Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

16 reviews

cow_png's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

holy fuckinf shit i love this book. i honestly think everyone should read this book, this is incredible. i have nothing bad to say, this was an amazing experience and i am like in shock with how much i am in love with this book. i had no clue what i was getting into with this book and my god, it has exceeded every exception .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Infertility

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Sexism

Minor: Car accident

vellumveela's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

3.5

The characters fell a bit flat for me, despite the narrative being entirely driven by dialogue, relationship dynamics, and contemplation. In more than a few occasions, characters felt very trope-y. That said, Kawakami captured and maintains a keen sense of bittersweet melancholy all throughout the novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Body shaming, and Sexism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Transphobia

asainspace's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Sexual violence and Cancer

jaswoahreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Body shaming

Minor: Alcohol, Child abuse, and Addiction

unboxedjack's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Suicide, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Sexism, Child abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, and Suicide attempt

sofiadanielle's review

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

maceydowns's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, Death, Grief, Medical content, Pedophilia, Cancer, Death of parent, Rape, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Body shaming and Transphobia

risemini's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

nabila99's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.5

a beautifully written, insightful, melancholy exploration of patriarchy, womanhood, motherhood, loneliness, and career stagnation. much of this book was just long conversations that the main characters have with other people and themselves, and they feel so real. their problems are ours, our mothers' and sisters', our friends' and acquaintances'. even though there is no "plot" to speak of, i flew through the chapters and was excited to be in natsuko's head again every time i put it down.

virtually the only issue i have with this book, and the reason i took off half a star, is that although i really enjoyed the second half and all of natsuko's musings about asexuality, single motherhood and her future, i did feel the absence of makiko and midoriko. it would have been nice to see their development also, where they were in their journeys. 

nevertheless, kawakami's writing and characterisation are stunning, and i can't wait to read more of her work

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Medical content, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual content, Cancer, Death, and Body shaming

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Infertility

angela_iseli's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment