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tinkeringcheck's review against another edition
3.25
I also feel bad saying this, but I'm not a big fan of books that feel like they were written mainly to Educate the Reader instead of tell a story. I might have bounced off because I know too much about the abortion rights movement in Canada already, but I'm glad this book is making that history more accessible.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
catarina_pego's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy
jaklindberg's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
sometimesalyreadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
That being said, it IS a great historical fiction! About other years. A teenager in the 70s who finds herself pregnant and forced to give her baby up for adoption, the trauma that she and the other women face, the eventual decision to become a doctor and join an underground abortion network, so that women can have a choice.
Another woman, modern day, desperate for a child of her own - discovers a letter. She decides, like many others, to go looking for Jane.
The plot twist in this book threw me for an absolute loop, I will give it that. I was flabbergasted. Taken back. Shocked.
The plot starts slow, and at time and dialogue at times, was a little too "scripted infomercial" on women's oppression and the fight for reproductive rights, but the plot was beautiful. I cried many times reading this book club pick and I highly recommend it.
Buckle up for the last 20% because the author does rush to tie everything together, but I felt it was well-done and really, all about women and our multitudes. 4.5 stars!
Graphic: Suicide and Abortion
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder
shae_reads's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Miscarriage, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Racial slurs
katiejohns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Infertility, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexism, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Rape
mdavis26's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
anni_in_wonderland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
The book follows the story of three women living in three different eras. I won’t spoil too much as all three stories are connected but part of the appeal of the book is that the connections unravel slowly and accumulate in a sort-of “plot twist”. Without spoilering: I have seen other reviews mention that some of the connections between the stories were only enabled by coincidence. While this isn’t wrong and would be something that I would see as weakening the plot in other genres (like a thriller, for example), I don’t really think it matters here at all.
I liked all the characters and I liked that every story represents a different angle on motherhood and abortion and the book does a good job at highlighting how motherhood, fertility, adoption and access to abortion are tied to women’s rights and female quality of life. I understand that this book might be a difficult read for someone that is staunchly pro-life but it’s well-researched and well-argued - it’s fiction that uses historical facts to make a point. I hope anyone will give it a fair shot and seek a facts-based debate on the topic.
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Death
klbreyfogle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape and Grief