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daumari's review against another edition
4.0
In some ways, this book reminds me of [b:Never Let Me Go|6334|Never Let Me Go|Kazuo Ishiguro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353048590l/6334._SY75_.jpg|1499998] by Kazuo Ishiguro in that it's a near-future sci-fi that's stealthy about the fantastic elements in order to focus on failings in our current systems. I picked this up months after becoming a mother with some friends saying, "hmmm idk about reading that right now" but honestly? It makes the satire THAT much more biting as I'm inundated with Reels on how to be a good parent/you're doing just fine as a parent/but hey maybe here's something your baby should be doing now and if not consider whether you're a Bad Mother? Or the inciting incident, where Frida has a Very Bad Day and stays a little too long at the office- wanting a moment to yourself is so incredibly relatable.
It has additional resonance for me as an American Born Chinese mother of a biracial child. When we see glimpses of Frida's ex and his new partner raising Harriet while Frida's parents aren't kept as in the loop, I'm reminded of the blindspots transracial parents can have with children of color.
At about the 75% mark, I realized there's no way for there to be a truly happy ending here without it being a substantially different story, and the ending here is bittersweet. It's immensely frustrating because you root for Frida the whole time, and she's trying her best! But because she doesn't conform to the idealized version of motherhood, she's deemed Bad.
I did wonder if [plot speculation]
I'm glad I read it, but I don't think I'll be picking this one up for a reread unless it comes up for book club.
It has additional resonance for me as an American Born Chinese mother of a biracial child. When we see glimpses of Frida's ex and his new partner raising Harriet while Frida's parents aren't kept as in the loop, I'm reminded of the blindspots transracial parents can have with children of color.
At about the 75% mark, I realized there's no way for there to be a truly happy ending here without it being a substantially different story, and the ending here is bittersweet. It's immensely frustrating because you root for Frida the whole time, and she's trying her best! But because she doesn't conform to the idealized version of motherhood, she's deemed Bad.
I did wonder if [plot speculation]
Spoiler
the dolls were going to uprise at some point, or if Frida was going to have to choose between Emanuelle and Harriet (which she sort of did, with the videos and the phone access). There's still something very weird with the dolls and I can't help but wonder if the school was also training the doll AI to learn, but we didn't get into that much because it wasn't the focal point.I'm glad I read it, but I don't think I'll be picking this one up for a reread unless it comes up for book club.
sophienall18's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jainriya177's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
thetzz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
loved this so much actually. Chan writes pain and emotion so viscerally i could feel it in my throat. an amazingly coherent plot that i stayed up way past my bed time to read lol.
so much of this book felt real and visceral. the way motherhood and feminity are used as sharp tools by the state to discect women reflects a grim reality i see playing out every day of my life. by the end of this book, my heart was twisted up inside of me, filled to the brim with frida's heavy story.
so much of this book felt real and visceral. the way motherhood and feminity are used as sharp tools by the state to discect women reflects a grim reality i see playing out every day of my life. by the end of this book, my heart was twisted up inside of me, filled to the brim with frida's heavy story.
wtfrjk's review against another edition
4.0
Controlling anti-feminist dystopia bookended by heartbreakingly realistic depictions of motherhood, with everything playing out agonizingly slow (positive). Sad and odd. Could have swung wildly in a different direction at points, but stayed over the plate.
youngthespian42's review against another edition
4.0
A dystopia reflection on parenting and motherhood and the direction the state is going. If you have any experience with Child Protective Services this is a horrifying and totally plausible direction these agencies going. Important read.
beeclark's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
alexandriareads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75