Scan barcode
vickymcckey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I tried to like this book, I really did. I like the idea, conceptually, but the execution felt off somehow. There were so many elements and characters that didn’t feel connected, and the world as a whole felt empty. There is no real explanation behind the de-evolution that takes place, or the existence of the “Mother” character. Cedar is not a scientist, and the situation is very apocalyptic, so i don’t expect much, but it felt weird to me that there was minimal reaction other than fear about what’s happening to the women. Cedar as a character feels unrealistic, though that may be because of the lack of world building. The writing style was also a little flowery for my taste, but that is definitely just a matter of opinion. This book has been on my tbr for a while; I’m disappointed this is how it turned out. I should just read the Handmaid’s Tale instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Drug use, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Trafficking
Minor: Torture and Sexual content
atreegrowsinbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
What a strange dystopian thriller by Erdrich. Very different than the other books I’ve read by her.
There were so many twists that I didn’t see coming and I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t able to guess everything that was happening. The character work and storytelling is so successful, and it’s clear that Erdrich can truly write anything.
While I really enjoyed the writing, the content of this story was unsettling. Especially when women’s rights have been further taken away. In some aspects, the story isn’t that far off from what could happen.
I haven’t read A Handmaid’s Tale, but I’ve seen the show and this book is definitely similar to that. This is an indigenous version that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a dystopian thriller with links to the real world as we know it.
Fun fact, I picked this book up because the first page starts on my birthday
There were so many twists that I didn’t see coming and I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t able to guess everything that was happening. The character work and storytelling is so successful, and it’s clear that Erdrich can truly write anything.
While I really enjoyed the writing, the content of this story was unsettling. Especially when women’s rights have been further taken away. In some aspects, the story isn’t that far off from what could happen.
I haven’t read A Handmaid’s Tale, but I’ve seen the show and this book is definitely similar to that. This is an indigenous version that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a dystopian thriller with links to the real world as we know it.
Fun fact, I picked this book up because the first page starts on my birthday
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Confinement
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Abortion
neens_m's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Child death
Moderate: Death
kutreen's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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? No
5.0
What a heartbreakingly beautiful book. My favorite in a long time. This book contained meditations on, and prompted some deep reflections of, the origin and future of life, humanity, family, religion, community, and reproductive rights. I loved the narrator and the premise that she (minor spoiler) is writing to her future child. I so appreciated getting to spend some time in her and Erdirch's mind. I appreciate learning a bit more about indigenous communities in the US through her novels as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Murder
Minor: Torture
sammysammsam's review against another edition
The story and premise is great- the style and pace aren't really doing it for me. I might try this book another time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Pregnancy
theemeraldgirl23's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A great story about identity and what it means to find your place in an uncertain world. Cedar is a fantastic character and following her journey was very engaging. I typically don't gravitate towards stories like these, but it was a nice read overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Murder, Grief, and Miscarriage
theangrystackrat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.0
Something is happening to the world, society collapses, and pregnant people are being snatched up and taken away. This is the story of one woman's journey through out her pregnancy. This was well written, reflective without being preachy, and it also scarred the hell out of me. Take the handmaid's tale and make it more anxiety inducing, heartbreaking, and sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
sparklefarm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
WHOOF. Not sure what convinced me, a melancholic woman living in Texas in these times, to read an all-too-believable near-future dystopian novel dealing with reproductive justice, other than the fact that it's written by Louise Erdrich. Ultimately, she once again did. not. miss. with this book. I could have picked a better time to read it though. 😆 That being said, I don't know that I've ever read a book this dystopian and this full of wonder, possibility, and hope. In our current landscape as in a chaotic, terrifying, possible future, we can hold both.
Ending -I appreciated that we did not end in a happy smiley way (it seemed at some points that it could!) as that would feel disingenuous to the story. And yet to leave Cedar at her most vulnerable, most alone, and least likely to escape, was the most gut-wrenching way to end.
Ending -
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Murder, Mental illness, Animal death, and Child death
Minor: Torture and Suicidal thoughts
siriface's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Pregnancy
insanebookperson's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Vomit, Murder, Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Grief, Torture, Confinement, Cursing, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Violence