You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book gutted me. I texted my friend halfway through that I was equal parts shock, anger, sadness, queasiness. This is not an easy book to read, especially if you are a mother or hope to be one. But the reflections on motherhood and womanhood were profound and the prose was beautiful. Excellent translation, quick read. I devoured it in just a couple days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Infertility, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was recommended to me on BookTok and I thoroughly appreciated what Guadalupe Nettel wanted to explain.
The difficulties of friendships, the pains of motherhood, etc. felt present and real. I also felt myself getting attached to Doris and Niçolas, the protagonist’s neighbours, as well as her friend Alina. They were all so hurt and so human! 🥲
BookTok had said this was going to be life-changing. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t feel that way. However, I still felt touched by it and would like to read similar works maybe one day 😊
3.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨
The difficulties of friendships, the pains of motherhood, etc. felt present and real. I also felt myself getting attached to Doris and Niçolas, the protagonist’s neighbours, as well as her friend Alina. They were all so hurt and so human! 🥲
BookTok had said this was going to be life-changing. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t feel that way. However, I still felt touched by it and would like to read similar works maybe one day 😊
3.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A beautifully written piece. The prose is elegant and intense, the surroundings and culture are painted wonderfully. I found myself on this emotional rollercoaster and unable (unwilling!) to get off. I found pieces of myself in both Alina and Laura, though the two of them are very different characters.
My only note would be that I felt the metaphor of the nest was a little on the nose for my taste. It just wasn't subtle enough, but otherwise masterfully done.
I will come back to reread this.
My only note would be that I felt the metaphor of the nest was a little on the nose for my taste. It just wasn't subtle enough, but otherwise masterfully done.
I will come back to reread this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy
Minor: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Proceed with care, this book deals with pregnancy, motherhood, and huge fears regarding both.
The novel is devastating and hopeful. It asks seemingly unquestionable questions. To someone not exactly knowing what they’re talking about here (I don’t have children), the author seems to keep the sugarcoating away but also shines a light on the good things. It seems balanced out, relatable, while being also very far away from me. In some way it is tragic. In some other way it is life affirming.
“I have to admit, I have never really got along well with children.” This is a thought of the main character, Laura, on page one. She goes further and seems to investigate the cause, the why, the reason, why women still want to become mothers, and suspects society and their families as the only driving forces.
But there is a twist, a tragically beautiful one. Her best friend (suddenly) wants to have a child, gets pregnant, but there are complications and huge worries.
Accompanied by a pigeon nest on her balcony rafters, her neighbors son Nicolás, who keeps smashing his head against the wall, and his mother Doris, traumatized and overwhelmed, Lauras perceived world grows in size:
“The more we love a person, the more fragile and insecure we feel because of them.”
Life is complex, frightening, beautiful. I want to end this review by quoting a sentence from the blurb:
“In prose that is as gripping as it is insightful, Still Born explores maternal ambivalence with a surgeon’s touch, carefully dissecting the contradictions that make up the lived experiences of women.” While I expected something different, I know that this book will take permanent residency in the back of my mind.
The novel is devastating and hopeful. It asks seemingly unquestionable questions. To someone not exactly knowing what they’re talking about here (I don’t have children), the author seems to keep the sugarcoating away but also shines a light on the good things. It seems balanced out, relatable, while being also very far away from me. In some way it is tragic. In some other way it is life affirming.
“I have to admit, I have never really got along well with children.” This is a thought of the main character, Laura, on page one. She goes further and seems to investigate the cause, the why, the reason, why women still want to become mothers, and suspects society and their families as the only driving forces.
But there is a twist, a tragically beautiful one. Her best friend (suddenly) wants to have a child, gets pregnant, but there are complications and huge worries.
Accompanied by a pigeon nest on her balcony rafters, her neighbors son Nicolás, who keeps smashing his head against the wall, and his mother Doris, traumatized and overwhelmed, Lauras perceived world grows in size:
“The more we love a person, the more fragile and insecure we feel because of them.”
Life is complex, frightening, beautiful. I want to end this review by quoting a sentence from the blurb:
“In prose that is as gripping as it is insightful, Still Born explores maternal ambivalence with a surgeon’s touch, carefully dissecting the contradictions that make up the lived experiences of women.” While I expected something different, I know that this book will take permanent residency in the back of my mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death, Medical content
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Alcohol
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
La maternidad, la amistad, los miedos. Este libro toca temas universales con un punto misterioso que te hace querer seguir pasando las páginas.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse