few times, and then decided sure, we can get married.  It’s like an upgraded version of an arranged marriage because you can say no.  So she lives the life a woman; takes care of the men, cooks, cleans, tends to the children, and rarely leaves the house.  Oh, and also takes beatings from her husband.

This book really opened my eyes to what oppression by one’s culture looks like.   I was mortified at the marriage arrangements.  I was mortified at the life they live inside their homes.  I was angry at the abuse they think is ok to take from their husbands.  Then I realized, how can I be mortified at something that is part of their culture?  Just because I don’t follow it, does not mean it’s not ok.  When the woman talked about being “Americanized” that is when I realized, wow, they are mortified at the fact that I have a job and live outside of the house.  It puts things into perspective.

I still do not agree with the domestic violence and never will.  Trigger warning, this book talks a lot about it.  No one should be subject to physical or mental abuse.  No one.

Isra once had high hopes for herself and ended up being stuck in a no way out situation.  I feel her spirit was passed to her first born daughter, Deya, and she would be so happy with how her daughter grows and stands up for herself.  When she discovers that her parents may not have really died in a car accident, we go on a whirlwind adventure.  Isra and the mother-in-law give us pieces from the past that put everything together.  As depressing at this book can be at times, you will enjoy the ending with what happens to Deya.

I am going to give this book 5 stars.  This was a powerful, heart breaking, and heart warming story.  It is fantastically written and helps to open our eyes to different cultures.  This isn’t a light read, but, I didn’t find it to be a real heavy read either.  I will also say that my dense brain thought the book just ended rudely.  I googled the ending to the book and IT ALL MADE SENSE.  What happens at the end of the book is what happens right before the daughter’s last memory of the mother.  Keep that in mind WHEN you pick this one up, because there’s no excuse not to.  You will be happy to see that a woman finally gained her own voice.

Book Review: The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls

Title: The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls

Author: Anissa Gray

Format: Advance Reader Copy Paperback

Published: 2019

This is the debut novel from Anissa Gray which was recently released on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.  Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is an emotional, raw read.  We meet the Butler family, all of whom have to been to hell and back, and get a glimpse into the life of an American family.  The eldest sister, Althea, and her husband, Proctor, get arrested for running a charity scheme where they were taking the money and using it on themselves.  Their own daughter turns them in.  Yikes.

Althea goes on a personal journey while she is in jail and I can’t help but feel heartbroken for this broken woman.  While she is on the inside, her sisters Lillian and Viola are left to pick up the pieces with their twin daughters.  Lillian is doing all she can but can’t reach them and desperately needs Viola.  Each sister is facing ghosts from their past and through the book they work through them.  Just when you thought no one was there for you, your family ends up being what you need.

I felt so much emotion while reading this book, yet, I felt something different for each character.  Sometimes I was angry and sometimes I was sad.  After finishing this book I had to just breathe for the day before I picked up another.  I don’t feel it is a heavy read, however, it does pull at the heartstrings.  I really liked how Gray ended the book.  

We see the internal problems each character have become resolved in a manner that is absolutely appropriate for the book.  Loose, flowing ends are tied up into an appropriate bow. **I would like to note that there is no clear cut problem with a resolve, it is a story that just flows.  If you are looking for a clear cut beginning, middle, and an end with conflict resolution of an issue, this is not the book for you.  If you enjoy a book that flows and tells a tale and is a book you can reflect upon, read it!**

4 star read for me.  The vernacular used on the characters in this book was also so spot on I felt like I was transformed from my living room into theirs.  There is the use of some foul language so if you are easily offended this may not be the book for you, however, it is absolutely appropriate in each setting it is used in.  If you enjoy stories about families and the struggles they face, this book is for you!

Book Review: The Innocent

Title: The Innocent

Author: David Baldacci

Format: Paperback

Published: 2012

I would like to note that I read his book The Hit first, not realizing it was part of a series.  I am glad I read this book next so I could get a little background on some of the characters that were present in that book.  But on to this amazing read!

This is the book where we first meet agency employee Will Robie.  He gets called out to make a kill and when he walks in to an apartment where it’s a young mother, he freezes and can’t do it.  Something seems off.  Bullets fly through the window, killing the mother and her child, and threatening Robie’s life.  It turns out Robie’s gut feeling was right and the young mother should have never been killed.  Now Robie is being hunted by someone in his own agency to be taken out.

Who went rogue within his agency?  This book takes us on a twisty, turny tale to find out.  Along the way Robie ends up helping a 14 year old, Julie, who has just lost both of her parents.  He notices a man about to kill her on a bus and when he intervenes, saves her life.  They both get off the bus and as soon they do it explodes, killing everyone on board except them.  What is going on?

I was highly intrigued the whole story.  It was interesting to see how various events intertwined together and how Robie and Julie end up needing each other.  It was thrilling, intoxicating, and a joy ride that I did not want to see end.  It was action packed

Overall I am giving this book 5 stars.  When I read a book and go, “just one more chapter,” for 5 or so extra chapters, it’s a great read.  I enjoyed how Robie and Julie worked together and the ending was one I did not see coming.  Not even from a mile away.  It just came out of left field for me.  Wow.  It also left any loose ends tied up and made me smile.  I cannot wait to read the 3rd book in this series!  Any fellow David Baldacci fans out there?