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savvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There's so much more that happens in Mrs. Caliban, but that's about all I can say without spoiling the novella. Suffice it to say, I love this book. A short feminist fable with magical realism? My favorite genre! I can't wait to track down more of Ingalls' work.
Graphic: Infidelity, Child death, Animal death, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic friendship
alishamegan's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Torture, Car accident, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
blewballoon'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? No
2.0
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Rape, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Dorothy and her husband Fred have had a strained relationship ever since they lost their young son and she had a miscarriage. They have drifted apart and Dorothy suspects that her husband is having an affair. One day, she hears a story on the radio about a lizard man that has escaped from a local research facility. Questioning her sanity, Dorothy doesn't think much on it until the lizard man appears in her kitchen in need of help. As Dorothy talks with the lizard man, who she calls Larry, she learns more about his experiences in the research facility and the two start a quiet but caring affair.
If you enjoyed the movie 'The Shape of Water, but wanted more of the relationship between the protagonist and the sea monster and less of the spy plotline, then you really must read 'Mrs. Caliban.' I'm honestly shocked that this wasn't a direct inspiration for 'The Shape of Water' as it has a very similar plot line and explore how we connect to others.
Ingalls does a great job of plopping us squarely into Dorothy's life and then slowly expanding her world through her interactions with her husband, her friend Estelle, and with Larry. There are interweaving plot lines that pop back in and out throughout the story though ultimately, the story centers on Dorothy's relationships and how her grief over the loss of her child and her unraveling relationship with her husband affects those relationships. A lot happens in the story and though we don't get to delve deeply into the characters, I still found myself invested. There is consistent tension between Dorothy hiding Larry in her home and keeping up an affair with him while also hiding this fact from her husband.
The ending was not what I was expecting and given the quieter aspects of the rest of the book, felt almost over the top. I think this would be a good book for a book club as there is a good amount to delve into and unpack about Dorothy's relationships and the interweaving points of the story.
Ultimately, it's an engaging novella that expertly utilizes its speculative aspects to delve into the relationships of the main character.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child death, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Torture
elizabeth_d's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Torture
lilykeoh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Infidelity
angel_kiiss's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Car accident
issareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, and Infidelity
Minor: Car accident, Child death, Miscarriage, and Torture
katselvocki's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Also, I’m craving avocados now.
Moderate: Infidelity and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Car accident