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pacifickat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The audio narration was seamless and lyrical, almost meditative. The plot in prose interwove cohesively with sections of poetry, short bursts of stream of consciousness, and quotations from various flood narratives. I admired the way the author juxtaposed the shock of a sudden, apocalyptic flood and struggle to survive in its immediate aftermath, with descriptions of new motherhood and the wonder of a baby growing from infancy amidst an impossible landscape. Humans can hold so many truths at the same time, birth and death, fear and hope, grief and joy, light and dark.
I think one of my favorite elements of this story is that the narrator is a geriatric mother, a woman who is no longer in her youth and has known something of life. She is able to make her own decisions, to weather the events of the story with an heir of maturity. She does not come across as helpless or desperate, but rather reasoned and resourceful. I'm glad the story was told from her perspective.
In the end, it was interesting to compare her survival story with the baby to the horror her male partner and father of the child experienced alone in the flood's aftermath. The baby seems to have given her something to focus on besides ugliness and loss, a reason to survive and hold on to hope. I liked the idea that mother's have a way of holding the world together in disasters, war zones, and the long haul of rebuilding because of the hope they hold for their children.
I think one of my favorite elements of this story is that the narrator is a geriatric mother, a woman who is no longer in her youth and has known something of life. She is able to make her own decisions, to weather the events of the story with an heir of maturity. She does not come across as helpless or desperate, but rather reasoned and resourceful. I'm glad the story was told from her perspective.
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Infertility, Death, Excrement, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
aternes13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Go into it with an open mind. Has beautiful prose, but is also sparse. That serves a point,. though.
Minor: Violence and Sexual assault
eefmaoam's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Although I really enjoy the format of the story (diary entries and some religious quotes), I think it also gives it a slightly chaotic feeling and leaves (a bit too much) room for your own interpretation of events never explained.
Minor: Murder, Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Mental illness
withlivjones's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is a quick but chilling read that tackles themes of motherhood, belonging, and grief in a natural-disaster-stricken Britain. I liked that you don’t get much information about what is going on, and everything you do learn you have to infer from suggestions in the text, which really immerses you in the story and the fear that the characters have of the unknown. The narration feels very stream-of-consciousness-like and I thought it was very realistic and engaging.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault and Violence
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