Reviews

Strike Your Heart by Amélie Nothomb

saretta82's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

julianfineman's review against another edition

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4.0

Home is where it hurts, efectivamente.
Me leí todo el libro en tres horas.
Altamente recomendado.

sof_wants2read's review

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

tsikou's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted sad fast-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

4.0

booksandnothingcels's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective fast-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

5.0

roses_are_read's review

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3.5

Striking directly into the heart of the theme - a speedy snapshot of mama trauma and its psychological effects with betrayal bonuses and the ever-present patriarchy. 

The sensitive and precocious protagonist is born to a narcissistic, jealous, immature, and insecure mother who neglects her need for love and attention. Recognizing that her needs will not be addressed, the protagonist stops seeking fulfillment and is, ultimately, criticized for being "cold". Her younger siblings experience vastly different relationships with the mother. The protagonist replaces her emotional needs with academic and career pursuits. Unhealed wounds are exposed when she enters into a friendship with a female professor/mentor. 

"What would be the point of reproaching someone who was incapable of self-analysis..." 

Nothomb pierces sharply and quickly into characters, themes, and progression. She surprisingly and successfully covers significant territory in such a short length. Based on this, I am giving her a pass on the abrupt, dramatic, and predictable ending. 

"At university and at the hospital she had often observed people's incredible ability to forget: they forgot what didn't suit them, or rather, they forgot when it suited them to forget--in other words, very often." 

grisbell_martz's review against another edition

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4.0

Me encantó descubrir a Nothomb por este libro. A pesar de ser corto, la autora logra plasmar con la historia de Diane y su madre, lo importante y poderoso que es el lazo afectivo que nos une con nuestros padres, cómo la integración de la misma puede moldear nuestra personalidad y las futuras relaciones que se formarán a lo largo de la vida.

lucypipper's review against another edition

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3.0

Amélie Nothomb reflexiona sobre las relaciones entre madres e hijas: son ellas las protagonistas de este relato cargado de realismo mágico. Un libro donde la crueldad y la rabia te golpean el corazón constantemente y a través del que se comprende que el desprecio puede hacer mucho más daño que el odio. No obstante, el papel de madres e hijas está enmarcado en los roles sociales impuestos por la sociedad para las mujeres. Resulta espeluznante cómo esta historia esconde un doble fondo sobre la belleza y la delicadeza que deben tener las mujeres; sobre su papel como madres, indispensable para que no las desacrediten; sobre las dificultades en el ámbito laboral. Nothomb intenta mostrar así cómo las relaciones entre varias madres e hijas fallan debido a las imposiciones sociales y a la educación recibida que pauta cómo deben comportarse para ser "mujeres como Dios manda".
Bajo la puntuación porque la traducción me ha parecido deficiente con algunos errores básicos de redacción y con un tono poco acorde en algunos momentos.

melpomel's review against another edition

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5.0

Sobran las palabras. Punto.

herbstgeraschel's review against another edition

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3.0

3,5 Sterne