50 pages • 1 hour read
Etaf RumA Woman Is No Man
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum is an intergenerational story following Isra, a Palestinian immigrant in Brooklyn, and her daughter Deya, who grows up in the same household 18 years later. Isra navigates a difficult life dictated by cultural expectations, marked by domestic duties and abuse, while Deya uncovers long-hidden family secrets, leading her to take control of her destiny. Themes of domestic violence, abuse, and trauma appear throughout the book.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Etaf Rum’s A Woman Is No Man is praised for its poignant and evocative portrayal of Palestinian-American women's struggles across generations. Reviews commend the novel's authentic voice and powerful narrative but note that the pacing occasionally feels slow and some character development lacks depth. Overall, it's an impactful, though imperfect, exploration of cultural and familial pressures.
Who Should Read A Woman Is No Man?
A reader who would enjoy A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum is likely interested in multicultural narratives, family dynamics, and women's experiences in patriarchal societies. Fans of Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns and Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere will appreciate its emotional depth and cultural insights.