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poisonenvy's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Looking for Jane is Heather Marshall's first novel, and in many ways, it shows.
It tells the story of three women whose stories start at different points in history, though all their stories do intersect at certain points: There's Evelyn, a young woman in the sixties who was forced to go to a home for Wayward Girls: aka, women who became pregnant outside of marriage and were forced to give up their babies. There's Nancy, a young woman in the 1980s who becomes pregnant and needs to seek out an illegal abortion, thereby stumbling on the Jane Network: an underground network that provided safe abortions for people who needed them. And then there's Angela, a woman who's undergoing treatments to become pregnant after she and her wife had struggled with fertility. The story kicks off with her discovering a letter from a mother, telling her daughter that she'd been adopted, and confessing that she discovered afterward that her birth mother had never wanted to give her up.
But more than any of these three women, the novel tells the history of abortion rights in Canada.
And I mean that literally. Unfortunately, none of the characters are especially fleshed out. They very often become mouthpieces, and seemed more like vehicles to relay the history of reproductive rights in Canada than characters that I could really bring myself to care about.
The prose was often clunky and stilted (and was in third-person present tense, which is my least favourite of all narration styles), and sometimes veered into dangerously purple territory. And, at times, the story just felt <i>contrived</i> so that we could be sure that the characters were where they needed to be. There was a surprise twist near the end that surprised me, and <i>not</i> in a good way (the surprise wasn't a bad one, it just didn't feel like it really fit and I wondered if it didn't raise some inconsistencies, though I'm unlikely to do a reread to find out if they're really there or not).
Criticisms aside though, this story is important, and tells a very important part of Canadian history. Marshall has clearly done her research, and while the story sometimes suffers so she could expound on that history/research, it was still very informative. I have no doubt that Marshall could have written a very good non-fiction book on the subject. Clunky writing aside, it's also very easy to read and digest.
And I would absolutely recommend this novel to anyone who cares to learn more about Canada's history with reproductive rights, especially if they would prefer to have that information come in the form of fiction over non-fiction.
It tells the story of three women whose stories start at different points in history, though all their stories do intersect at certain points: There's Evelyn, a young woman in the sixties who was forced to go to a home for Wayward Girls: aka, women who became pregnant outside of marriage and were forced to give up their babies. There's Nancy, a young woman in the 1980s who becomes pregnant and needs to seek out an illegal abortion, thereby stumbling on the Jane Network: an underground network that provided safe abortions for people who needed them. And then there's Angela, a woman who's undergoing treatments to become pregnant after she and her wife had struggled with fertility. The story kicks off with her discovering a letter from a mother, telling her daughter that she'd been adopted, and confessing that she discovered afterward that her birth mother had never wanted to give her up.
But more than any of these three women, the novel tells the history of abortion rights in Canada.
And I mean that literally. Unfortunately, none of the characters are especially fleshed out. They very often become mouthpieces, and seemed more like vehicles to relay the history of reproductive rights in Canada than characters that I could really bring myself to care about.
The prose was often clunky and stilted (and was in third-person present tense, which is my least favourite of all narration styles), and sometimes veered into dangerously purple territory. And, at times, the story just felt <i>contrived</i> so that we could be sure that the characters were where they needed to be. There was a surprise twist near the end that surprised me, and <i>not</i> in a good way (the surprise wasn't a bad one, it just didn't feel like it really fit and I wondered if it didn't raise some inconsistencies, though I'm unlikely to do a reread to find out if they're really there or not).
Criticisms aside though, this story is important, and tells a very important part of Canadian history. Marshall has clearly done her research, and while the story sometimes suffers so she could expound on that history/research, it was still very informative. I have no doubt that Marshall could have written a very good non-fiction book on the subject. Clunky writing aside, it's also very easy to read and digest.
And I would absolutely recommend this novel to anyone who cares to learn more about Canada's history with reproductive rights, especially if they would prefer to have that information come in the form of fiction over non-fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Infertility, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Terminal illness, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, and Infidelity
mmkiel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.25
A beautiful story told in short chapters which skip around in both time and point of view and weave together a poignant novel. All narrators are women who are in some way connected to the Jane underground network for abortion. Themes touched on in the book include motherhood, love, family, friendship, standing up for what is right, bravery, and more. Heartfelt and thought provoking - a must read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, and Gun violence
klbreyfogle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
Moderate: Rape and Grief
abbeyroad1410's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The twist ending really saved this one. It was an ending I didn't see coming but in a good way. Like God. I gasped aloud reading this ending, and went back to re-read the chapter.
This book is definitely slow at times, and while I appreciate the clear message that everyone deserves a choice in motherhood, sometimes it felt like it was being hammered into my head a bit too hard. Reading from the perspective of various characters across time is always very interesting (and made the ending that much better), but sometimes I wondered about the purpose of Angela in the story. She is very much a plot device (with her own, kind of incomplete motherhood story) that has many chapters dedicated to her perspective. I think it was part of what made the story slow.
