Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison

46 reviews

sporks_n_cookies's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Miscarriage, Murder, Gun violence, Child death, Sexual violence, and Rape

tourmaline_and_tomes's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

First things first, check the content warnings. This book is rough. I listened to the audiobook, so the content was even more jarring.
The book starts right off at the beginning of a plague that has wiped out humanity, and then we followed the "unnamed midwife," who takes on several different names and personas to protect herself, as she seeks to survive in a post apocalyptic hellscape. The majority of the population have all died, and the remaining men have taken to raping and enslaving the women whenever they find them. As a woman, I found this book equal parts touching and terrifying.  What happens to women's rights and reproductive justice in a post-apocalyptic landscape? The Book of the Unnamed Midwife goes for answers to that question.  I don't normally go for post-apocalyptic fiction but I would definitely recommend this one. Again, check the content warnings if you are sensitive to graphic content, especially violence against women.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Moderate: Child death

v_nerdbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Infertility, Slavery, Sexual violence, Child death, Abortion, Child abuse, Death, and Miscarriage

maxx_'s review

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book is amazing. If your looking for something that is a realistic take on what would happen to women in the event that the world collapsed,  this is for you. It’s not an easy read because it is pretty graphic but I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Slavery, Gore, Sexism, Rape, Misogyny, Death, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child death and Miscarriage

inky_cap's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Abortion, Rape, Child death, and Sexual violence

katrinarose's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Extremely bleak and tough read but I could not put it down. I loved the character of the unnamed midwife and the how well the author also developed even minor characters as they appeared. I also like the alternating style of her journal and omnipresent narrative. I was taken aback at first when we learned about characters and events that the midwife did not know about but it was satisfying (although sad). I like that the author didn’t shy away from the brutal realities of this post-apocalyptic world, and didn’t sugarcoat her view of human nature, as depressing as it was. This book is definitely not for everyone (between the triggering content, narrative style, and somewhat bare plot) but I really liked it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Blood, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Pedophilia, Rape, Murder, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Homophobia, Infertility, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Trafficking, and Sexual content

Moderate: Abortion, Grief, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

cawmii's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexism, Gun violence, Child death, Death, and Rape

polo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Very entertaining. I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but it had an interesting main character and I enjoyed the historical perspective, along with the way many stories criss-crossed into one another. 
PLEASE read the content warnings on this one before you start. Not kidding.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Blood

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Torture, and Suicide

hngisreading's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Murder, Slavery, Grief, Miscarriage, Medical content, Rape, Blood, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicide, Gun violence, Death, Physical abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Violence, Pedophilia, and Trafficking

erenreads12's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

4.5

How glorious to read a post-apocalyptic novel handled by a woman. The impact of the narrative voice is hugely important and powerful, supporting a tight, dark and surprisingly hopeful story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Outing, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Death, Rape, Violence, Sexual content, Murder, Child death, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Torture and Adult/minor relationship