Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Brüste und Eier by Mieko Kawakami

6 reviews

thebookwasbetter_22's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense 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? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Pedophilia, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Suicide, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Bullying, Rape, and Suicide attempt

oz2021's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Medical content

Moderate: Chronic illness and Infertility

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Terminal illness

nozycozy's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

So human. So Beautiful. Kawakami’s riveting prose makes you feel like you’re a part of Natsumes life. Her thoughts and interactions with others were at times sad but these are the realities many women face. I learned so much and connected with many of the women in her life. This was a gorgeously written emotional reflection of the woman’s experience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, Infertility, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Trafficking, and Alcoholism

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Alcohol

Moderate: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, and Cancer

Minor: Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

sofiadanielle's review against another edition

emotional informative 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 think this novel edges towards a 4 star rating for me. I do think there were times where I felt a bit unengaged as the text felt long and slow paced, but I can definitely say the last 100-150 pages or so really picked up for me! 

Also, the synopsis on the back does not really have much to do with the novel, as the whole ‘Midoriko’s silence’ gets resolved in Book One, which is only roughly 30% of the novel? So.. That also sort of detracted points for me, though I suppose I could’ve done more thorough research about the novel before reading. 

This book made me think a lot about being a woman. Though I am not in the same stage of life as Natsuko, I found myself pondering the same things she did; about loneliness, about relationships, career path… These themes and Kawakami’s dedication to them definitely push the novel towards that 4 star rating for me, if only personally. The ending also felt fulfilling in my opinion, both in terms of themes and for the characters!

I am excited to read more of Kawakami’s work after completing this novel!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Terminal illness, Sexism, Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Infertility

clarityandchaos's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Infertility, Grief, and Pregnancy