Evil Eye

A Novel

By: Etaf Rum

Narrated by: Vaneh Assadourian, Gail Shalan

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

“A moving meditation on motherhood, inter-generational trauma and how surface appearances often obscure a deeper truth. . . . A stunning second novel from a writer who set the bar very high with her first!”—Tara Conklin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Romantics and Community Board

The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of A Woman Is No Man returns with a striking exploration of the expectations of Palestinian-American women, the meaning of a fulfilling life, and the ways our unresolved pasts affect our presents.

"After Yara is placed on probation at work for fighting with a racist coworker, her Palestinian mother claims the provocation and all that’s come after were the result of a family curse. While Yara doesn’t believe in old superstitions, she finds herself unpacking her strict, often volatile childhood growing up in Brooklyn, looking for clues as to why she feels so unfulfilled in a life her mother could only dream of. Etaf Rum’s follow-up to her 2019 debut, A Woman Is No Man, is a complicated mother-daughter drama that looks at the lasting effects of intergenerational trauma and what it takes to break the cycle of abuse." —Time magazine, "The Most Anticipated Books of the Year"

©2022 Etaf Rum (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Loved this novel!!

The end was so inspiring! The story captivating and the details like naming the spices ugh so good!

Incredible

This was such an amazing book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such an intimate look into this characters life and situation. I loved it.

This book is about guilt, anxiety, and depression

I had hoped to get another glimpse into the Palestinian culture in America. However, although the characters are Palestinian, and the book touches on some of the customs and norms of that culture, this book was much more about a woman struggling with anxiety and depression because of her status as a Palestinian wife, as well as guilt over things that happened when she was a child. Unfortunately, the narrator tended to have a very whiny voice, whereas had I read the book I would’ve interpreted the main character as more sad than whiny.

Incredible Story

This book was beautifully written and incredibly relatable. I felt like the author articulated some of my own complex emotions on my healing journey.

Beautiful book

Performance made the book even better. Amazing book about personal growth and overcoming challenges a lot of women feel.

Read this book

This book was beautiful, thought-provoking, and well written. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to relate to the story, but I had high hopes. I think we can all relate to Yara’s journey of finding your voice, learning positive self talk, and being brave enough to make the right decisions. Her battle with childhood trauma and her healing was enlightening to me and I hope it is enlightening to many others as well as they learn to love themselves and open themselves up to love from others.

Tugs at Your Heart and Mind

If you're not wanting to dive into, and lose yourself in a story, then don't read this book. Now, if that is what you want to do - read it immediately!

Evil Eye is so truly relevant right now, it's kind of scary. Although what is going on between Israel and Palestine is all over the news, this story though connected, is not political, nor is it choosing sides. Etaf Rum has outdone herself again, much like she did with "A Woman is No Man". This story lays out the inner workings of a Palestinian family, with some historical perspective going back to 1948 and moving forward to 2023. It is about love of family, love of country, love of culture, and especially love of self. It shows the reader how love can sometimes be joyful and yet painful. I don't like spoilers, so I don't put them in my reviews, this book is necessary reading for anyone who is lost, afraid, uncertain, strong, weak and vulnerable all at the same time. Will the ending be triumphant? Read the book!!! This book deserves 20 stars!

Excellent

Excellent! Well done and great read for our book club - highly recommend - hope for a sequel soon

Excellent

Rum is such a talented writer. Her words make the people (and foods) feel as though they are in the room with you. Excellent audiobook!

How can you not listen?

Listening to this book, I could identify with the main character as a woman, for social pressures, for traditional expectations put on women, the search for identity, the unhealthy marriage… the list continues. As much as I am not Palestinian or even Arab, there are some universal truths that speak to all women, so I could definitely empathize with her story.