Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Procurando Jane by Heather Marshall

23 reviews

klbreyfogle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape and Grief

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. This is me teaching myself how to breathe again, because I almost forgot. I am simply astounded by what I just read. Looking for Jane is written in a way that makes the reader feel like he or she is a part of something big. Furthermore, to write about true events without conveying the facts like you are writing a research paper is a real skill, and Heather Marshall has mastered it. Inspired by true stories, we follow our main characters through three separate timelines: 1971, 1980, and 2017. There is a ton of foreshadowing in this book, and I STILL did not guess the big giant whopping colossal enormous supercalifragilisticexpialidocious twist at the end. Talk about tears! As mentioned in the author's note, this book is about abortion and the right to choose, but it is also about so much more. I think there is room for a sequel, because something Sister Agatha said to Nancy was not addressed or revisited. I would love to read more. I'm going to go hug my mom now. Wow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death, Rape, and Grief

Minor: Blood

kawooreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, and Death of parent

cailinfitzgerald's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

pauluszanna's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

 Brilliant storytelling and captivating characters - I loved this book so much.

It was extremely emotional (cried before I reach 100 pages), hopeful and extremely relevant. I hope you all put it on your TBR because it was a beautiful book about womanhood and motherhood.

Every child a wanted child, every mother a willing mother 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infertility, Medical content, and Grief

arnold_shelby's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Fatphobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Medical content, and Kidnapping

I thought some parts of the book had unnecessary exposition, where it felt like one of the story lines was being used to feed specific aspects of history to the reader, however that was short-lived thankfully. I enjoyed this book, it was raw and a rough read at times but I was glad to have read it.

desana75's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Insanely good. Changed me as a person.  Expression of women’s reproductive lives in all their facets and perspectives.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Chronic illness

maddiet425's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-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

4.5

Loved this book! It was easy to get through which is the most important thing to me. I also loved the subject matter, and the complexity with which it was discussed. I do have multiple small problems with this book though. The multiple POV’s were confusing at times, and Angela’s story didn’t seem to fit in. I also didn’t love how preachy it felt at times, but my biggest problem was the ending. It made no sense to me,

who is the Evelyn we read about at the beginning of the story? Is it the really Evelyn or is it the fake Evelyn? If the real Evelyn is telling her story throughout the St. Agnes chapters (which makes sense due to the yellow booties, etc.) then why does the fake evelyn mention at the end of the story that she wanted to give the baby to her brother?? That was something the real Evelyn wanted! It seems the author was as confused as the reader when writing this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

kelly_e's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-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? No

5.0

Title: Looking for Jane
Author: Heather Marshall
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: March 1, 2022

T H R E E • W O R D S

Important • Disturbing • Compelling

📖 S Y N O P S I S

2017: When Angela unearths a mysterious letter in a stack of forgotten mail, she cannot withhold herself from opening it. What she discovers in a life-shattering confession, and she becomes increasingly determined to find the intended recipient. In her search, she learns about an underground abortion network known as the Jane Network.

1971: As a teenager, a pregnant Dr. Evelyn Taylor is sent St. Agnes's Home for Unwed Mothers after the sudden death of her partner. It is here she endures severe emotional trauma when she's forced to give her baby up for adoption. As an adult she joins the Jane Network as an abortion provider, determined to give other women the choice she never had.

1980: When Nancy unexpectedly discovers a shocking family secret, she begins to question who she really is. During this period of turmoil, she unintentionally becomes pregnant. With no one to turn to, she recalls information she received from a doctor years ago to ask for Jane.

Looking for Jane is a story of friendship and community, of the power of choice, and of a mother's enduring love.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Heather Marshall's debut novel Looking for Jane blew me away!

Inspired by true events, this multigenerational exploration of reproductive rights and abortion in Canada throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s was beautifully crafted and eye-opening. It is obvious the author has done her research and has the aspiration of educating readers on the topic of bodily autonomy.

Told through multiple perspectives, it unpacks the harsh realities faced by many women and touching on the topics of adoption, trauma, abortion, pregnancy, infertility; but at its heart this is a story about choice - a choice to become a mother or a choice to not become a mother. Heather Marshall skillfully interweaves the stories of the three main women with emotional and thought-provoking plot with a touch of mystery. The strong cast of female characters demonstrate and unravel the power of collective voice.

There are books that shift everything you thought you knew, and Looking for Jane is one of those books. It will stay with me for years to come and has inspired me to become more informed. No matter where you are in the world this novel is poignantly relevant and you're likely to become emotionally invested. I cannot wait to see what Heather Marshall writes next!

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction devotees
• fans of The Home for Unwanted Girls
• bookclubs
• everyone!

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"It all comes down to having the right to make the choice. Every child a wanted child, every mother a willing mother."

"You can control the internal damage caused by keeping secrets far easier than the external damage. The consequences, as Michael has just shown Nancy, are unpredictable. Lethal.
Because once a secret is out there, there's no reeling it back in." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

death of partner, adoption

ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Wow! I’m super impressed that this is a debut novel. 

This book was inspired by true stories and intertwines three different characters as they navigate love, loss, and a woman’s right to choose. 

I really liked this! It was deeply emotional and very timely.

There were a few things that took away from the story for me. One was part of Nancy’s story. I didn’t understand her decision to hide her adoption from her husband. It may very well be because I was not adopted and I don’t understand the emotions bound up in that, but I felt that he could have helped her through it. Instead, it ended up causing a rift because she chose to tell him something much more polarizing (again, in my opinion). 

I also didn’t 100% buy the story of Evelyn.

I didn’t believe that she would have done what she did. The story felt more plausible before the twist was revealed.

Overall though, I thought this was very powerful.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Rape and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, and Dementia