A review by twentysixarias
Family of Origin by CJ Hauser

challenging emotional reflective tense 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

2.0

Family of Origin is a really strange, beautifully written book. It's about two half siblings who go to collect their father's things at a research site. Their father is an eccentric researcher with weird opinions about evolution, and he brings the siblings together and apart, even after his death.

I just could not vibe with the characters. I did not find them to be people I wanted to follow—both seemed extremely miserable. While I didn't mind the very difficult themes (I typically find them interesting when they're done right), I couldn't really find justification for what happened in the end.
SpoilerI have to agree with other reviewers that the sexual assault Elsa participated in did not seem well-handled. And I don't say this because I think it shouldn't have been written about, but because in the end... it seems like she got away with her deed and how it affected Nolan.
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