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A review by mia_a
The Woman Destroyed by Simone de Beauvoir
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Book consists of 3 stories.
1. Story about an older college professor who first had her world turn upside down when her son throws away all of the values she tried to bestow upon him. She sees this as an ultimate betrayal and is cutting off every sort of communication with him. Unfortunately, her husband, who she finds pessimistic and a downer, disagrees with her and tries to have a rational conversations, that she perceives as another attack. She then goes on to overanalyze everything - her connections, aging, job, legacy, parenting.
2. Story is Miriel's very neurotic stream of consciousness where she blames everyone and rationalizes all the bad things that happened to her. She is completely dependant on men in her life and has no real freedom. She thinks about how her mother is very abusive, her ex husband was not her support and even her current (soon to be ex) husband left her saying she would drain life out of her. Also, she thinks about her teenage daughter who committed suicide, and how they also had conflicted relationship upto a point where a lot of people blame her as a mother.
3. Story is about a housewife who stopped her medical studies to get married after unexpected pregnancy. Now, at the age of 44 she finds out that her husband is cheating on her, and it changes every aspect of her life. She questions everyone around her about the mistress, what she did wrong and what is she supposed to do now. Her husband, through a lot of gaslighting and manipulation, tries to sit on two chairs.
All of these stories have some universal experiances that can creep up to all of us at any moment. That's what makes this book so relevant today, and also very scary. Keep your eyes open.
1. Story about an older college professor who first had her world turn upside down when her son throws away all of the values she tried to bestow upon him. She sees this as an ultimate betrayal and is cutting off every sort of communication with him. Unfortunately, her husband, who she finds pessimistic and a downer, disagrees with her and tries to have a rational conversations, that she perceives as another attack. She then goes on to overanalyze everything - her connections, aging, job, legacy, parenting.
2. Story is Miriel's very neurotic stream of consciousness where she blames everyone and rationalizes all the bad things that happened to her. She is completely dependant on men in her life and has no real freedom. She thinks about how her mother is very abusive, her ex husband was not her support and even her current (soon to be ex) husband left her saying she would drain life out of her. Also, she thinks about her teenage daughter who committed suicide, and how they also had conflicted relationship upto a point where a lot of people blame her as a mother.
3. Story is about a housewife who stopped her medical studies to get married after unexpected pregnancy. Now, at the age of 44 she finds out that her husband is cheating on her, and it changes every aspect of her life. She questions everyone around her about the mistress, what she did wrong and what is she supposed to do now. Her husband, through a lot of gaslighting and manipulation, tries to sit on two chairs.
All of these stories have some universal experiances that can creep up to all of us at any moment. That's what makes this book so relevant today, and also very scary. Keep your eyes open.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Classism