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A review by vapidtroll
Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Delicate Condition features absolutely zero nuance to its message and every aspect of the novel is underdeveloped. I was really pulled in during the first half and there’s some pretty good body horror but overall, I found Danielle Valentine’s writing to be very “millennial cringe”. I don’t know how else to describe it without writing a novel myself.
A blurb on the cover describes this as a feminist update of Rosemary’s Baby, however my issue with that statement is that I don’t believe Rosemary’s Baby was ever not feminist. Valentine’s approach reads as ham-fisted at best. She leaves no room for the reader to interpret anything themselves. Instead everything feels dumbed down and stated explicitly and repeatedly for you.
I think AHS has a better chance at expanding the ideas here if the writers and actors strikes don’t affect the production too much. The story has good bones… thanks to Rosemary’s Baby, so I think a very loose adaption could be good.
A blurb on the cover describes this as a feminist update of Rosemary’s Baby, however my issue with that statement is that I don’t believe Rosemary’s Baby was ever not feminist. Valentine’s approach reads as ham-fisted at best. She leaves no room for the reader to interpret anything themselves. Instead everything feels dumbed down and stated explicitly and repeatedly for you.
I think AHS has a better chance at expanding the ideas here if the writers and actors strikes don’t affect the production too much. The story has good bones… thanks to Rosemary’s Baby, so I think a very loose adaption could be good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Gore