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ana_reads's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This story is really brutal and sad. The writing is quite good, very straightforward and direct which adds a lot to the harshness of all the scenes. Definitely not for animal lovers, the brutality with which the dogs are treated is really abhorent. Even with thematic relevance, it's still hard to read.
I was quite sad for Damaris and Rogelio's relationship, there are little moments were you can see glimmers of a happier relationship for them and it's sad that it's never realized. Watching Damaris succum to jealously and saddness and the butter grief of her infertiy was also quite hard. She goes from being somewhat sympathetic to just. definitely not that so quickly it's almost startling.
Overall, despite the good writing, the story left me feeling mostly empty. That was probably the point, to just explore the violence and harshness of life in Damaris' town, but it was unsatifying. Maybe with a more definitive ending, there could be a bit more closure that could maybe make it a more satisfying story. It felt like something more should happen at the end if the book and without that final confrontation, the harshness of the rest of the novel was just sad and nothing else.
Overall, despite the good writing, the story left me feeling mostly empty. That was probably the point, to just explore the violence and harshness of life in Damaris' town, but it was unsatifying. Maybe with a more definitive ending, there could be a bit more closure that could maybe make it a more satisfying story. It felt like something more should happen at the end if the book and without that final confrontation, the harshness of the rest of the novel was just sad and nothing else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death
Moderate: Infertility
jayisreading's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Infertility
merenguita's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A pesar de ser crudo en algunos momentos, no conecte emocionalmente, siento que faltaba profundidad a la forma narrativa, no estoy segura...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Grief, Child death, Infertility, Animal death, Death, and Misogyny
entre_fanon_y_weil's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Animal cruelty
grise's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Infertility, and Animal cruelty
zarlynsnook's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
first and foremost,if you're an animal lover, forget about this book,this is not for you.
i was only enticed to read this book because i previously read an ARC of the author's other book which i liked and when i saw that this was available on scribd, i immediately saved and read it. i also read some good reviews about this book so i didn't think twice. but girl, i was wrong.
after reading it all i can say is
Damaris,you're a bitch.
no star for the trauma this book has inflicted on me.
i expected to be shocked by this book but not in this way.
i understood the metaphor, about motherhood and all,i get it.
but that ending was just cruel and uneccessary, it could have been different.
i was only enticed to read this book because i previously read an ARC of the author's other book which i liked and when i saw that this was available on scribd, i immediately saved and read it. i also read some good reviews about this book so i didn't think twice. but girl, i was wrong.
after reading it all i can say is
Damaris,you're a bitch.
no star for the trauma this book has inflicted on me.
i expected to be shocked by this book but not in this way.
i understood the metaphor, about motherhood and all,i get it.
but that ending was just cruel and uneccessary, it could have been different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Abandonment, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Death
Minor: Sexual content
lenabrary's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
3.0
Very good writing, would recommend on that basis. Please mind the trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Infertility
layanelaco's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Animal cruelty, Child death, Animal death, Toxic relationship, and Infertility
zonderling's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This dark and gritty novel is small in size, but thought provoking. We experience viscerally, the longing of our main character, who growing up without a mother, has been unable to fulfill her dream of having children of her own. Accepting in her middle age that time has likely run out biologically, she takes in a puppy, barely weaned, and commits to keeping it alive against the odds. Set in rural Colombia this spare novel painted a picture of the environment, and the plights of it's people. Dark, gritty, and not for the faint of heart, if you can't stomach reading about animal abuse, leave this one alone.
I imagine I'll be thinking about this story and what it represents for a long time.
I imagine I'll be thinking about this story and what it represents for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Infertility, Animal death, and Child death
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, and Grief
danidamico's review against another edition
dark
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
Lectura para el curso "¿Por qué escribe esa mujer? Narrativas irreverentes".
Novela engañosamente simple que relata una transformación bastante perturbadora de un modo muy humano.
Novela engañosamente simple que relata una transformación bastante perturbadora de un modo muy humano.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infertility, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death