A review by porge_grewe
The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudova
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is an interesting one to review - The prose is bold and clear, the stories are grim vignettes which each leave you with an indelible image or impression, even if they don't necessarily have a satisfying ending, and the setting of the stories is fascinatingly grim - It all has a sense of extreme poverty and gothic despair, like the intersection of George Orwell and Edward Gorey.
I would find it hard to recommend to anyone I know, however, as this thing is *dark* - Take heed of the content warnings! It also leans very hard on my least-favourite gothic trope of dwelling on how ugly everyone is as a reflection of their character - I understand its function for setting the scene and putting us in the mind of the narrator, but it still feels unnecessary.
Content warnings: <sp> domestic violence, infanticide, rape, murder, unwanted pregnancy, child sexual abuse, definitely more that I'm forgetting </sp>
I would find it hard to recommend to anyone I know, however, as this thing is *dark* - Take heed of the content warnings! It also leans very hard on my least-favourite gothic trope of dwelling on how ugly everyone is as a reflection of their character - I understand its function for setting the scene and putting us in the mind of the narrator, but it still feels unnecessary.
Content warnings: <sp> domestic violence, infanticide, rape, murder, unwanted pregnancy, child sexual abuse, definitely more that I'm forgetting </sp>