Reviews

When I Hit You: Or, a Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy

_dunno_'s review against another edition

4.0

I will root for Meena's book to win the Women's Prize for Fiction 2018 for the sole reason of being the only one on the shortlist that I've managed to read. However, I loved it. I don't know how are the other shortlisted books, but When I Hit You is so contemporary, so 2018, so #metoo, etc. (and it almost doesn't read like a novel at all). It probably feels like we've been bombarded with too many of these feminine / feminist issues lately, but, like I said, it's 2018, plus domestic violence never gets old. This particular book raises some very good questions like: "how could he, an intellectual?" or "how could this happen to you, an accomplished woman, a feminist"? and Meena gives great answers to all of them. Let's not forget the writing, sharp and super-smart, my cuppa.

breath_stealer's review against another edition

5.0

*internal screaming*

nuts246's review against another edition

5.0

Powerful story of a woman who survived to tell a story that is common yet unspoken. The story that nobody talks about.
I chanced upon the book by accident, and couldn't put it down.

tess_dennison's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

clumsy_plop's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

michael070's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

bhavyab61's review against another edition

5.0

Absolutely brilliant. The perfect female gaze narrative.

I expected this to be a short and easy read but it wasn't. In a lot of ways, I'm glad it wasn't. Kandasamy is a master storyteller, holding the torch of millions of people who face domestic violence. She masterfully navigates the themes of love, identity and being - handling every topic with nuance. The book is a fitting answer for anyone who has ever asked "why couldn't they just leave?" to a survivor of violence and rape.

Kandasamy makes you question everything - the institution of politics, of marriage, of society and of love itself. The very ideas and impositions that force us into allowing and accepting abuse. While doing so, she also holds out a care for people that almost doesn't make sense; a kind understanding that stands the test of abuse and abandonment.

Stunning and moving. Will leave you in tears at multiple points. My only advice is don't read it on the bus ride back home because it's literature that's meant to be read and experienced, wholly; with tears that are meant to be shed and seen.

lucyames's review against another edition

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

wow. beautiful, brilliant, gut wrenching, made me want to scream with each violation, so so powerful and resounding. my gosh.

niamhbrannigan98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

lobotomy's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

"The institution of marriage creates its own division of labour."

Spot on in its exploration of the ostensible radical politics of "leftist" men who use maxims of the far left to disguise their patriarchal hunger for dominance without ever comprehending the true essence of these philosophies. 

I have also grown really fond of the way Kandasamy weilds her words.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual assault