Scan barcode
rieviolet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It takes a moment to orient oneself with the rapid switch of POVs between mother and daughter; but, once you get used to it, you can see how well this stylistic choice supports the narrative and builds on it.
The author depicts the central relationship between mother and daughter in a very striking and heartbreaking way, shining a light on all its complexities and nuances. I also appreciated how Ikstena explored the influence of the historical context (the Soviet rule over Latvia) on the life of individuals.
This is a very bleak story, with strong imagery and symbolism, at times veering a little too far into harrowing and disturbing territory (for example the metaphorical parellel with the story of the daughter's hamster). I think that its shortness works in its favour. The author condenses various elements of reflection (freedom and domination, motherhood and generational trauma, struggles of mental health) in a little over one hundred pages and makes this gloomy and challenging narrative bearable for the reader. Despite everything, the ending still holds a faint glimmer of hope for the future.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
snapshotsofabookishlass's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
eve_kadou's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and War
denijaaa_s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Infertility
tillydaisym's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War
____emily____'s review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Domestic abuse
n00dibranch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Murder