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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
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
Brilliantly written. The first book, the original short story, is so powerful and quite different to what I’ve read before. The novel itself had striking arguments about IVF and motherhood. The characters were all so convincing and felt so real. I disliked the dream sequences.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexual content
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is essentially two books in one: a novella depicting a woman - Natsuko - being visited by her sister and niece, and a novel set eight years later in which Natsuko considers sperm donation to have a baby by herself. The book explores the experience of growing up in poverty and being a woman with all the societal expectations that come with it, and it also explores the ethics of fertility treatments: should someone be entitled to a baby if they cannot have one through natural means? What happens when the baby grows up and finds out where they came from? This is also one of the first books I’ve read where the main character is strongly implied to be asexual and sex-repulsed, and I really liked the exploration of that experience, with her wishing that she could just be “normal”.
Overall, there are some interesting discussions and a few entertaining scenes, but a lot of it was just a little slow and boring for my tastes. If you enjoy no plot just vibes books, this might be the book for you.
Overall, there are some interesting discussions and a few entertaining scenes, but a lot of it was just a little slow and boring for my tastes. If you enjoy no plot just vibes books, this might be the book for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy