Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

11 reviews

ninee's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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

4.75

Ottimo libro per giovani ragazzi/e nei loro primi anni di adulto per una riflessione sulla condizione di donna e sul ruolo che la società impone su di ella.



Il finale mi ha rimasta un po’ spiazzata o forse sono solo io a non essere stata capace di capire la protagonista.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, and Misogyny

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

sea_sea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This book was absolutely amazing. Would 100% recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

dizzzybrook's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.75

Every once in a while, I come across a book that truly just does everything I want it to and Breasts and Eggs certainly did that for me. I often avoid reading about the topics discussed in this book given that I find it difficult to find navigate between the opinions of those who believe women are obligated to have children and those who do not, but this book tackles these arguments in a way that I found extremely profound and ultimately agreeable. My only true criticism is that the ending fell flat for me and felt a little rushed and predictable. It felt as if Kawakami had spent so much time developing this incredibly complex and thought provoking story just to have it end in the most predictable, cliché way. This is obviously a fault of my own personal taste, but I do believe this book to be a 5 star read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

u_0's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Beautiful, intense, and profoundly human. I'm at a loss for words. It was real.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

pandorasirens's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism

nozycozy's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

So human. So Beautiful. Kawakami’s riveting prose makes you feel like you’re a part of Natsumes life. Her thoughts and interactions with others were at times sad but these are the realities many women face. I learned so much and connected with many of the women in her life. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

liv_txt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

edgaranjapoe's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Abandonment

eunicaa's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

A beautiful and raw depiction of womanhood in Japan. 

Part 1 is a 5/5 - I thought the contrast between Natsu’s narrative and Midoriko’s journal entries was so interesting. And the story way Mieko depicted the complicated relationship between women, sisters and aunts and mothers and grandmothers, was so beautiful yet unflinching.

Part 2 is a 3.75/5 - I wasn’t a fan of the plot. But maybe it’s because I’m still too young to understand? It did made me think about why we have children, the purpose of life, and loneliness. But I wish it was more like Part I, which was a study of womanhood via this complicated, and sometimes toxic, family dynamic. I feel like the romantic plot point in Part II betrayed the feminist spirit of Part I. Wasn’t this book about defying patriarchal expectations? So why write in a romantic interest?? 

Feels like: Getting drunk with your sister for the first time and all of the emotional and mental barriers are washed away. You both talk candidly for the first time, realizing how much of each other’s love you’ve missed from your lives.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Suicide attempt