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nad_books623's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow this was a raw story that a lot of people in the lgbtq+ community can relate to while reading. The mother was so annoying and hypocritical. The whole time that she was reflecting towards the end of the book with the nursing home and her inner homophobia we never got to see her challenge her hypocrisy. Which, I guess makes the story more raw in a sense but still would be interested to see. I did like the stories comment on being elderly and what happens in society when someone no longer has a purpose.The scene when the reporters came to interview Jen was a good moment that showed how she was seen as disposable since she could not give what they wanted from her. Another moment in the book was towards the end when Jen is in the last nursing home and how the carer says they're all just going to die there always. I think this book also discusses well how care taking is a commodity in society and that due to capitalism people who need care do not get the proper care they need.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Excrement and Vomit
pingi444's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
rachjy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Excrement, and Grief
Moderate: Physical abuse and Lesbophobia
Minor: Violence
drinkthefloor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i am emotionally floored. this hyper realistic novel, told through stream of consciousness presents issues of intergenerational conflict, aging, and what makes a family in a stark narrative which delivers the strongest emotional whiplash. probably the most meaningful book i’ve read in a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
amyvl93's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is an interesting little book. Concerning My Daughter is a Korean novel which is narrated by an older woman who is struggling with her daughter - known as Green through the book, despite the mother resenting this nickname - living a life she doesn't recognise, as a gay politically active young woman. Green and her girlfriend Lane end up living with the mother, who also spends her days caring for the elderly as an agency care worker, meaning she is forced to grapple with both a relationship she doesn't recognise and her belief that by staying quiet and sticking to the status quo is the best way to live a happy life.
It's hard to spend time in the head of someone so deeply homophobic but who still claims to love her daughter and want the best for her, but it was a perspective that was interesting to be forced to grapple with by the author. As was the insight into the gruelling, cost saving adult care world that the narrator works within, forcing her to grapple with her impending mortality and the risk of becoming invisible and unknown as you age.
It did feel that this book didn't quite have the depth it needed to really fly in exploring the issues that it wants to - ideas are introduced and then disappear and we never really get to know any of the side characters.
It's hard to spend time in the head of someone so deeply homophobic but who still claims to love her daughter and want the best for her, but it was a perspective that was interesting to be forced to grapple with by the author. As was the insight into the gruelling, cost saving adult care world that the narrator works within, forcing her to grapple with her impending mortality and the risk of becoming invisible and unknown as you age.
It did feel that this book didn't quite have the depth it needed to really fly in exploring the issues that it wants to - ideas are introduced and then disappear and we never really get to know any of the side characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Death
michaelion's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A perfect book for socialist baby lesbians in crisis. No I will not elaborate!
This one hits a lil too close to home for me because I too currently work in healthcare with a woman who has memory loss and I too am gay and have a girlfriend and I too do not like my roommate and I also do not have children. I am all of these characters. So extra points for being relevant to me and the life I currently live but who knows how I'll feel about it next year. I like the way the emotions are expressed. Even though it's a translation of a language I don't know I feel they did the original justice.
This one hits a lil too close to home for me because I too currently work in healthcare with a woman who has memory loss and I too am gay and have a girlfriend and I too do not like my roommate and I also do not have children. I am all of these characters. So extra points for being relevant to me and the life I currently live but who knows how I'll feel about it next year. I like the way the emotions are expressed. Even though it's a translation of a language I don't know I feel they did the original justice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Dementia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
I tagged ableism although it's more like ageism. But in this case it's one and the same.samothraces's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, and Dementia