Disclaimer: I haven't read any fiction books in a long time, and thus it is entirely possible that I think this book is much better than it is.
I just finished reading Evil Eye, and I enjoyed it, so here is a shitty book review.
Main Summary
Evil Eye is a book about woman named Yara who was born in New York but who's parents were form Palestine. Her parents were forced to leave Palestine due to a war, and the book mainly discusses her struggles with mental health and harassment due to her background.
Yara starts out working at a college. Then an opportunity arises to go on a trip to Europe with the college. Unfortunately for Yara, she has children, and her husband is inflexible, as he dose not want to have to take off work to watch the kids. Therefore Yara isn't able to go on the trip. Yara then snaps at one of the other college professors, calling her a "fucking racist," because the college professor blames misogyny for her inability to go on the trip. She is unable to believe this, even though she dose often feel that her husband has the freedom to do many more things then her.
Throughout this section of the book, many techniques are used to emphasize the speed and meaninglessness of Yara's life. One of these is that the chapters sometimes skip numbers, to show that the memories were so short and insignificant it's like they didn’t even happen.
Yara then starts seeing the company therapist on recommendation of her boss, but she refuses to open up to him, and even when she dose open up to him, she doesn't understand her own feelings well enough to express them to the therapist
She then develops a relationship with a gay man named Silas. Silas is very kind to her and understands her situation, as he was with another women who he thought he loved for a long time.
Yara then looses her job because of budget cuts. She spends a while like this, visiting Silas, and generally feeling bad. She also paints a lot during this time.
Eventually throughout the book, and with Silas's help, Yara begins to realize that one of the things keeping her buried in guilt and shame is her own husband and family. This is because they are constantly telling her to get it together whilst dismissing her claims that they are doing anything wrong by linking the problem back to her.
She also starts to go see another therapist at this point, who is able to help her much more, as she is less in the dark about herself.
Then, another upset happens when her husband looses his job, and blames it on her by saying that he was worried for her mental health, and it was impacting his work performance. However, Yara then goes to a coffee shop and meets the person who fired her husband. He then says that actually his husband was fired due to money mismanagement. This then makes Yara realize that she isn't always the problem, and that she wants a divorce.
The final part of the book goes over how Yara gets a divorce, and eventually lives on her own selling paintings and being a freelance photographer. She shares every other week with her daughters, and although she doesn't live happily ever after, and is often sad, she lives a life that is comparatively good to her old life.
Journal Entries
The whole book is scattered with many entries in Yara's journal, where she recounts memories of her past in Palestine. Some of these memories reveal how badly her mother was beaten by her father, and show how Yara feels guilty for this because she told her father about an affair that her mother was having.
Yara then draws an interesting parallel, wondering if the same thing would have happened to her had Silas not been gay.
Writing Shift
Throughout the book, the writing changes to reflect the state of Yara's mind. One example of this is that, during the bulk of the book, Yara vocalizes many violent urges, and even dose some of them.
Towards the end of the meeting when Yaras teching contract is revoked she says,
Yara wanted to open her mouth and scream and fling the brochure across his desk. Instead she grabbed it from his hand, teeth clenched, and walked out. - Page 84
In contrast, towards the end of the book a more warm and fuzzy feeling is elicited by the text. When Yara is at an art studio with her daughters, and they are being shown a painting, it is written that,
Mira stared at the painting with her mouth open, seemingly mesmerized. Sitting between them, Yara felt herself expand. - Page 366
Why Me
I think that a big reason I like this book is because I can relate to it. Even though my parents have not been kicked out of a war zone before, and I received help much sooner than Yara did, I still have had my fair share of mental health issues. I remember feeling many of the same things, like the random violent urges, and the resting feeling that something isn't right. It makes me feel like I belong.
Book Recommendations?
Have any other books for me that follow a similar theme to this one? If so, shoot me an email via the button below so I can read it next!