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topherisswell's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Sexism
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Vomit, Abortion, and Sexual assault
agateg's review
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
"Bear it, that is what it means to be a woman,” and it was years before I knew that girls took Buscopan for period pain.”
When Zikora, a DC lawyer from Nigeria, tells her equally high-powered lover that she's pregnant, he abandons her. But it's Zikora's demanding, self-possessed mother, in town for the birth, who makes Zikora feel like a lonely little girl all over again. Shunned by the speed with which her ideal life fell apart, Zikora turns to reflect on her mother's painful past and struggle for dignity. Preparing for motherhood, Zikora begins to see more clearly what her own mother wants for her, for her new baby, and for herself.
This was a short yet powerful story. It dives into the not-always-happy experiences of womanhood. I felt such deep sympathy for the main character because I would not be strong enough to bear a child in such circumstances. It was challenging to read because of the topic it discussed but I liked the author's writing style and how she decided to show this story.
When Zikora, a DC lawyer from Nigeria, tells her equally high-powered lover that she's pregnant, he abandons her. But it's Zikora's demanding, self-possessed mother, in town for the birth, who makes Zikora feel like a lonely little girl all over again. Shunned by the speed with which her ideal life fell apart, Zikora turns to reflect on her mother's painful past and struggle for dignity. Preparing for motherhood, Zikora begins to see more clearly what her own mother wants for her, for her new baby, and for herself.
This was a short yet powerful story. It dives into the not-always-happy experiences of womanhood. I felt such deep sympathy for the main character because I would not be strong enough to bear a child in such circumstances. It was challenging to read because of the topic it discussed but I liked the author's writing style and how she decided to show this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Rape
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Minor: Vomit
sadiaa's review
fast-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Abortion, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Vomit
bookishandjoyceful's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
2.5
This was a quick short story of a women, Zikora and her reflection on not only what she is going through now as a new mom in labor and how she came to this place with a man who is not involved, nor wants to be involved in his child’s life. As well as a mother who has strong opinions and other individuals in this story that are shown to have different biases and treat Zikora in various unacceptable ways. Zikora deals with a lot in this short story.
Know going into it that it dives right into some tough topics including gaslighting from a doctor during labor, postpartum anxiety, abandonment, sexism, and rape. This book was heavy and it left a weird taste in my mouth, not just because of the heavy topics, but because there was so much crammed into a short story and the way that some of these topics just seemed glanced over that it didn’t seem to give each issue its due time. This short story seemed to throw as much as it could at the wall and hope it stuck in your mind and it just didn’t sit right with this type of writing style.
Know going into it that it dives right into some tough topics including gaslighting from a doctor during labor, postpartum anxiety, abandonment, sexism, and rape. This book was heavy and it left a weird taste in my mouth, not just because of the heavy topics, but because there was so much crammed into a short story and the way that some of these topics just seemed glanced over that it didn’t seem to give each issue its due time. This short story seemed to throw as much as it could at the wall and hope it stuck in your mind and it just didn’t sit right with this type of writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexism, and Rape
Moderate: Death and Abortion
Postpartum anxiety.scarafaggy's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
I looked at my mother, standing by the window. How had I never really seen her? It was my father who destroyed, and it was my mother I blamed for the ruins left behind.
A short story that explores the difficulties of womanhood, single motherhood and relationships. 'Zikora' is heavily character-driven, which lends itself to a much deeper and emotional reading experience. The only downside (and why I have chosen a 4.0 instead of a 5.0) is that the ending can feel a bit abrupt... Overall, a wonderful little read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexism, and Misogyny
looney_moons's review
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The thing about this short story is that it is good, and it has good things to say - my problem is that there were too many instances of the protagonist hating on other women for no reason at all. I expected more from the author, if I'm honest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
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