Reviews with content warning for Grief - Piglet: A Novel

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Piglet: A Novel by Lottie Hazell

7 reviews

carojust's review against another edition

hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A great debut from Lottie Hazell. I love how this book plays with the reader, keeping us in the dark, but expecting us to see through it.

Piglet is preparing for her wedding, and her perfect life is broken by her fiancée's admission of something horrible he's done. She's disoriented, forcing herself through the motions up until her wedding day, binging on food to quell the horror.

The author also accompanies Piglet with other characters -- her pregnant best friend, her co-workers, her sister, her mother and future mother-in-law -- who all show the different choices we make as women, and the cards we're dealt. Hazell seems to focus on motherhood and marriage, and how they're presented as the only paths forward.

The most obvious and devastating metaphor is how Piglet is the roast on the dinner table, eaten alive, while sold the dream of settling for an unbearable married life and identity ahead.

I love that we never know what Kit did. We fill in the blank ourselves with our own trauma, disappointments, worst fears. The assumption is that he cheated, and it's so banal and understood, that it's not worth mentioning, and I'm obsessed with this.

You'll like this book if you want a sinister take on domestic bliss, class disparity, societal pressures on women, and some delicious food writing.

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sandysmith's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

In spite of the name of the book, a childhood nickname for the main female chracter, which isnt really necesary, her real name is only being revealed at the end of the book and shes refered to as Piglet or pig throughout. I really enjoyed the descriptions of food. It's well written but doesn't really go anywhere. Piglet got her name through the protection of her sisters eating disorder, as she couldn't face a situation concerning a birthday cake, so Piglet took the blame for the cakes disappearance. The whole family needed therapy and Piglet is no exception with her relationship with food. I didn't like Piglet's husband Kit's mistake prior to their wedding was never fully divulged to the reader, although certain assumptions are made. Piglet copes with this via finding comfort in food and eating/ordering far more than she is able to eat. All of the characters are not very likeable, classism is explored with the different families coming from very different backgrounds with her family being working class, her embarrassment of her background and Kits' family being very wealthy from the upper classes.. It's hard to describe without giving spoilers. It was likeable enough, but I was left disappointed and felt there were opportunities missed to make the story better.

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greatexpectations77's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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? Yes

4.75

I had such a good time with this book. It was the first book in a long time that I stayed up too late reading. I thought it was a super great unraveling, and I can't wait to read more from this author. And what a COVER. Piglet's parents were so painfully awkward. It just felt so visceral and animal. A great look at how for some of us, food controls half of our lives. Also really appreciated the whole

when-your-friends-have-babies-you-lose-them-forever storyline

.
*bought at Solid State Books near Logan Circle, DC

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