Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Muttermilch by Nora Ikstena

19 reviews

lolipopowiec's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy

misty_kb's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

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

manadziesma's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent

Minor: Violence and Abortion

maritvs's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

amysou0204's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

I loved that this book was written in the points of view of both the mother and her daughter, alternating between both at each "chapter". This revealed a very emotional side of communist Latvia where even though people could have "normal" lives and be a successful doctor, they could still feel imprisoned and trapped. The relationship between the mother and her daughter is also very interesting as you can see the dynamics of what such a relationship might look like when a mother does not have "maternal instincts" from the start. The story was very sad though but it was a very nice read as I felt like I really got to know the characters deeply and always craved to know more about them and their lives and couldn't put the boom down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Suicide attempt

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

tillydaisym's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War