Reviews

On a Woman's Madness by Astrid H. Roemer

empoleon's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lately, I've been fascinated by novels that dip in and out of reality, leaving me surrounded in the haze of a dream, wondering what's real and what's not. Often allegorical, these books have challenged me to read between the lines to gain a deeper understanding of the characters, and in turn, myself.

This novel falls into that category. Noenka's story is interwoven between the stories of the most important women in her life - her lover and her mother, and the men that create havoc in between. She's an admirable protagonist, sarcastic and strong-willed. She takes hold of her own life even while being entrapped by an abusive husband, loving who she wants, whether woman or man, having sex with who she pleases, and entrancing many with her beauty and charm. Roemer weaves Noenka's world through prose beautifully translated by Lucy Scott, revealing the core of Noenka's dreams in desires in poetic moments jumping between the past and present to unravel a dark tale. This is a novel that certainly belongs in the Queer and Black Womanist literary canon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

readingindreams's review

dark reflective medium-paced

3.0

10iii_kat's review

2.0

eh.. I had high hopes, and unfortunately, I didn't like it in the end. most of the book was boring, and there was no structure, and for me, it was difficult to understand where we were/what was happening.

rebeccasmith115's review

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

pennythewanderer's review

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

kslaboch's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

2.0

alenareads_27's review

3.0

I thought I would be rating this much higher because the synopsis was interesting to me. The writing style and lack of chapters confused and annoyed me. I picked this up to read for a reading around the world challenge I’m doing. I was excited to read a book set in and by an author from Suriname. 

I’m a little upset I didn’t like it more. 

gtea_reader's review

reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

aridoubra's review

2.0

Maybe I get the premise of the book, but I was a disappointed getting into it. It fell short. The narrator is unreliable and just all over the place. It’s hard to keep track of her thoughts and her timeline. One moment, we are at her childhood and the other in adulthood. It’s not a cohesive read. My stars are for the fact that it’s the first time I’m reading a book by a Surinamese author. 

lyloster's review

Very fragmented and doesn't have a lot of structure. I read 20% in one sitting and enjoyed it, but after putting the book down for a few days and continuing to read, I am lost.