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debsslee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Kidnapping
Minor: War
liesthemoontells's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
While the book's themes are complex, heavy, and at times very dark, Harpman's treatment of the subject matter is more meditative and philosophical than shock provoking. There are many ruminations on what it means to be human, on navigating love, gender, and human connection when you have been given no reference point.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who needs resolutions to their mystery fiction but if you are looking for a powerful and ambivalent piece of speculative literature I could not recommend it more.
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Violence and War
miapisanos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ritasotero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Torture, and War
rizzi_anna's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Terminal illness and War
refrejarator's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Dementia, Grief, Abandonment, and War
hanmccull's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Personally I chose to skip the introduction before reading as it was giving too much away, and I’m very glad I did so.
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, and War
carojust's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I read this in half a day. I give so much credit to the translator, though all the credit is due to Jacqueline Harpman for this beautiful, morose, bare, unique story.
This is a story on an undefined war, humanity, and women surviving. It contemplates the meaning of life. It is plain in how it describes each step of survival, and we see through the eyes of a protagonist who is like a blank page - void of our version of the human experience. I rooted for her, and mourned for her.
You'll love this if you like thought-provoking reads, darker stories about humanity, and the bond among women.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Infertility
deetabz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, and Infertility
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and War