Reviews tagging 'Grief'

La figlia unica by Guadalupe Nettel

16 reviews

kerriboland's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad 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

4.5

I am so grateful that I have had neither challenges with infertility, nor child death or severe disability before I read this. 

What a gut punch of a novel. What a beautiful, important, horrible gut punch. Realistic, honest, just, beautiful, horribly sad and incredibly powerful. Beautifully written, amazingly translated. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Infertility, and Child abuse

rgs's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Medical content, and Chronic illness

dizzzybrook's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.75

Still Born had been on my shelf for quite a long time prior to picking it up last night and staying up much too late to finish it in one sitting. I really loved how this book was paced, switching back and forth between Laura and Adina's stories, both not only demonstrating two very complex sides of motherhood but also the ways in which motherhood inherently affects everyone around us. For a book of this size, I was impressed by how well Nettel was able to give these characters depth without spending tons and tons of pages convincing the reader to care. The chapters are short and relatively straight to the point but no nuance or empathy is lost. The only thing preventing this from being a full 5 stars for me is that the last quarter of the book felt a tad bit choppy and rushed. To an extent, there are a couple of points throughout where the commentary on motherhood felt slightly preachy, but I wouldn't say that it ever made me want to stop reading. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2024 for sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Infertility, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual content

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

amyford's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Grief, Addiction, Child death, Medical content, and Chronic illness

Minor: Emotional abuse and Sexual content

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective 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? No

3.5

This was recommended to me on BookTok and I thoroughly appreciated what Guadalupe Nettel wanted to explain.
The difficulties of friendships, the pains of motherhood, etc. felt present and real. I also felt myself getting attached to Doris and Niçolas, the protagonist’s neighbours, as well as her friend Alina. They were all so hurt and so human! 🥲

BookTok had said this was going to be life-changing. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t feel that way. However, I still felt touched by it and would like to read similar works maybe one day 😊

3.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body horror, and Chronic 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

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

tyryby's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Medical content

Moderate: Domestic abuse

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