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misty_kb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
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
manadziesma's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent
Minor: Violence and Abortion
maritvs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
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
suakamuara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Ibu dan anak itu kerasa seperti kutub utara dan selatan. Tapi, sang anak gak ada habis-habisnya memberikan kasih sayangnya ke ibunya, yang terlalu sibuk mencoba berdamai dengan dirinya sendiri.
Minor: Suicide
paulap's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
It is narrated in alternate sections from the daughter and the mother. It takes a bit to get used to it, but once you do, it really works. The writing is effective, emotional and intimate. I really enjoyed it.
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
____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