Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

76 reviews

piierrote's review against another edition

3.0

This book delves into so many interesting topics and experiences, especially since donor conception is such an up and coming topic. Breasts and Eggs wasn’t an uninteresting book, in fact i’d say it is a GOOD book! however i struggled through reading it and felt like my attention was never truly hooked and i was waiting to finish the book to read something id enjoy better.

definitely a book that would hit with certain people, but just didn’t hit in the way other Mieko Kawakami books hit for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

cgdppl's review

emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.5

This is probably one of the best Japanese books I have read so far. It defiently showcases some of the challenges women face in Japanese society (and probably to some extent in other western countries as well). The plot consists of what can be essentially divided into two stories - Breasts ,and Eggs. 
The first one focusses on the relationships between mothers and their daughters in the main characters family. The main motives in this one are the struggles of low class women in Japan, relationships between mother and daughters, as well as reflections about the female body.
The second one is centered around the carrier of the main character and her struggles with pregnancy, having children and sustaining relationships with men in her life. The second story goes mainly into antinatalist motives and the morality of having children. 

The ending did leave me quite bitter and wondering if the main character has made the right choice about having the child by herself. We do sympathize with her through her story, but in the end it felt a bit odd and unease when reading the final chapter. It definetly left me with something to think about through some time

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility and Misogyny

Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape

clairel610's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

2.5

Overall I thought this book had a lot of interesting ideas and a unique perspective, but it was really hard for me to get into it. At times the tone felt distant/detached emotionally which made it feel flat, though this might be due to the translation.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault and Rape

ssamdaly's review

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

mauatuafr's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Suicide, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Classism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Rape

u_0's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

Beautiful, intense, and profoundly human. I'm at a loss for words. It was real.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Death, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness

siriface's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Medical content

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

4.5

Really enjoyed the time I got to spent with Natsuko. The different relationships she has with the ppl in her life and how she navigates it all. I’m glad I took my time reading this rather than rushing through. Although, it all depends on your circumstance of course.
Just saying that I liked that I ended up savouring it bc I really became invested in her life, and it was just absolutely worth the read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Misogyny

hue's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Mieko Kawakami has such a unique way of writing. Her style and story telling grip tight on my heart strings, not letting go before the story has told its tale. I'm flabbergasted how she's woven this narrative around our main character Natsuko, and her many turmoils through most of her life. Through the side characters telling of their lives, and Natsuko reflecting upon their words, I kept having the realisation that every living being has such a vividly complicated life, no matter how pristine or untouched they seem to the outside eye. It should be obvious without it being shoved right into my face, but I guess it's different when you encounter someone through the eye's of another person, fictional or not. Kawakami makes me think Natsuko isn't as fictional as I first thought. To me her struggles seem very real.

I'm no longer surprised Breasts and Eggs became such  an international hit. I enjoyed it immensely, the ups and downs of Natsuko's life and all that wove into it. I'll be thinking about this one for ages upon ages, that I'm sure of.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Cancer, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

thebookwasbetter_22's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-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? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Pedophilia, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Suicide, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Bullying, Rape, and Suicide attempt