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babs_reviews's review against another edition
3.0
"It's so easy to make offers when there's nothing to give."
Honestly, even days later, I'm still unsure how I feel about this one.
One of the most unreliable narrators I've ever read, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't think I ever really knew what was real or what was madness and wasn't something that I felt got resolved. There was a lot of blended information that had memories and dreams of memories, only it took a minute to realize Grace was spiraling.
I am still not sure reading about the pandemic is for me. However, I recognize how hard this must have been to write when the author lost her mother during the pandemic.
I just really have no idea how to explain what I read. I'm not sure I'd recommend it, but I would recommend another work by this author, Baby Teeth, that book is wild!!
Honestly, even days later, I'm still unsure how I feel about this one.
One of the most unreliable narrators I've ever read, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't think I ever really knew what was real or what was madness and wasn't something that I felt got resolved. There was a lot of blended information that had memories and dreams of memories, only it took a minute to realize Grace was spiraling.
I am still not sure reading about the pandemic is for me. However, I recognize how hard this must have been to write when the author lost her mother during the pandemic.
I just really have no idea how to explain what I read. I'm not sure I'd recommend it, but I would recommend another work by this author, Baby Teeth, that book is wild!!
ericranke's review
I have no desire to read books which use Covid-19 as a major plot point
roooreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
secre's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Mothered is one of those novels that has a good premise, but falls apart somewhat in the execution. Despite being only around 300 pages, it felt much longer and dragged badly at points. Part of this is almost certainly deliberate and is meant to convey the lockdown syndrome of people going stir crazy at home with nothing to do and no-one to see. But it also makes the novel hard work to read.
I think part of the problem is that the author relies heavily on dream style sequences, so you aren't quite sure what's real and what's imagined. When combined with the claustrophobic nature of the novel and the fact that it feels like it's running in circles, the novel just doesn't go anywhere fast. Stage does build up the creepiness factor well, but it's at the expense of actual plot and substance.
There are some interesting backstories being explored here, particularly that of Grace and her disabled sister. But it felt like too little and too late to really save the book from mediocrity. All in all, a bit of a disappointment and one I finished for the sake of it rather than actively enjoying.
I think part of the problem is that the author relies heavily on dream style sequences, so you aren't quite sure what's real and what's imagined. When combined with the claustrophobic nature of the novel and the fact that it feels like it's running in circles, the novel just doesn't go anywhere fast. Stage does build up the creepiness factor well, but it's at the expense of actual plot and substance.
There are some interesting backstories being explored here, particularly that of Grace and her disabled sister. But it felt like too little and too late to really save the book from mediocrity. All in all, a bit of a disappointment and one I finished for the sake of it rather than actively enjoying.
ashlaid's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Murder
bozzi1's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.5
I enjoyed this one but it’s definitely for fans of unreliable narrators and who don’t mind not getting all the answers.
skull_hollow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lufferdinks's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Babyteeth, so I was really hoping I'd like this a lot more than I actually did. It's an interesting enough psychological thriller that will keep you guessing what's actually happening and what's not, but eh, I guess it just didn't do it for me.