Bradeigh Godfrey

This one has been a favorite of so many bookstagrammers, including several I respect and admire, that I knew I needed to get to it before the end of 2019.

The story follows three generations of Palestinian-American women as they struggle to reconcile their individual desires with cultural expectations. Told in alternating points of view, this is a poignant and heartbreaking story that centers on the oppression and voicelessness of these women. I found it captivating and so incredibly heartbreaking. I don’t know the Palestinian culture well, but some of the practices seemed so oppressive and cruel as to be almost unbelievable. I found myself hoping fervently that these weren’t true, but I fear that they may be all-too-common in some families.

The hype was HUGE with this one, so my expectations were high. I found myself comparing it to A Place For Us, which tackled some of the same themes but in a more literary style. I think A Woman Is No Man is written with more accessible language and an easier-to-follow structure, so that may be a benefit for some readers. Overall I am glad I read the book and I recommend it.