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A review by m00dreads
The Woman Destroyed by Simone de Beauvoir
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.25
This was heavy. Female rage and agony ebb and flow throughout the entire collection: it begins with the pensive introspections in The Age of Discretion, surges into the caustic lashings of The Monologue, before culminating into the slow but absolute psychological deterioration in The Woman Destroyed.
Of the three, the first is my favorite and the second would be the least. Not for any reason other than the stylistic, if I’m being honest. It was a struggle to read through The Monologue’s violently amorphous structure—which I know, objectively speaking, is part of the point. The persona’s pain and fury burned like wildfire; it leapt from the pages and spared no one, not even the reader. Depending on personal liking, it can either be a merit or a headache. For me it was both—I understand the literary purpose and think it brilliant, but I also had to pick up a middle-grade fantasy and take a full day’s break just to unscramble my brain after that whirlwind.
The titular story, in my opinion, lacked the sense of satisfaction and closure that the The Age of Discretion had. But then again, also purely a matter of preference. Angry little gremlin that I am wanted blood to be drawn so I was lowkey disappointed when I didn’t get any.
Loved The Age of Discretion from the very first line. Length was perfect and I somehow found myself relating to the persona’s grievances?? (I’m at least 40 years younger; but society to this day hasn’t stopped making women of all ages feel like they’re supposed to be outrunning the clock… I blame late-stage capitalism and all its corollaries).
Individual ratings:
The Age of Discretion: 5⭐
The Monologue: 3.75⭐
The Woman Destroyed: 4⭐
Of the three, the first is my favorite and the second would be the least. Not for any reason other than the stylistic, if I’m being honest. It was a struggle to read through The Monologue’s violently amorphous structure—which I know, objectively speaking, is part of the point. The persona’s pain and fury burned like wildfire; it leapt from the pages and spared no one, not even the reader. Depending on personal liking, it can either be a merit or a headache. For me it was both—I understand the literary purpose and think it brilliant, but I also had to pick up a middle-grade fantasy and take a full day’s break just to unscramble my brain after that whirlwind.
The titular story, in my opinion, lacked the sense of satisfaction and closure that the The Age of Discretion had. But then again, also purely a matter of preference. Angry little gremlin that I am wanted blood to be drawn so I was lowkey disappointed when I didn’t get any.
Loved The Age of Discretion from the very first line. Length was perfect and I somehow found myself relating to the persona’s grievances?? (I’m at least 40 years younger; but society to this day hasn’t stopped making women of all ages feel like they’re supposed to be outrunning the clock… I blame late-stage capitalism and all its corollaries).
Individual ratings:
The Age of Discretion: 5⭐
The Monologue: 3.75⭐
The Woman Destroyed: 4⭐
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity