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pennyfictions's review against another edition
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
laurenbb23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.75
kirsten0929's review against another edition
4.0
[1962] This, my second Penelope Mortimer, covers similar emotional territory to the first, mid-century housewife/mother on the verge of a breakdown. Wouldn’t have thought this would be subject matter for me, but Mortimer rocks it once again in this semi-autobiographical novel. I find it sharply written and fascinating.
sarahgoldcrest's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
clarestirz's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ninatytyeanna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
Absolutely gorgeous prose, affecting as fuck, I was barely able to put it down. Such an underrated feminist classic.
clare_richh's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tailwhip's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Gaslighting
pina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Brilliantly written book
casskrug's review against another edition
3.75
the pumpkin eater is a midcentury account of a woman’s emotional collapse and grappling with marriage, motherhood, and mental illness. our unnamed narrator had been married multiple times, has many children, and is pregnant with another child that her husband doesn’t want - he is having an affair that has a majorly negative effect on the narrator’s mental health. it is heavily based on penelope mortimer’s own life and as the introduction says, it seems like it was a very cathartic writing experience.
this was a quick read that was interesting because it feels ahead of its time - it feels like a blueprint for more contemporary books dealing with the same themes. the narrator’s breakdown is juxtaposed against the image of perfection that the family’s wealth projects in public. it also tackles women’s autonomy and abortion, which i don’t think was talked about so plainly and openly at the time this was written. it was very dialogue heavy but the conversations were done well - witty and ironic.
this was a quick read that was interesting because it feels ahead of its time - it feels like a blueprint for more contemporary books dealing with the same themes. the narrator’s breakdown is juxtaposed against the image of perfection that the family’s wealth projects in public. it also tackles women’s autonomy and abortion, which i don’t think was talked about so plainly and openly at the time this was written. it was very dialogue heavy but the conversations were done well - witty and ironic.