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strangeeigenfunction's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
What I didn't like:
There were some storytelling choices that I found a bit awkward (a major one is the choice to have much of the book in first person, and third person bits that are kind of strange for that narrator to know about), and there's a rather disturbing sequence in the first quarter/third of the book (see my content warning notes). Also, there's an instance of rape that I'm not sure the author recognized as such, or if he may have subtextually intended it as a more complicated situation with regard to consent (something along the lines of the victim going along with it despite not particularly wanting to). Honestly, most of the women could be treated better by the narrative, although it doesn't deny their competence...
However, overall it is another (I read the more recent Covenant of Water first) epic meditation on life and loss and forgiveness, colored with medical details...
There were some storytelling choices that I found a bit awkward (a major one is the choice to have much of the book in first person, and third person bits that are kind of strange for that narrator to know about), and there's a rather disturbing sequence in the first quarter/third of the book (see my content warning notes). Also, there's an instance of rape that I'm not sure the author recognized as such, or if he may have subtextually intended it as a more complicated situation with regard to consent (something along the lines of the victim going along with it despite not particularly wanting to). Honestly, most of the women could be treated better by the narrative, although it doesn't deny their competence...
However, overall it is another (I read the more recent Covenant of Water first) epic meditation on life and loss and forgiveness, colored with medical details...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide, Body horror, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Sexual content, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Gore, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Confinement, Violence, Abandonment, Animal death, Excrement, Colonisation, Murder, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Vomit, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Dementia, and Drug use
I can usually cope with graphic medical descriptions but I was shaken by the drawn out scene, interposed with other events, where a doctor begins attempting to cut up what he believes to be a stillbirth to aid in delivery but the reader already knows is a living baby. There's also a plot point involving female genital mutilation/"circumcision".kyrap's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Medical content
Moderate: Rape, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Dementia, Gun violence, and Murder
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