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jules_not_dead's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
cassiecareen's review
challenging
inspiring
sad
slow-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
heykieramc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
nattynatk's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
thebacklistborrower's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
3.5
I find the story of the Chicago Jane Collective so fascinating and inspiring. When Roe v Wade was overturned, I jumped on my library’s website and found the first book that seemed related. I honestly didn’t know what this book was about until I got it in!
The story follows Marthe, a Newfoundland woman in her thirties living a typical Millennial life in Montreal, who desperately wants to be part of something bigger than her. A cause to consume her, a responsibility. Trying to find this cause, she goes to a birth doula training class, only to find it too twee and clean, far from the darkness, dirtiness, and urgency that she was seeking. But while there, she meets an older woman who had been part of a Jane collective on Newfoundland. She (“Jane”) fires Marthe up with the possibility of returning home, and restoring Jane on the island. Apprenticing the skills that these other women knew and taking them to the remote outports, where women may not have access to more traditional services.
This book was interesting. Parts felt slow and lacking in consistent momentum, but I also feel like that was done intentionally. One does not just *start* a movement. It is all fits and spurts, and that came across in the book well. The older woman is rather unlikable, and the relationship doesn’t feel healthy at times. But the team reincarnated in Newfoundland is full of wonderful women (and men are basically absent from the book). One interesting pattern I found was as a millennial in Montreal, children were also absent, but once she got to Newfoundland, they seemed to be everywhere.
I think I found this book a good read, and it is on a lot of long and short lists to recognize that. Reading it intentionally, the pacing and characters work very well in the grand context of the story, bringing the reader into the frustration felt by Marthe when the grand plans faltered or slowed, but also the excitement when “Jane” talks big about grand plans for them. We are along for the ride - for better or poorer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
bethanyyy's review
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this book. wow wow wow. i don’t think i’ve ever read a book that quite encapsulates what it means and feels like to be a newfoundlander, especially one that must leave the safety of the island but feels tethered to the shore. the culture was vibrant and came alive and resonated so deeply to all my emotions surrounding my home. aimee wall does an incredible job at portraying this vast and complex setting while driving home the essential and important work of the matriarchy in the province. the idea that abortion and midwifery are necessary to survival in newfoundland, come whatever disaster, is something so striking and vital to convey.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
We,Jane is the story of Marthe, a rather listless and apathetic young woman and how she came to be involved in the underground provision of abortions in rural Newfoundland. Marthe irritated me but the sections on need for such abortion services, and the idea of the Jane collective, women supporting each other and passing along knowledge appealed more. The atmosphere was very unsettled with lots of waiting, plus plenty of tension between members of the collective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
annabunce's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
jouljet's review
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Medical trauma
spaghettireads's review
I had to return it to the library. I was finding the beginning interesting and enjoying it, but I don't know whether it was enough to motivate me to get it out from the library again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
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