Evil Eye: A Novel

by Etaf Rum, Vaneh Assadourian (Read by), TBD (Read by), Gail Shalan (Read by)

Overview

“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"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781799971740
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/05/2023
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)

About the Author

Etaf Rum was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, by Palestinian immigrants. She lives in North Carolina with her two children. Rum also runs the Instagram account @booksandbeans. A Woman Is No Man is her first novel.

Vaneh Assadourian is an actress, audiobook narrator, and voice actor who received her bachelor's degree from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. Based in Los Angeles, California, she has lent her voice to different genres of books including autobiographies, romance, and juvenile fiction.

Gail Shalan is a New York City-based storyteller who holds a master's degree in acting from Bristol Old Vic Theater School. Proudly narrating audiobooks since 2013, she also narrates and produces The StoryLight Podcast. When not exploring the globe or performing, she lives in Queens with her partner and their French bulldog, Edith.

Editorial Reviews

"Rum’s sensitive portrayal of Yara’s inner monologue paints a clear picture of the traditional gendered expectations that are placed on many modern Palestinian American women, and the ways an unsettled past can affect the present." — Washington Post, "10 Noteworthy Books for September"

"Wise, expansive, and deeply compassionate, Etaf Rum’s Evil Eye takes a deep dive into the tensions between generations and cultures as it follows a young Palestinian-American woman on her journey into self-discovery. This fierce story explores the notion of women’s freedom and of what becomes of identity when gender roles, family, and cultural traditions are challenged and rewritten. A rich and compelling read." — Diana Abu-Jaber, author of Fencing with the King and Birds of Paradise

"Bold and immersive." — The National (UAE)

“Etaf Rum’s talent shines in the pages of this stunning book. . . .A beautiful novel about the ways in which past traumas can plague us, narrowing our field of vision and threatening our future happiness. . . . I’m grateful for this newest addition to the growing canon of Palestinian American literature.” — Middle East Eye

“A nuanced exploration of exile filled with the sharp poignancy of immigrant experience. . . .Evil Eye is interspersed with umpteen Arab motifs, sights, sounds and smells. At times, it takes the form of an elaborate dinner spread, the sound of the oud or the verses of Mahmoud Darwish. In a dreamy sequence, it captures Palestinian women slipping off their headscarves to dance, ‘their bodies radiant with freedom’. . . .While Evil Eye chronicles Yara’s interior and intimate worlds, it also becomes the tale of Palestine and its homeless, nameless people.” — The Hindu

"A deeply resonant tale of multigenerational trauma and survival." — Booklist (starred review)

"The fierce feminist sentiments and nuanced approach to Yara’s fraught marriage and family history make for a winning combination." — Publishers Weekly

“Compelling. . . . Rum does not simplify the choices Yara faces as a woman whose ambition conflicts with family responsibility. . . . Rum’s nuanced approach to difficult questions of individual and cultural identity is refreshing.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Rum is a skilled, generous and cadenced writer. While she is not the first to unpack the ways in which first-generation children of immigrants grapple with the weight of newfound freedom and generational fear, she does so with a complexity and nuance that makes every interaction feel fresh and unexpectedly powerful. . . . Perfect for book clubs, EVIL EYE cements Etaf Rum’s position as one of the leading writers of literary fiction that transcends continents and histories.” — Book Reporter

"Rum’s observations about the intersections of Arab and Southern traditions and their similarities in art, history, media, and food are particularly strong . . . . Evil Eye has the power to reach readers of all ages and cultures, who will undoubtedly cheer Yara on as she forges a new path." — BookPage

"With subtlety and precision, Etaf Rum interrogates the complex interior landscapes of love, passion, immigration, identity and art. Rum is a phenomenal talent who combines raw honesty with a lyrical sensibility. A wonderful read!" — Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee and The Leftover Woman

“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

“With her characteristic insight and tenderness, Etaf Rum takes readers through Yara’s journey as she reflects on her family’s past and its lasting impact. Evil Eyeis a moving look at the complexities of identity, marriage, and redemption.” — Melissa Rivero, author of The Affairs of the Falcóns

From the Publisher

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

A moving meditation on motherhood, intergenerational 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.”

New York Times bestselling author Tara Conklin

"Complicates and deepens the Arab American story — a tale as rich and varied as America itself.

Washington Post on A WOMAN IS NO MAN

"Both a love letter to storytelling and a careful object lesson in its power…. A startling portrait of the mechanics of complicity, of the intergenerational pathology of silence.

New York Times Book Review on A WOMAN IS NO MAN

A blistering exploration of three generations of Palestinian-American women, unfolding in lyrical but demanding prose.

Entertainment Weekly on A WOMAN IS NO MAN

2023-06-21
Typical contemporary fiction about a woman’s journey toward self-knowledge and identity is enriched by the protagonist’s particular situation as the resentfully obedient daughter of Palestinian immigrants.

On the first page, Yara, a wife and mother approaching 30, announces her intention—and by extension, author Rum’s—to “reconcile past and present.” Raised in Brooklyn within a tight Palestinian expatriate community, Yara has always been torn, wanting to honor the history and hardships of her ancestors while resisting many of her culture’s prescriptions, agreeing to an arranged marriage but refusing hijab. For 10 years she has lived in North Carolina with her husband, Fadi, and their two daughters. Along the way she has earned a master’s degree and works at a local college. But as her life begins falling apart, she can no longer avoid the unresolved conflict she has always felt—the safety of obedience versus an inner urge to break free and claim control over her life. Yara’s central conflict revolves around her mother, a deeply troubled woman who, despite all-consuming anger and frustration, never considered leaving her abusive marriage. She always considered herself cursed and told Yara she was cursed, too. At a therapist’s suggestion, Yara begins a journal to confront her past, but the repetitiveness of Yara’s memories and her use of therapeutic jargon weaken the impact. More compelling are Yara’s struggles within her own marriage. While Fadi is deeply flawed, he is neither stereotype nor villain. And Rum does not simplify the choices Yara faces as a woman whose ambition conflicts with family responsibility. The couple shares a surprising degree of intimacy—showering together most nights—and similar unhappy childhood memories. Whether Yara can break the vicious cycle in which she finds herself is the question.

Rum’s nuanced approach to difficult questions of individual and cultural identity is refreshing.

Kirkus Reviews