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athenian_frog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I don't think I've ever read such a visceral depiction of motherhood, and the toll it can take on a person, as well as their relationships. Boulder and Samsa very much felt like flawed, real people. I appreciate that someone who does not want children is not depicted as a callous, cold individual, but as someone who would not feel comfortable in a parental role. I also liked the mentions of how intertwined parenthood is with being a woman, and how that further alienated the MC--it made me think about how birth clinics, toys, and even general conversations about children are very much geared towards women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Medical content
minella's review
dark
reflective
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism and Medical content
Minor: Incest
kappafrog's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The writing style really drew me in at first. It's very visceral. But I ended up just feeling nothing for the characters in this book. The relationship was a disaster from the beginning, and it was hard watching the MC just move passively through the world. The only bright spot was her relationship with her daughter. The way that Samsa gets biologically essentialized was kind of weird. Overall, beautiful writing but dull.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Vomit and Classism
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