amysou0204's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I loved that this book was written in the points of view of both the mother and her daughter, alternating between both at each "chapter". This revealed a very emotional side of communist Latvia where even though people could have "normal" lives and be a successful doctor, they could still feel imprisoned and trapped. The relationship between the mother and her daughter is also very interesting as you can see the dynamics of what such a relationship might look like when a mother does not have "maternal instincts" from the start. The story was very sad though but it was a very nice read as I felt like I really got to know the characters deeply and always craved to know more about them and their lives and couldn't put the boom down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Abortion
namakurhea's review against another edition
4.0
If you’re looking to read Latvian literature, this is the one!! ✨, When I first saw the cover I thought: oh boy this seems like a heavy, dark, and brooding read 😅 BUT to my surprise, it actually is full of hope. There is a LOT of talk about freedom, of making one’s own way even when the situation is less than ideal.
The story itself is told through a first person point of view of the two main characters: the daughter and the mother. Both were born at a time where Latvia was going through a birth of its own: first as a country under Soviet rule, second as a reborn sovereign country. In such volatile conditions, how does one hold on to hope? This is just one of the questions the story attempt to address.
Other themes that stood out are mental illness and parent-child relationships. I read this book right after I finished my books on inner child and attachments and daaaamnnn…the stuff covered in the book are high risk factors for a child. It is a very intimate book and definitely worth finishing in one sitting.
Oh! Lastly this is also our book of choice for March buddy read session! We will be meeting up in South Jakarta and we’ve got jackets! DM me if you wanna join.
The story itself is told through a first person point of view of the two main characters: the daughter and the mother. Both were born at a time where Latvia was going through a birth of its own: first as a country under Soviet rule, second as a reborn sovereign country. In such volatile conditions, how does one hold on to hope? This is just one of the questions the story attempt to address.
Other themes that stood out are mental illness and parent-child relationships. I read this book right after I finished my books on inner child and attachments and daaaamnnn…the stuff covered in the book are high risk factors for a child. It is a very intimate book and definitely worth finishing in one sitting.
Oh! Lastly this is also our book of choice for March buddy read session! We will be meeting up in South Jakarta and we’ve got jackets! DM me if you wanna join.
maimaimai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
lapaspusempapedam's review against another edition
5.0
Caur asarām un vēljoprojām esošo kunkuli kaklā saku - lieliska un vēlreiz lieliska grāmata.
Tā ir grāmata, kas salauž ne tikai varoņus tajā, bet arī tevi pašu. Uzdod tik daudz jautājumus, kuriem nav atbildes; sagādā neskaitāmus līdzpārdzīvojumus; kas dusmās liek nolikt grāmatu malā, jo ir pārāk smagi. Grāmata, kuru vajadzētu izlasīt ik katram!!!
Tā ir grāmata, kas salauž ne tikai varoņus tajā, bet arī tevi pašu. Uzdod tik daudz jautājumus, kuriem nav atbildes; sagādā neskaitāmus līdzpārdzīvojumus; kas dusmās liek nolikt grāmatu malā, jo ir pārāk smagi. Grāmata, kuru vajadzētu izlasīt ik katram!!!
vakardien's review against another edition
5.0
Ārkārtīgi skaista un sāpīga grāmata. Nezinu, ko iesākt ar burtiski fiziskajām sāpēm, kuras izjūtu pēc izlasīšanas.
Vairāk šeit - http://naktsskapitis.blogspot.com/2016/03/mates-piens-nora-ikstena.html
Vairāk šeit - http://naktsskapitis.blogspot.com/2016/03/mates-piens-nora-ikstena.html
vi_petrikaite's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
yliasalt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
eve_kadou's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Abortion
Moderate: War, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
neshasurya's review against another edition
4.0
bukunya bercerita dari perspektif seorang ibu dan anak perempuannya di latvia pasca pemerintahan uni soviet. membahas hubungan orang sekitar akibat rezim dan pemberontakan, motherhood dan mental illness. tipe buku tipis yg justru menguras energi ketika bacanya sih.
aku suka sama penggambaran hubungan kompleks antara seorang ibu yg pintar tapi gak punya jiwa keibuan dan seorang anak perempuan yg terlalu polos dan mendambakan kebebasan.
cukup sensitif sih. apalagi si ibu terlihat gak pengen melanjutkan hidup. sedangkan si anak berusaha "menyembuhkan" penyakit ibunya tersebut sambil berusaha hidup di dunia yg kejam.
cerita tentang ketidak adilan yg mereka dapat akibat penjajahan juga bikin kesel dan pengen marah-marah sih. mulai dari ditekan, diasingkan, sampai diancam kalau hidupnya gak akan baik-baik aja. sedih dan putus asa rasanya :(
sebenernya aku cukup bingung sama cara penulisnya bercerita. gayanya kayak lagi nulis diary gitu. tapi karena diambil dari berbagai perspektif, kadang agak bingung siapa yg sebenernya lagi cerita.
jadi butuh tingkat fokus yg tinggi buat memahami siapa yg dimaksud sih. tapi emang writing stylenya cantik dan emosional banget.
gak ada klimaks, twist atau resolusi yang jelas. cuma sebuah ending yang seringkali dalam hidup gak sepenuhnya memuaskan. realistis sih. but i think that was the point.
aku suka sama penggambaran hubungan kompleks antara seorang ibu yg pintar tapi gak punya jiwa keibuan dan seorang anak perempuan yg terlalu polos dan mendambakan kebebasan.
cukup sensitif sih. apalagi si ibu terlihat gak pengen melanjutkan hidup. sedangkan si anak berusaha "menyembuhkan" penyakit ibunya tersebut sambil berusaha hidup di dunia yg kejam.
cerita tentang ketidak adilan yg mereka dapat akibat penjajahan juga bikin kesel dan pengen marah-marah sih. mulai dari ditekan, diasingkan, sampai diancam kalau hidupnya gak akan baik-baik aja. sedih dan putus asa rasanya :(
sebenernya aku cukup bingung sama cara penulisnya bercerita. gayanya kayak lagi nulis diary gitu. tapi karena diambil dari berbagai perspektif, kadang agak bingung siapa yg sebenernya lagi cerita.
jadi butuh tingkat fokus yg tinggi buat memahami siapa yg dimaksud sih. tapi emang writing stylenya cantik dan emosional banget.
gak ada klimaks, twist atau resolusi yang jelas. cuma sebuah ending yang seringkali dalam hidup gak sepenuhnya memuaskan. realistis sih. but i think that was the point.