Reviews with content warning for Medical content - Zikora

"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.

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honeyvoiced's review

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sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

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thereaderfriend's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-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

4.0

"Some kindnesses you do not ever forget. You carry them to your grave, held warmly somewhere, brought up and savored from time to time."

'What was "normal" ? That Nature traded in unnecessary pain?'

"How you imagine something will always be is always worse than how it actually ends."

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