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Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I hated this book. It was depressing and the characters were unlikable and if you like dogs, AVOID. Do not recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Animal violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved that this book wasn’t tidy. It was a disconcerting jumble of seven years of experiences; the time line and setting and fine details mostly forgotten, just as the are for all of us.
This feeling of vertigo was strengthened by the the translation from Spanish to English. It was incredibly well done, but there’s is a meter and measure to fluent English that was lost, and I’m sure a beauty and flow in Spanish that was stripped from Zerán’s writing in the exchange.
This feeling of vertigo was strengthened by the the translation from Spanish to English. It was incredibly well done, but there’s is a meter and measure to fluent English that was lost, and I’m sure a beauty and flow in Spanish that was stripped from Zerán’s writing in the exchange.
There were no tidy solutions, no detailed explanation of each character’s thoughts or motive, and there was no clear resolution to any conflict. I appreciated the lack of didactism. We are each the centre of our own experience and, as much as we can try to, we never understand the inner workings of others. It bothers me when authors tie up loose ends or big questions just for the sake of their own closure. “Life ends in the middle of a sentence”.
I felt pity, and fury, and tenderness for each character. Each of them trying their best against the backdrop of civil unrest, personal and professional pressure, the expectations and power struggles of relationships.
It was a book that made me sit and really think about it, and how it made me feel, for a long time after I closed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma
dark
mysterious
fast-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
Not as interesting as expected. A story told before and in better ways. Maybe not one I've read with regard to Chilean history, I'm giving it credit for that, but I would have been interested to read more about historical aspects and the weight of colonialism in the story. There are hints in there (e.g. the name Jensen and Elena not being white), but everything stays quite on a superficial level.
Not everything in the story made sense and for me writing monologues that wouldn't be held that way irl, is a lazy way out for an author. And it's also too long for its own good.
Similarities to Lullaby by Leila Slimani, which is also not fantastic, but the better book.
Not everything in the story made sense and for me writing monologues that wouldn't be held that way irl, is a lazy way out for an author. And it's also too long for its own good.
Similarities to Lullaby by Leila Slimani, which is also not fantastic, but the better book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An unusual first person tragic story of a woman working as a Nanny for a couple and their daughter. Think this may be on the 2025 International Booker Longlist?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A truly harrowing read. The bitterness and resentment that the maid has kept inside her for seven years is palpable. An unlikeable but still understandable protagonist.
The ending felt somewhat abrupt, like Estela leaving and attending the riot in person was just stuck in there for no reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was hooked from the first page. This is dark and violent. It warns you but you aren’t prepared for the utter brutality that comes. The curiosity to find out what happened to the girl, cringing away from the stark depiction of the haves and have nots, and the maid’s love/hate relationship with reality kept me coming back to the story. But be warned there are graphic depictions of animal cruelty/violence and child abuse in the last quarter of the book. I struggled to finish, both understanding what would happen to the girl and poor, poor Yany. I genuinely don’t know how to rate this book. It’s compelling. It’s horrific. It’s unbearably tragic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Classism
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent