Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Enjoyed it the entire read, but Rachel!!! That ending was so disappointing, it goes against the entire mood of the novel; I really appreciated the feminist messages and how much social expectation can alienate women but the ending ruined it for me. The writing is really good, different and I liked it.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook! I'm still uncertain whether the descent into dog-ness is meant to be metaphorical. The ending lost me. Parts are incredibly graphic and grotesque. Nonetheless, the glimpse into mental health and motherhood is spot-on throughout and quite refreshing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore
While it's well written, it's an insufferable account of a woman who is trying to justify and elevate her decision to become a mother, while feeling enormously resentful of that decision, and also needing to feel superior to other women, blithely demonstrated in her utter disdain for single women, working mommies, and other stay-at-home mommies (her phrasing). No mention of married, but child free by choice women.
Despite all her deep thinking and self reflection, at no point does she examine the internalized misogyny that she has toward other women. She so easily disdains other women while never exploring her own susceptibility to the idealized and unrealistic messaging about modern motherhood.
I was also disappointed that she never self-reflects on her decision to even have a kid, what motivated her to have a kid; nor does she examine the fact that she didn't have to have a kid and sacrifice the life that she wanted.
And while I agree with many of the points made about female rage, motherhood, and infuriating patriarchal societal norms, the main character's self-superiority is really grating, demoralizing, and minimizes the points she is trying to make.
At the end, she has twisted herself into knots to make her decision--a very normal and common decision--into something special and superior to other women who have made the same choice. She had to turn her decision to become a mother into something artistic and weird and edgy, something that makes a statement, and is inevitably praised for it. The end read a lot like wish fulfillment.
Despite all her deep thinking and self reflection, at no point does she examine the internalized misogyny that she has toward other women. She so easily disdains other women while never exploring her own susceptibility to the idealized and unrealistic messaging about modern motherhood.
I was also disappointed that she never self-reflects on her decision to even have a kid, what motivated her to have a kid; nor does she examine the fact that she didn't have to have a kid and sacrifice the life that she wanted.
And while I agree with many of the points made about female rage, motherhood, and infuriating patriarchal societal norms, the main character's self-superiority is really grating, demoralizing, and minimizes the points she is trying to make.
At the end, she has twisted herself into knots to make her decision--a very normal and common decision--into something special and superior to other women who have made the same choice. She had to turn her decision to become a mother into something artistic and weird and edgy, something that makes a statement, and is inevitably praised for it. The end read a lot like wish fulfillment.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really had to force myself through this book, it just was so slow
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I appreciated this as a mom. The mother's reflections were very relatable. I enjoyed the writing style. The author wasted no time in kicking things off, but I agree with others that this did drag in the middle. A bit repetitive. Once I got to the last section, things got a bit more interesting and I was motivated to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
I really enjoyed the first 2/3 or so. The writing is challenging but good at transmitting what it had to. I can imagine how some of it was incredibly cathartic for the author, and it was easy to empathize with her anger and frustration even if I myself am not a mother.
As for the ending... it felt a bit trite. I would've ended it earlier as I don't think that final bit fed anything to the story and it even did raise a few alarms for me as to gender essentialism.
Otherwise, good, disturbing and entertaining weird book. I think if you enjoyed The Vegetarian, you might like this one too.
As for the ending... it felt a bit trite. I would've ended it earlier as I don't think that final bit fed anything to the story and it even did raise a few alarms for me as to gender essentialism.
Otherwise, good, disturbing and entertaining weird book. I think if you enjoyed The Vegetarian, you might like this one too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes