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heyjulianahey's review against another edition
In The Country Life, Stella moves to the countryside after she is hired to care for a child with anger issues. I enjoyed the satirical and dark British humor, the bizarre and absurd situations the protagonist found herself in, and how completely baffling her problem-solving skills were.
The book, however, is riddled with ableism. By page 115 (when I decided to DNF), we encounter two disabled characters (apparently there’s a third, but I didn’t make it that far). The first, the protagonist’s brother, dies tragically on the page due to his disability. Then we meet Martin, the “child with anger issues”, who is really a teenager and wheelchair user and, you guessed it, a burden to his family.
There is no shortage of acutely descriptive comments on Martin’s physical appearance. In just one chapter he is referred to as evil, abnormal, preternatural, savage, a sorry opponent who inspires pity.
The first few times I chalked it up to the different sensitivities of the time the book was published in 1997, and to the point the author was maybe trying to make about the characters (Stella, Martin’s parents), but after a while one has to wonder if that is the actual view of the author. It just felt icky.
All this type of ableist language does is perpetuate harmful perceptions of disability. It infantilizes disabled characters, and reinforces the idea that disabled people are a burden, pitiable, and unhappy or bitter all the time due to their disability.
Disappointing.
The book, however, is riddled with ableism. By page 115 (when I decided to DNF), we encounter two disabled characters (apparently there’s a third, but I didn’t make it that far). The first, the protagonist’s brother, dies tragically on the page due to his disability. Then we meet Martin, the “child with anger issues”, who is really a teenager and wheelchair user and, you guessed it, a burden to his family.
There is no shortage of acutely descriptive comments on Martin’s physical appearance. In just one chapter he is referred to as evil, abnormal, preternatural, savage, a sorry opponent who inspires pity.
The first few times I chalked it up to the different sensitivities of the time the book was published in 1997, and to the point the author was maybe trying to make about the characters (Stella, Martin’s parents), but after a while one has to wonder if that is the actual view of the author. It just felt icky.
All this type of ableist language does is perpetuate harmful perceptions of disability. It infantilizes disabled characters, and reinforces the idea that disabled people are a burden, pitiable, and unhappy or bitter all the time due to their disability.
Disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
kairhone's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Suicide attempt
stevie's review
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
jouljet's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Alcohol
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