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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I put this book on my to-read list because I had heard it was a book about someone choosing to be child-free and I'd never read a book where this is the premise. It follows Olive, a 30-something child-free-by-choice woman, and her relationships with her 3 college roommates. Between college and present day, they've all taken different life paths, many revolving around children, while Olive's path does not.
I enjoyed and appreciated the exploration of the child free thought process, as it's often a taboo topic to discuss. Some consider it selfish, others assume it's a temporary mindset and that eventually that maternal instinct will kick in. It was refreshing to have a character, Olive, that shared the internal struggle of whether or not to have children and the feelings that go along with this. But my favorite moments were those where Olive shared her conviction externally with friends, partners and others she interacted with.
Where I struggled with this book was the writing. While the main character was in her 30s, it often felt like I was reading the diary of a 20 year old. There were side comments and details that were irrelevant to the story. The character development for everyone (with the exception maybe for Olive) was surface level. There were gaps between scenes that left me wanting to know how we got from Point A to Point B, almost like if I was watching a movie and someone fast-forwarded through all the âslowâ parts. I think the author probably wanted to make sure to hit on certain scenarios and conversations around being child-free and in the process of doing that, did not spend as much time on flow.
Overall, I'm glad I read it and glad the author wrote it, to have a different perspective on having (or rather, not having) children, despite not loving the writing.
I enjoyed and appreciated the exploration of the child free thought process, as it's often a taboo topic to discuss. Some consider it selfish, others assume it's a temporary mindset and that eventually that maternal instinct will kick in. It was refreshing to have a character, Olive, that shared the internal struggle of whether or not to have children and the feelings that go along with this. But my favorite moments were those where Olive shared her conviction externally with friends, partners and others she interacted with.
Where I struggled with this book was the writing. While the main character was in her 30s, it often felt like I was reading the diary of a 20 year old. There were side comments and details that were irrelevant to the story. The character development for everyone (with the exception maybe for Olive) was surface level. There were gaps between scenes that left me wanting to know how we got from Point A to Point B, almost like if I was watching a movie and someone fast-forwarded through all the âslowâ parts. I think the author probably wanted to make sure to hit on certain scenarios and conversations around being child-free and in the process of doing that, did not spend as much time on flow.
Overall, I'm glad I read it and glad the author wrote it, to have a different perspective on having (or rather, not having) children, despite not loving the writing.
I adored this book. I saw so much of myself in Olive and so much of my friends in her friends; it felt familiar. But it bugged me so much that everyone kept telling her she was self-centered! She wasn't! So, yes, I got a little attached. If I'm nitpicking, the dialogue could be edited, especially when there are three or more people interacting.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting reflections on a child free life, but felt like it was really hitting this theme too hard, would have liked to see other story lines too
emotional
medium-paced
Ja, dit vind ik leuk.
Tof boek waar met een goede humor een taboe wordt beschreven waar in mijn ogen te weinig bij wordt stilgestaan. Hoewel het verhaal fictie is, kan ik zo de personages linken met mensen in mijn eigen omgeving, en ook met mezelf.
Ik denk dat het boek vooral mensen van rond 20-30 aanspreekt, waarvan de omgeving aan kinderen begint.
Tof boek waar met een goede humor een taboe wordt beschreven waar in mijn ogen te weinig bij wordt stilgestaan. Hoewel het verhaal fictie is, kan ik zo de personages linken met mensen in mijn eigen omgeving, en ook met mezelf.
Ik denk dat het boek vooral mensen van rond 20-30 aanspreekt, waarvan de omgeving aan kinderen begint.
This is a mixed review for me. I liked the topic trying to discuss millennial women's relationship with maternity. The plot was also really engaging and got me to finish it very quickly. However, I didn't like the main character approach and description that took her to appear as a sort of sociopathic. She seems following the stereotype of the "angry feminist" ...Olive has made the choice of not wanting to have kids and seems to through this choice on everybody's face and in every sort of situation and discussion. I understand the society makes a lot of processure on young women but how the character lives this choice with anger and doesn't seem to be at ease with it. I didn't find it very realistical (come on...do you really need to say to everybody new or old in your wife that you don't want kinds???!!! Is it everybody really asking it all the time???). This to me has the counter effect of scaring young women out which I'm sure was not the purpose. I would have rather approached the topic as a personal choice and describe the personal growth that stays behind it. If the book's message was of empowerment for the new generation, it has failed greatly for me.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated