Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Mleko i głód

Periodically I start into books with really high expectations, either because of the blurb, how the book introduces me to it's writing or it's a book that's been recommended to me quite often.

Unfortunately this my expectations were a bit too high.

I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book. The were written in such a sensual, poetic, clear cut way. And then the writing veered off.

so of the issues stayed unaddressed. Rachel, the protagonist, who has disordered eating since the was a child, suddenly is healed through a relationship, that isn't even going that well. An eating disorder can't just disappear overnight.

Her issues with her mother, which where such a central motif at the beginning of the book and who is also the cause for her eating disorder, so that her psychiatrist challenges her to not contact her mother for 90 days, stay as good as unaddressed.

The blurb also put heavy emphasis on the "pedaling into nothingness", but it hardly mentioned more than three times in the book.

The characters are really rich and colourful and "rubenesque" and formed- until the last 1/3. It feels a bit rushed and shallower (?).

And the way the last two chapter develop, it's just frustrating.

Content Warnings

carolinestes's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sometimes its hard for me to get into books when the main character isn’t immediately relatable. milk fed is about rachel, a girl whose whole life has been surrounded around her body and weight. rachel has an obsessive eating disorder that at times was difficult to read, but her journey to find herself, re-find her Jewish faith, become more comfortable with her sexuality, and put up healthy boundaries between herself and her mother was beautiful. although it was tough to get into at first, i sped through the last 3/4 of the book and really enjoyed it! this book has spice, insightfulness, and humor, what more could you ask for?

Content Warnings

writingbookscoffee's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Whoa, this book was a trip... but in the best way? Tender, funny, heartbreaking, erotic, the list could go on. It was like having a voyeuristic look into Rachel's life, which at times was tough.

Content Warnings

lilycollings's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

3.5 stars, I want to give it more because I really liked the writing style and the story but there was just a bit too much detail on some topics that made it uncomfortable to read in places. I am sure this was intentional but it just brought my rating down.

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zoiejanelle's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

i will never recover from this book. it was like looking into a mirror. a dirty, 7/11 in the middle of no where, warped, shattered, perverted mirror that hangs upside down, but still a mirror just the same.
i’ve never read a character like rachel, so raw and broken and… stupid. an asshole raised by a narcissist, a girl with no shame but all the shame in the world. she broke my heart, made me laugh, make me cry, and made me nauseous all at once.
this book is a look down the barrel of the gun that is “mothers and daughters.” this book captures exactly how it feels to be a complete and utter train wreck who can trace all of their issues back to their mother. not for the feeble minded or weak stomached.
highly recommend for the (mentally and emotionally stable/healed) girlies with mommy issues, problems with food or a history with eating disorders, girls questioning their sexuality, the ex-christians and lapsed Jews, and anyone who thinks hallucinating a wise rabbi and Chinese food might be the answer to all of their problems.

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