Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Motherhood by Sheila Heti

5 reviews

grizzlysnack's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

3.0

Very much a journal entry book, but the topics mentioned are reflective.
I went into this novel blind, not knowing it was meant to be fictional, not knowing the layout of the book. Even so, I think this story could have been a novella, if not a short story. The topics the main character mentions get brought up repeatedly and average about 40 pages from the prompt/question to the reflection/answer
The parts the main character becomes reflective on herself and her own actions are the reason I finished the book, but I would not recommend it to anyone wanting to spend 6-10 hours reading this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

cleotheo's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective slow-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? Yes

3.75

I expected a book that discussed the decision of wether or not to have children. 
I didn't expect the way it did this -it gives different perspectives but it doesn't try to be objective- and that it discusses motherhood beyond that decision.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Grief, and Deportation

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and War

leefox's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Death of parent

nelthilta's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Miscarriage, Medical content, and War

thejuliette's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.5

I'm not entirely sure how to rate this book, because it didnt turn out the book i expected it to be. Questions around (not) becoming a mother do get reflected on, but one of the main focus points of the story is the relationship she's in with her partner and, in a less significant way, her friends.
 However the story does provide some reasons why (not) having children is such a big deal; change of lifestyle, fulfillment in life, balancing career and mother/fatherhood, pressure from friends, family and society, etc. 

In a way i think it's a shame to see that through all of the questioning of her motives and the passing of time she comes to the conclusion she biologically wont be able (or doesnt want) to have children anymore. It gives me the feeling that avoiding the make a choice has resulted in passively having not children, instead of making an active desicion.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Medical content, and Death of parent