Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Muttermilch by Nora Ikstena

4 reviews

rieviolet's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

This is my very first foray into Latvian literature; I didn't know what to expect but I was suprised by how much this novel captivated me and stuck with me. 

It takes a moment to orient oneself with the rapid switch of POVs between mother and daughter; but, once you get used to it, you can see how well this stylistic choice supports  the narrative and builds on it.

The author depicts the central relationship between mother and daughter in a very striking and heartbreaking way, shining a light on all its complexities and nuances. I also appreciated how Ikstena explored the influence of the historical context (the Soviet rule over Latvia) on the life of individuals. 

This is a very bleak story, with strong imagery and symbolism, at times veering a little too far into harrowing and disturbing territory (for example the metaphorical parellel with the story of the daughter's hamster). I think that its shortness works in its favour. The author condenses various elements of reflection (freedom and domination, motherhood and generational trauma, struggles of mental health) in a little over one hundred pages and makes this gloomy and challenging narrative bearable for the reader. Despite everything, the ending still holds a faint glimmer of hope for the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

eve_kadou's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and War

denijaaa_s's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-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? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Infertility

krankliuk's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Animal death

Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Medical content, and Suicide attempt