The main characters all offer a dynamic perspective on the idea of motherhood and what makes someone a mother. It is understanding of the complicated relationship with adoption, abortion, and IVF. Nancy and Evelyn have very exciting stories that suck in a reader. Angela has a healthy relationship with complex issues but a lot of love and support.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you like a creative perspective that offers a political opinion.
This book is definitely slow at times, and while I appreciate the clear message that everyone deserves a choice in motherhood, sometimes it felt like it was being hammered into my head a bit too hard. Reading from the perspective of various characters across time is always very interesting (and made the ending that much better), but sometimes I wondered about the purpose of Angela in the story. She is very much a plot device (with her own, kind of incomplete motherhood story) that has many chapters dedicated to her perspective. I think it was part of what made the story slow.
The main characters all offer a dynamic perspective on the idea of motherhood and what makes someone a mother. It is understanding of the complicated relationship with adoption, abortion, and IVF. Nancy and Evelyn have very exciting stories that suck in a reader. Angela has a healthy relationship with complex issues but a lot of love and support.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you like a creative perspective that offers a political opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Violence and Miscarriage
Minor: Death of parent
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. This is me teaching myself how to breathe again, because I almost forgot. I am simply astounded by what I just read. Looking for Jane is written in a way that makes the reader feel like he or she is a part of something big. Furthermore, to write about true events without conveying the facts like you are writing a research paper is a real skill, and Heather Marshall has mastered it. Inspired by true stories, we follow our main characters through three separate timelines: 1971, 1980, and 2017. There is a ton of foreshadowing in this book, and I STILL did not guess the big giant whopping colossal enormous supercalifragilisticexpialidocious twist at the end. Talk about tears! As mentioned in the author's note, this book is about abortion and the right to choose, but it is also about so much more. I think there is room for a sequel, because something Sister Agatha said to Nancy was not addressed or revisited. I would love to read more. I'm going to go hug my mom now. Wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Medical content, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Self harm, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Infertility, Confinement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Rape, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Blood
saiy_phi's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? No
3.5
i finished this book in one day, it was a story i couldn’t put down. i learned about a new facet of canadian history and women’s history that i want to look deeper into. overall the actual fictionalized plot was well structured, despite some confusion towards the very end. the writing was aggressively okay, i wanted and expected more from a book tackling such serious topics. at times it also felt too modern for the time period setting. speaking of time, my biggest issue with this book is how the author handled alternating 3 different timelines of three women whos lives intersect with each others at various times. she used years within the text to appropriately date social factors, but i got confused a lot and kept having to flip back and locate myself.
worth the read once, will not re read
worth the read once, will not re read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
unnamed_individual's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
Rating - 4.6 rounded to a 4.5 star.
Looking for Jane is a historical fiction exploring reproductive justice. I left reading this story extremely sad about the state of my country, the United States of America. Many states are making abortions illegal, resulting in infections (for women with miscarriages who cannot access a D&C), unethical adoption practices, and a loss of female bodily autonomy. I recommend this book to everyone, from men to women, pro-choice to pro-life, and from the North Pole to the South Pole. Everyone should read it NO MATTER their religion, beliefs, or "morals."
Setting ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Looking for Jane explores reproductive justice between the 1960s and 2010s in Canada. I didn't realize it was in Canada (I am bad at geography), but I do not believe the location was as important as the story's message. The story always matched with the historical context of the year. The author also described the setting in enough detail to visualize the place, but not too much where I felt bored.
Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The book is separated into four parts and in the voices of three characters, Angela, Evelyn, and Nancy. Each character appears in a different period where they eventually collide in the present. The story was a little slow, where some people would DNF. I love stories that make me feel like I am living the character's life; however, many prefer stories with an apparent rise and fall in the plot. The main plot is to reunite mother and daughter, who separated due to a lack of reproductive rights. There is a twist and a good one. I didn't find it obvious, but many people were able to see it happen. My issue with the twist was that the explanation didn't fit into the story. It seemed a little off. Another issue that I didn't quite think fit in was that Evelyn named her daughter Jane, but coincidentally the organization used the name "Jane." It seemed unbelievable to me.
Engagement ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Looking for Jane is a historical fiction that caters to the audience. I felt immersed in the book and finished it in 2 days; I didn't need to speed the audio to 2x because I loved how beautiful yet painful the story was. The author explored reproductive rights through the church's forceful adoption of Evelyn's baby, Nancy's experiences with abortion, and Angela's pregnancy. The entire story honed into reproductive rights. Another critical lesson was never keeping secrets. Hiding secrets is never the right thing to do. I left reading this book with a stronger sense of pro-choice rhetoric and sure of my choice to enter the healthcare field.
Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Angela - though Angela was an integral part of the story, the angel who brings mother and daughter together, she was the weakest link. I didn't see as much character depth or growth. her lack of development may be because she is the only character in one "age." She doesn't grow through the years but in a few months. While she does a lot of research and uncovers many secretes, I was never excited to hear her part of the story. Nonetheless, she was a necessary part of the story.
Evelyn - I thought she had the most depth and growth of all the characters. Her story starts in her 20s and ends in her 80s. Her life was full of giving back to the world and changing women's lives, though she didn't seem to get anything in return. Evelyn was a strong woman, though she held many secrets, fearing what revealing them would mean. Evelyn's final confession to Angela is overwhelmingly beautiful and provides closure to the reader.
Nancy - Nancy represents the effects of generational trauma. There is beauty in seeing her learn the importance of not keeping secrets and realizing that holding onto the secrets is destroying her life. Her growth was also gradual, from her twenties to her sixties.
Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The narrative is in the third person. The writing is easy to understand. If you listen to audiobooks, it is narrated by Sara Borges; her voice is descriptive and emotional, and the character's voices reflect their personality and background.
As you can see, my overall rating is 4.6 rounded up to 5 stars. This story maintains the historical context of the story, has a fantastic twist, and immerses the readers in the real-life experience of reproductive rights in women. I would recommend everyone read this book to see the perspectives of the embodiment of millions of women's experiences.
Looking for Jane is a historical fiction exploring reproductive justice. I left reading this story extremely sad about the state of my country, the United States of America. Many states are making abortions illegal, resulting in infections (for women with miscarriages who cannot access a D&C), unethical adoption practices, and a loss of female bodily autonomy. I recommend this book to everyone, from men to women, pro-choice to pro-life, and from the North Pole to the South Pole. Everyone should read it NO MATTER their religion, beliefs, or "morals."
Setting ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Looking for Jane explores reproductive justice between the 1960s and 2010s in Canada. I didn't realize it was in Canada (I am bad at geography), but I do not believe the location was as important as the story's message. The story always matched with the historical context of the year. The author also described the setting in enough detail to visualize the place, but not too much where I felt bored.
Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The book is separated into four parts and in the voices of three characters, Angela, Evelyn, and Nancy. Each character appears in a different period where they eventually collide in the present. The story was a little slow, where some people would DNF. I love stories that make me feel like I am living the character's life; however, many prefer stories with an apparent rise and fall in the plot. The main plot is to reunite mother and daughter, who separated due to a lack of reproductive rights. There is a twist and a good one. I didn't find it obvious, but many people were able to see it happen. My issue with the twist was that the explanation didn't fit into the story. It seemed a little off. Another issue that I didn't quite think fit in was that Evelyn named her daughter Jane, but coincidentally the organization used the name "Jane." It seemed unbelievable to me.
Engagement ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Looking for Jane is a historical fiction that caters to the audience. I felt immersed in the book and finished it in 2 days; I didn't need to speed the audio to 2x because I loved how beautiful yet painful the story was. The author explored reproductive rights through the church's forceful adoption of Evelyn's baby, Nancy's experiences with abortion, and Angela's pregnancy. The entire story honed into reproductive rights. Another critical lesson was never keeping secrets. Hiding secrets is never the right thing to do. I left reading this book with a stronger sense of pro-choice rhetoric and sure of my choice to enter the healthcare field.
Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Angela - though Angela was an integral part of the story, the angel who brings mother and daughter together, she was the weakest link. I didn't see as much character depth or growth. her lack of development may be because she is the only character in one "age." She doesn't grow through the years but in a few months. While she does a lot of research and uncovers many secretes, I was never excited to hear her part of the story. Nonetheless, she was a necessary part of the story.
Evelyn - I thought she had the most depth and growth of all the characters. Her story starts in her 20s and ends in her 80s. Her life was full of giving back to the world and changing women's lives, though she didn't seem to get anything in return. Evelyn was a strong woman, though she held many secrets, fearing what revealing them would mean. Evelyn's final confession to Angela is overwhelmingly beautiful and provides closure to the reader.
Nancy - Nancy represents the effects of generational trauma. There is beauty in seeing her learn the importance of not keeping secrets and realizing that holding onto the secrets is destroying her life. Her growth was also gradual, from her twenties to her sixties.
Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The narrative is in the third person. The writing is easy to understand. If you listen to audiobooks, it is narrated by Sara Borges; her voice is descriptive and emotional, and the character's voices reflect their personality and background.
As you can see, my overall rating is 4.6 rounded up to 5 stars. This story maintains the historical context of the story, has a fantastic twist, and immerses the readers in the real-life experience of reproductive rights in women. I would recommend everyone read this book to see the perspectives of the embodiment of millions of women's experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault and Cancer
kawooreads's review
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Medical trauma, Medical content, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Abortion
Minor: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Rape, Death of parent, and Death
erin_m_05's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape
thrillofthepage's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Racism, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Cursing, Gun violence, Infertility, Abandonment, Child death, and Miscarriage