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valjeanval's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
An amazing collection by an amazing writer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
rachaelbunny's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found the stories really varied in how much I enjoyed them. Some were really good and others seemed to only be character vignettes.
A lot of themes and character details kept repeating, which I found distracting and frustrating. About half of the stories have basically the same main character: a white, financially privileged mother of two little boys (around ages 4 and 7?). She isn’t a “regular” mom, though. She doesn’t do normal mom things, she isn’t domestic or particularly social, she just wants to be alone and drink wine and think about an obscure man from history she’s obsessed with. If she works, it’s something vague and freelance. She’s unhappy in her marriage, but in a way that doesn’t make her actually want to bother with a divorce. She’s worried about the climate crisis but in a vague self-pitying way.
A lot of themes and character details kept repeating, which I found distracting and frustrating. About half of the stories have basically the same main character: a white, financially privileged mother of two little boys (around ages 4 and 7?). She isn’t a “regular” mom, though. She doesn’t do normal mom things, she isn’t domestic or particularly social, she just wants to be alone and drink wine and think about an obscure man from history she’s obsessed with. If she works, it’s something vague and freelance. She’s unhappy in her marriage, but in a way that doesn’t make her actually want to bother with a divorce. She’s worried about the climate crisis but in a vague self-pitying way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief