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virgcole398's review
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Classism
mia_a's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Book consists of 3 stories.
1. Story about an older college professor who first had her world turn upside down when her son throws away all of the values she tried to bestow upon him. She sees this as an ultimate betrayal and is cutting off every sort of communication with him. Unfortunately, her husband, who she finds pessimistic and a downer, disagrees with her and tries to have a rational conversations, that she perceives as another attack. She then goes on to overanalyze everything - her connections, aging, job, legacy, parenting.
2. Story is Miriel's very neurotic stream of consciousness where she blames everyone and rationalizes all the bad things that happened to her. She is completely dependant on men in her life and has no real freedom. She thinks about how her mother is very abusive, her ex husband was not her support and even her current (soon to be ex) husband left her saying she would drain life out of her. Also, she thinks about her teenage daughter who committed suicide, and how they also had conflicted relationship upto a point where a lot of people blame her as a mother.
3. Story is about a housewife who stopped her medical studies to get married after unexpected pregnancy. Now, at the age of 44 she finds out that her husband is cheating on her, and it changes every aspect of her life. She questions everyone around her about the mistress, what she did wrong and what is she supposed to do now. Her husband, through a lot of gaslighting and manipulation, tries to sit on two chairs.
All of these stories have some universal experiances that can creep up to all of us at any moment. That's what makes this book so relevant today, and also very scary. Keep your eyes open.
1. Story about an older college professor who first had her world turn upside down when her son throws away all of the values she tried to bestow upon him. She sees this as an ultimate betrayal and is cutting off every sort of communication with him. Unfortunately, her husband, who she finds pessimistic and a downer, disagrees with her and tries to have a rational conversations, that she perceives as another attack. She then goes on to overanalyze everything - her connections, aging, job, legacy, parenting.
2. Story is Miriel's very neurotic stream of consciousness where she blames everyone and rationalizes all the bad things that happened to her. She is completely dependant on men in her life and has no real freedom. She thinks about how her mother is very abusive, her ex husband was not her support and even her current (soon to be ex) husband left her saying she would drain life out of her. Also, she thinks about her teenage daughter who committed suicide, and how they also had conflicted relationship upto a point where a lot of people blame her as a mother.
3. Story is about a housewife who stopped her medical studies to get married after unexpected pregnancy. Now, at the age of 44 she finds out that her husband is cheating on her, and it changes every aspect of her life. She questions everyone around her about the mistress, what she did wrong and what is she supposed to do now. Her husband, through a lot of gaslighting and manipulation, tries to sit on two chairs.
All of these stories have some universal experiances that can creep up to all of us at any moment. That's what makes this book so relevant today, and also very scary. Keep your eyes open.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Classism
rooney_shay's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This edition included two other short stories as well as “The Woman Destroyed” (TWD, for short). I enjoyed TWD much more than the other two stories, but they all focused around woman dealing with loss in their lives.
TWD dealt with the main character slowly losing her husband to another woman, but with him goes her sense of self.
It was deeply saddening and really hurt my heart. I began to empathize with the main character and only wanted to see her happy.
<small spoiler>The only reason I’m not giving this a 5/5 is because of the ambiguous ending. I’m not a huge a fan of unresolved conflict, so just a small warning to those of you like me.
It was deeply saddening and really hurt my heart. I began to empathize with the main character and only wanted to see her happy.
<small spoiler>The only reason I’m not giving this a 5/5 is because of the ambiguous ending. I’m not a huge a fan of unresolved conflict, so just a small warning to those of you like me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Alcohol, and Classism