Reviews

The Life of the Mind by Christine Smallwood

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stellahadz's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I think this is the kind of book that has to marinate in my mind for a while before I can figure out exactly what I think about it. It's well-written, has an interesting premise, and offers insightful and relatable commentary on academia, relationships, and the nature of existence in the 21st century (the phrase "boring dystopia" comes to mind). The miscarriage is described in fairly graphic terms, but it doesn't seem to faze the narrator at all - I think there's something to read into this about how by the nature of the times we live in, things that we think ought to be traumatic or catastrophic seem a bit mundane. I can see how this book isn't for everyone, but I liked how subtly philosophical it was.

Content Warnings

af666014's review

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reflective medium-paced

3.0

I’ve never read a depiction of abortion like this - usually it’s kept to an allusion, but this was a very matter of fact walk through. I liked the book for that reason but otherwise it felt very disjointed

michaela_k's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective medium-paced

4.5

obviouschild96's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

elisav3treads's review against another edition

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1.0

I made it halfway through and that's a lot considering how utterly plot-less and repetitive this book is. Christine Smallwood's writing made me question my literacy.

amylureads's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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? Yes

3.0

This one hits too close to home, and throws my mind back to graduate school. It is very smart, and meta: at times every single thought opens onto a related, obsessive thing, on the sentence level. It is concerned with what happens through today's scattered attention due to technology and a loss of self, especially for women. Piqued my anxiety. Overall enjoyed this book and appreciated its self-awareness about the things I'm describing, but the whole scenario are dynamics I run from in my real life.

Content Warnings