nicoconutmilk's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wow.
filipsf92's review against another edition
5.0
En pageturner. Eg sleit med å legge frå meg boka medan eg blei dratt inn i Johannas sjølvransaking.
ginamc's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
clem's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jaimeeslitlife's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Is Mother Dead is a stark, visceral novel about obsession, perception vs. reality, and the toxic relationship between a mother and estranged daughter (Johanna).
Is Mother Dead reads as very stream-of-consciousness, like diary entries, full of run-on and nonlinear sentences. I don't know that I ever fully got into the rhythm of this read, but I think the writing style captured the sense of overthinking and constant questioning that stems from extreme anxiety and guilt.
I loved that Johanna was the ultimate unreliable narrator. From safely outside the pages, the reader looks at her actions and sees all the red flags, but Johanna's point of view shows that she truly thinks of herself as a victim who is trying her best to do what's right, despite everything and everyone trying to stop her. Johanna's initial escalations from obsessive thoughts to actions happened so seamlessly that I found myself rereading passages and having to pause to figure out whether the events I was reading about were happening in Johanna's imagination or in the real world. As Johanna's obsession grew, her actions continued to escalate without warning, keeping me on my toes.
Though on the shorter side, I found the book to be a bit repetitive - but I suppose obsessive thoughts are.
Hjorth definitely has a gift for character-based psychological drama and for baring the souls of her characters. If you enjoy complex reads that explore the twisted inner workings of emotion and that are more vibe than plot, consider checking this one out!
Is Mother Dead reads as very stream-of-consciousness, like diary entries, full of run-on and nonlinear sentences. I don't know that I ever fully got into the rhythm of this read, but I think the writing style captured the sense of overthinking and constant questioning that stems from extreme anxiety and guilt.
I loved that Johanna was the ultimate unreliable narrator. From safely outside the pages, the reader looks at her actions and sees all the red flags, but Johanna's point of view shows that she truly thinks of herself as a victim who is trying her best to do what's right, despite everything and everyone trying to stop her. Johanna's initial escalations from obsessive thoughts to actions happened so seamlessly that I found myself rereading passages and having to pause to figure out whether the events I was reading about were happening in Johanna's imagination or in the real world. As Johanna's obsession grew, her actions continued to escalate without warning, keeping me on my toes.
Though on the shorter side, I found the book to be a bit repetitive - but I suppose obsessive thoughts are.
Hjorth definitely has a gift for character-based psychological drama and for baring the souls of her characters. If you enjoy complex reads that explore the twisted inner workings of emotion and that are more vibe than plot, consider checking this one out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Death
claramaddie's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
caratteriombra's review against another edition
4.0
“Lontananza” si concentra sul rapporto figlia-madre, Johanna sente il bisogno di comprendere alcune situazioni della sua vita in un momento di stasi, in cui si rende conto che per andare avanti ha bisogno di comprendere, di trovare finalmente la verità di quella rottura improvvisa. La narrazione è formata dai pensieri di Johanna, dai suoi spostamenti nel terreno norvegese, dalla malinconia di ritrovare i luoghi della sua infanzia, che ora sembra quasi una vita passata.
Questo libro è un viaggio nell’introspezione della protagonista, che ci rende partecipi di ogni suo piccolo o grande dubbio, non è una narrazione basata sull’azione, ma uno studio sui legami familiari, su quello che comportano sulle nostre vite. L’autrice esplora queste unioni al limite, toccando argomenti che a volte risultano quasi scabrosi, esplora senza vergogna questo limbo di (in) sensibilità condivisa da madre e figlia.
Il rapporto con la natura è molto presente in questo libro così come lo era in Eredità – ci sono passaggi meravigliosi, in cui l’autrice mostra la relazione fra quello che succede, fra i personaggi e il paesaggio attorno. Una certa tonalità di fiori ricorda a Johanna la madre, la dolcezza o l’aridità di un determinato terreno può sbloccarle differenti ricordi.
Questo libro è un viaggio nell’introspezione della protagonista, che ci rende partecipi di ogni suo piccolo o grande dubbio, non è una narrazione basata sull’azione, ma uno studio sui legami familiari, su quello che comportano sulle nostre vite. L’autrice esplora queste unioni al limite, toccando argomenti che a volte risultano quasi scabrosi, esplora senza vergogna questo limbo di (in) sensibilità condivisa da madre e figlia.
Il rapporto con la natura è molto presente in questo libro così come lo era in Eredità – ci sono passaggi meravigliosi, in cui l’autrice mostra la relazione fra quello che succede, fra i personaggi e il paesaggio attorno. Una certa tonalità di fiori ricorda a Johanna la madre, la dolcezza o l’aridità di un determinato terreno può sbloccarle differenti ricordi.
vgk's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75