Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Membrana by Chi Ta-wei

6 reviews

mar's review against another edition

reflective medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

dude.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma

Moderate: Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Cannibalism, and Murder

rorikae's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-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

4.25

'The Membranes' by Chi Ta-wei is a fascinating and deeply introspective sci-fi novella set in a future where society lives under the sea. 
The story centers on Momo, a young woman who works as a dermal care technician taking care of her clients skin. Estranged from her mother, Momo lives a very quiet and isolated life, working and occasionally interacting with people outside of work. Reflecting back on her childhood and a surgery that she went through at a young age, Momo looks at her own life and how she has gotten to this point. When her mother resurfaces in her life, hoping to get in contact and meet, Momo will have to decide if she wants to see her or if she will refuse the offer. 
Wow, this is a fascinating book. Not only does Chi Ta-wei create a fascinating future where all of humanity lives underwater but he also has written a fascinating story that looks at gender, personhood, and more. Momo is a flawed but deeply human character and it is interesting to watch as she goes about her daily life while also reflecting back on the strange occurrences of her childhood. There are lingering questions and a strangeness to the novella that is answered quite concretely at the end. I also really appreciated that the version I read had an essay in the back that explored the themes of the novella, especially in the light of the time that it was written and other works. I think this would be perfect for a book club to discuss as there are some quite shocking elements and reveals that turn the story on its head while also asking the reader to look back and evaluate what they have read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Pedophilia

puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body horror, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

aleilvandrea's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-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

3.75

Super fascinating setting and themes around bodily autonomy and privacy, intimacy, identity, and reality and perception. The writing style is a bit stilted and heavy on telling (Heinrich's translation of Last Words from Montmartre reads very differently, so I'm inclined to think this is also a quirk of the original); I think it generally suits the narrative but does make the twist come off a little overexplained. Heavier on philosophy than hard science, and definitely shows its age at certain points, neither of which I say as particular negatives -- overall, very interesting read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Cannibalism, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Viral infection. Climate change/pollution in the setup.

emteef's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad medium-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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Medical trauma

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape