A review by samantita
Women Talking by Miriam Toews

dark sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Though this story was a fictional retelling, the fact that it's based off a true story is incredibly devastating. One might read about a situation like this and think the characters seemed to be debating over such trivial matters. If they were being abused, especially their children, why not just leave? I think the way that their debate about whether to stay or leave is told through meeting minutes was powerful because it shows that leaving isn't that simple. These are adult women who don't even know how to read and have been manipulated their entire lives by the men who essentially rule over them. They needed to figure out how they were going to survive in the world outside of their own. 

I can't really say that this was an "enjoyable" read given the themes, but I'm glad I read it.