Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Birds in the Mouth by Samanta Schweblin

5 reviews

emory's review against another edition

challenging dark

4.0

I really enjoyed this book and was a bit sad to see how many reviews were negative, and not about the writing itself, but about how they were unaware of the upsetting content! So if you by odds read reviews before deciding to read a book, know that there are, in particular, a story including the graphic death of small birds (eponymous story Mouthful of Birds), a story in which the narrator is forced to kill a dog (The Test), and a story from the point of view of a man violently racist against Korean and other Asian people (Heads Against Concrete). All are challenging reads, and I don't know if I'm particularly happy with how the final in that list was handled, but they do serve a purpose, although are easily skippable if necessary.

This is such a unique collection. I've had it on my radar since reading Fever Dream and absolutely adoring it. This is such a haunting writing style. Schweblin's characters all exist in the perfect space between realistic enough not to break the reader's suspension of disbelief yet odd enough to consistently intrigue and unsettle. The mood drives the stories, and close to all of them left me with a disquietting and moved feeling at their conclusion with only a few pages each. Some are allegorical--and I find these ones particularly strong--some are simply about the feelings they evoke, and some I haven't figured out yet. But if you are also looking for stories in which the author is setting you up with something to think about rather than giving you all the answers, I think this is an excellent short story collection. I especially loved her exploration of depression and hopelessness, parent and child relationships, and the nature of violence in art. There were a couple of stories that did not work for me, and sometimes i found the pacing challenging, but overall I found this a very good read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Racism, Animal cruelty, Violence, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, and Mental illness

Moderate: Physical abuse and Child abuse

One story (Heads Against Concrete) is written from the POV of a violent racist attempting to justify himself. He is explicitly racist against specifically Korean people and others of Asian descent. Includes mention of physical assault against these groups, as well as others throughout the narrator's life including a girlfriend. Another story (The Test) is about a person who must kill a dog in order to prove themselves to a group of people. Graphic and upsetting.

heidishartrandnewell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Blood, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Death, Violence, Murder, Infertility, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Abandonment, Homophobia, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, Racism, Ableism, Abortion, Cancer, Child death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

feministmidwife's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

Each story was fantastic and fantastical. The most intense dance of entrances and exits, of interrelatedness with nature and animals, and incredible portrayal of relationships and self that I've ever read. This is my second Samanta Schweblin book after Fever Dream, and she's absolutely a new favorite author. Can't wait to keep reading her work. The second story, Preserves, is one I will teach and talk about related to reproductive decision-making. Beautifully done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Pregnancy, Murder, Abandonment, Infertility, Racism, Kidnapping, and Misogyny

lain_darko's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Gore, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Pregnancy, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism

angela_iseli's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, and Abandonment