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A review by anni_in_wonderland
Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
This was one of my best reads of 2022 and a release that could not have been better timed: The book was published in Spring 2022, Roe v Wade was overturned that summer. To clarify: The book does take place in Canada but it does show that limiting women’s access to abortion is historically not a US problem and the book highlights what happens when access to abortion is limited (in general).
The book follows the story of three women living in three different eras. I won’t spoil too much as all three stories are connected but part of the appeal of the book is that the connections unravel slowly and accumulate in a sort-of “plot twist”. Without spoilering: I have seen other reviews mention that some of the connections between the stories were only enabled by coincidence. While this isn’t wrong and would be something that I would see as weakening the plot in other genres (like a thriller, for example), I don’t really think it matters here at all.
I liked all the characters and I liked that every story represents a different angle on motherhood and abortion and the book does a good job at highlighting how motherhood, fertility, adoption and access to abortion are tied to women’s rights and female quality of life. I understand that this book might be a difficult read for someone that is staunchly pro-life but it’s well-researched and well-argued - it’s fiction that uses historical facts to make a point. I hope anyone will give it a fair shot and seek a facts-based debate on the topic.
The book follows the story of three women living in three different eras. I won’t spoil too much as all three stories are connected but part of the appeal of the book is that the connections unravel slowly and accumulate in a sort-of “plot twist”. Without spoilering: I have seen other reviews mention that some of the connections between the stories were only enabled by coincidence. While this isn’t wrong and would be something that I would see as weakening the plot in other genres (like a thriller, for example), I don’t really think it matters here at all.
I liked all the characters and I liked that every story represents a different angle on motherhood and abortion and the book does a good job at highlighting how motherhood, fertility, adoption and access to abortion are tied to women’s rights and female quality of life. I understand that this book might be a difficult read for someone that is staunchly pro-life but it’s well-researched and well-argued - it’s fiction that uses historical facts to make a point. I hope anyone will give it a fair shot and seek a facts-based debate on the topic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Death