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daisydoolie's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? Yes
3.5
During the middle of this book I was gripped, and I feel like I learnt so much about life in contemporary Russia and their practices of detention. But other elements of this book I didn’t really get (the hallucinations/fantasy element) and found some of the backstory just a bit hard to believe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Self harm, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Homophobia
domenicar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Self harm, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Minor: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Gaslighting
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
The Incredible Events in Women’s Cell Number 3 follows Anya who is arrested at a rally protesting government corruption and sentenced to ten days in a detention facility. As she talks with her cell mates we learn more about all their lives which reveals many realities for Russian women generally. I also appreciated the seemingly small and subtle ways this story shone a light on official corruption. The book had an element of magical realism which I often struggle with. Initially that was the case here but when I came to see it as a metaphor for the strength and power which women held I gelled a lot more with that aspect of the book. Anya’s experience of incarceration was much less harrowing than I expected yet issues like loss of control and the capricious whims of hostile staff still took an emotional toll. I was unsure about this book going in but am really glad I gave it a go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Self harm, and Lesbophobia
rararasputin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Self harm