A review by jayisreading
The Bitch by Pilar Quintana

dark sad tense slow-paced

3.75

This was such a fascinating and disturbing read, especially in the way it reframes what motherhood can look like. The protagonist, Damaris, is a childless woman who adopts a stray female dog that she cares for like a human child to the point of obsession. While this sounds charming, the book is anything but, as it dives into the question of what it means to be a mother (and even what it means to be a bitch), as well as the deep issues that Damaris projects onto the dog that leads to terrible events.

Quintana doesn't shy away from describing the uglier aspects of human nature, such as the way jealousy, insecurity, and anger can consume us entirely. As a result, The Bitch definitely reads as more ruthless to the point of some probably finding the book completely cruel. Much to think about, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart (nor would it be a book I'd recommend for animal lovers, especially dog lovers). I didn't love or hate this, and if there's one complaint I have, it's that I wish some ideas were fleshed out a bit more.
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