Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel

10 reviews

amycrehore's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.5

This book gutted me. I texted my friend halfway through that I was equal parts shock, anger, sadness, queasiness. This is not an easy book to read, especially if you are a mother or hope to be one. But the reflections on motherhood and womanhood were profound and the prose was beautiful. Excellent translation, quick read. I devoured it in just a couple days. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Terminal illness, Child death, Pregnancy, Abortion, Chronic illness, and Medical trauma

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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? Yes

5.0

a raw portrait of womanhood in the decision to have or not have children. a very important and powerful little book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Infertility, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Death, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Child death, Infidelity, Grief, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

barbelizabeth's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

4.5

A beautifully written piece. The prose is elegant and intense, the surroundings and culture are painted wonderfully. I found myself on this emotional rollercoaster and unable (unwilling!) to get off. I found pieces of myself in both Alina and Laura, though the two of them are very different characters.

My only note would be that I felt the metaphor of the nest was a little on the nose for my taste. It just wasn't subtle enough, but otherwise masterfully done.

 I will come back to reread this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Physical abuse, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Lyrical prose and Immediately pulled in! I was loving the characters and getting to know them. I related to Alina and her feelings surrounding infertility during her journey to motherhood.

I picked this up from the library and 15 pages in I wanted to go out and buy a copy because there were so many lines I wanted to mark!

Beautiful, moving story of motherhood in its various forms and what it means to care for others. Definitely a novel I’ll be thinking about for a long time and a fave for the month!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Medical content

Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual content

agchalle's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility

Moderate: Domestic abuse

lifeinpoetry's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Medical content, and Infertility

booksandabackpack's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Pregnancy, Infertility, and Terminal illness

quietdayreads's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Medical trauma

madelinedalton's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

This book was so “me” and I gobbled it up. I’m 24 and do not want children, and I spend a lot of time thinking about how my life will change in my 30s when my friends have kids while I don’t. I felt so seen by Laura. Her relationship to motherhood and caring for children is exactly the same as mine. As I read, I constantly underlined quotes—not just about Laura, but about everything. Such a thought provoking and validating read!! 

I do wish we had gotten a bit more background on how Alina went from not wanting kids to wanting one so badly that she’d pursue any available fertility treatment. It felt a bit sudden, and I was curious how she arrived at that decision, but I feel like I never got that. Laura’s growing affection for Nicolás also felt underdeveloped. I also found the ending a bit jarring and unsatisfying. 

Overall, this was an excellent read and helped me get out of a reading slump!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Child abuse, Infertility, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Alcoholism

giulia_bis's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Death

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child death, Infertility, Medical trauma, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders