Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

46 reviews

jonwood's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

I thought this was a brilliant character study taking serious, thoughtful stab on psychological issues that should be thought about more, from how culture expectations on appearance and sexuality effect self-esteem to questions about deciding to have a child and how to go about it. Being moving book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Alcohol, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Cursing

Minor: Terminal illness and Cancer

anh_read's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing 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? No

4.75

Definitely, a “no plot, just vibes” book. However, I enjoyed the themes that are discussed in this book. In general, the book reflects the struggles of being woman in modern times. 

The first part “Breasts” centers around poverty and changes in your body. The second part of the book, “Eggs” focuses on motherhood and being a single parent. This part often got me reflecting on the struggles on becoming and being a parent. It also made me question to have children. This part is much longer, even more slow-paced. Some points were kind of repetitive. Nonetheless, it was still a wonderful and very informative read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, Child abuse, Infertility, and Death

Moderate: Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Cancer, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcohol, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Body shaming

dizzzybrook's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.75

Every once in a while, I come across a book that truly just does everything I want it to and Breasts and Eggs certainly did that for me. I often avoid reading about the topics discussed in this book given that I find it difficult to find navigate between the opinions of those who believe women are obligated to have children and those who do not, but this book tackles these arguments in a way that I found extremely profound and ultimately agreeable. My only true criticism is that the ending fell flat for me and felt a little rushed and predictable. It felt as if Kawakami had spent so much time developing this incredibly complex and thought provoking story just to have it end in the most predictable, cliché way. This is obviously a fault of my own personal taste, but I do believe this book to be a 5 star read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Alcohol, Eating disorder, and Cancer

katygoodhead's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

A poignant account of what it is to be a woman; the human experience and the pain and conflict of the biological pull. It made me question my entire existence. Delicious writing and endearing characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Death

Minor: Vomit, Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

caroisreading's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Mieko Kawakami is becoming one of my favorite, most relatable authors. I read "All The Lovers In The Night" before this, and fell in love with her storytelling and main character. "Breast and Eggs" follows a similar formula of a lost and lonely woman, trying to find meaning. 

This is divided in two parts. Book One was my favorite by far, and as a standalone work, pretty much perfect, a 5.0. I cried at the beauty of her descriptions of the older sister's simple and sweet devotion to her little sister, as well as the strained relationship with her teen daughter. 

Book Two is primarily focused on the younger sister, and I had trouble getting through its density -- beautiful writing, though overwhelmingly verbose. The prose doesn't have the back and forth dynamic that Book One does, switching from the teen's journal entries to the narrator's POV. Maybe that switch made Book Two feel more plain. Still very meaningful.

As a whole, this book delivers on what it means to be a woman in this world, the pressures and injustices, sexuality, the obsession with fertility, youth and appearances. The female characters sort through these themes in a heartbreaking, yet brave and honest way. I loved them, related wholeheartedly with them, and rooted for them.

You'll like this if you're interested in female perspectives, solitary main characters, thoughtful and intelligent writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Cancer, Pedophilia, Rape, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Infertility, Death, Death of parent, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Suicide, Incest, and Misogyny

lillypowell's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent

Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Minor: Pedophilia

kurumipanda's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Infertility, and Cancer

Minor: Sexual content, Child abuse, Murder, Acephobia/Arophobia, Suicide, Rape, Pedophilia, Medical content, Body horror, and Body shaming

mauatuafr's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Suicide, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Classism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Rape

cow_png's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

holy fuckinf shit i love this book. i honestly think everyone should read this book, this is incredible. i have nothing bad to say, this was an amazing experience and i am like in shock with how much i am in love with this book. i had no clue what i was getting into with this book and my god, it has exceeded every exception .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Infertility

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Sexism

Minor: Car accident

thebookwasbetter_22's review

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-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? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Pedophilia, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Suicide, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Bullying, Rape, and Suicide attempt