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stevienielson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Child abuse
atomicsushi's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Abandonment, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child abuse, Suicide, and Cancer
crazytourists_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If the second part of the book was a bit more balanced, it would have been brilliant!
P.S. patriarchy is really strong in Japan, isn't it?
Moderate: Grief, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Death of parent
jonwood's review
- 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
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
- 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
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.
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
ahanky's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Pregnancy and Infertility
Moderate: Pedophilia, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape
katygoodhead's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Infertility and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
flaviadeer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Cancer and Child abuse
caroisreading's review
- 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
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.
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
piierrote's review against another edition
3.0
definitely a book that would hit with certain people, but just didn’t hit in the way other Mieko Kawakami books hit for me.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Child abuse