Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - Red Clocks

I will start with a big content warning because it was significant enough for me not to be stuck at the bottom. If you struggle reading about medical content, doctor visits, some procedures/if you have vaso Vagal like me and these are triggers, just be prepared for some significant scenes, especially at the beginning, which I was not prepared for.

Parts of the book were well done but overall it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. We almost didn’t get enough time with any character to the degree it felt hard to connect, and when we did get time, everyone was just portrayed almost grotesquely. I found Susan’s story personally unbearable, and also thought it was unnecessary to use stand in titles instead of the women’s names when we learn their names quite quickly. The polar explorer stuff was interesting and well written but it felt like a different book to me.

Content Warnings

taliatalksbooks's review against another edition

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medium-paced

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

5.0

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas was incredibly moving and well-written. I loved the way this book analyzed the worth of women, and what it means to be a successful woman. While this book is incredibly heavy, I think the messaging is handled extremely well and in a digestible way. While it took me a little while to get into the story, this book utilized its structure to reveal its meaning long before getting to its conclusion. I loved the way the chapters were tiled, I loved the characters, and I loved the way everything wove together. I found myself viscerally uncomfortable with some of the content, in the best way. I’m a strong believe that important works of literature should make us deeply uncomfortable—as that is what inspires change for the better. Reading about events that have creepily come to pass in the years since this book was published shows why it is even more important to vote for the things you believe in. A women’s right to her body is finding tally important, and I love the way this pulls into question the lingering effects of the choice to terminate, or more importantly, not to terminate a pregnancy. As a pro-choice advocate, I believe this novel is fundamentally important, as it depicts characters who feel so vividly real making moral decisions that work best for THEM. I won’t say more since I don’t want to spoil anything, but I cannot stress how important this novel is especially after the HORRIFIC overrun of Roe vs. Wade. I’m pretty sure this novel will live rent free in my mind for a long time, and I hope that you’ll take the plunge and decide to read it too. While the topics are certainly heavy, the ideas are so important to continue sharing, discussing, and using to educate individuals about experiences outside of their own.

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enyltiak's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I was so entranced by this book that I read it in one day. Beautiful and tragic and hits way too close to home, but it was phenomenal. It's very lyrical and character driven, and I'm sure it's not everyone's cup of tea (heed trigger warnings!) but it certainly left an impact on me. I highly recommend it.

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amaranth_wytch's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional

3.75

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joanarcherknight's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This dystopian novel is not so much a dystopia anymore. It was an interesting read, but the style wasn't to my liking. It was more curiosity that drove me to finish the story, rather than any actual care for the characters. Interesting themes.

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202claire's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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