Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

40 reviews

ireat's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism

iriwindel's review

challenging reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Body shaming, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

lampbee's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the best books I’ve ever read. A very thoughtful look at women’s role in their own lives, the things women feel forced to do in society and whether or not they can do those things truly for themselves - especially as it comes to having children , the morality behind it and the guise of freedom behind it — what it means to be a woman and if there’s any escape from those expectations even via defying the roles or the gender entirely — how women thrive under their own power despite the practically zero help outside of their own community of other women —  incredible book could go on for hours , will have to reread :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

henriettaenam's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Dysphoria

libraryoflanelle's review

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Pedophilia and Suicidal thoughts

pizzaisjesus98's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A wonderful and important book. I love how the author described colors, feelings, and people. I’m also surprised at the emotions it got out of me. Truly a lovely piece of writing, even if some parts of it drag a bit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Classism

Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Blood, and Stalking

jonwood's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I thought this was a brilliant character study taking serious, thoughtful stab on psychological issues that should be thought about more, from how culture expectations on appearance and sexuality effect self-esteem to questions about deciding to have a child and how to go about it. Being moving book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness

anh_read's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing 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

4.75

Definitely, a “no plot, just vibes” book. However, I enjoyed the themes that are discussed in this book. In general, the book reflects the struggles of being woman in modern times. 

The first part “Breasts” centers around poverty and changes in your body. The second part of the book, “Eggs” focuses on motherhood and being a single parent. This part often got me reflecting on the struggles on becoming and being a parent. It also made me question to have children. This part is much longer, even more slow-paced. Some points were kind of repetitive. Nonetheless, it was still a wonderful and very informative read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness

Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

katygoodhead's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

A poignant account of what it is to be a woman; the human experience and the pain and conflict of the biological pull. It made me question my entire existence. Delicious writing and endearing characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility and Pregnancy

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit

carojust's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

Mieko Kawakami is becoming one of my favorite, most relatable authors. I read "All The Lovers In The Night" before this, and fell in love with her storytelling and main character. "Breast and Eggs" follows a similar formula of a lost and lonely woman, trying to find meaning. 

This is divided in two parts. Book One was my favorite by far, and as a standalone work, pretty much perfect, a 5.0. I cried at the beauty of her descriptions of the older sister's simple and sweet devotion to her little sister, as well as the strained relationship with her teen daughter. 

Book Two is primarily focused on the younger sister, and I had trouble getting through its density -- beautiful writing, though overwhelmingly verbose. The prose doesn't have the back and forth dynamic that Book One does, switching from the teen's journal entries to the narrator's POV. Maybe that switch made Book Two feel more plain. Still very meaningful.

As a whole, this book delivers on what it means to be a woman in this world, the pressures and injustices, sexuality, the obsession with fertility, youth and appearances. The female characters sort through these themes in a heartbreaking, yet brave and honest way. I loved them, related wholeheartedly with them, and rooted for them.

You'll like this if you're interested in female perspectives, solitary main characters, thoughtful and intelligent writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol