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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Me gustó mucho el estilo de escritura y las paralelas que se trazaron entre las dos amigas. El final lo sentí algo apresurado y sin mucha intención. Pero definitivamente leería más de las obras de Nettle.
{TW: PLEASE google the trigger warnings for this book, of which there are many, pregnancy, disability & child loss related}
It’s strange to think a book entitled Still Born, that documents with such emotional fragility the complex, painful & raw experiences with parenthood, pregnancy, loss & grief, could be described as wonderful, but truly, this is. I am eternally grateful that I read it, & almost in one sitting, too. This book is so vulnerable, so honest, truly beautiful in its sincerity, so utterly affecting & also, heart breaking. As a parent, I read this book from my own perspective, one lucky to have not experienced baby loss, or difficulties in conceiving, but my journey through Motherhood has been tumultuous, peppered with unique scenarios that continue to be unchartered, both good & bad. There are so many confounding, gut wrenching & all consuming thoughts that accompany the journey. Parenting, maternal or paternal, isn’t always ‘typical’, with a biological or non biological child, it can be about the relationship or care between your own parents, siblings, friends, strangers, pets even. It is as simple or complex as the situation provides, & one of the things I took from this book was the exquisite depiction & acceptance of that. The main characters in this book are Laura (the narrator) & Alina, one happily ambivalent to becoming a mother, the other trying to become one, & the course of their adult lives through those times. Told her baby would die, Alina prepares for this, but against all odds, her baby survives, but with disabilities, & the pain, the confusion, is fraught with insecurities. By its content nature, the book is deeply emotional, of course, yet it is also unflinchingly gripping & intelligent, unsentimental yet compassionate & tender, an observation on life, death, what makes us human, & that no matter what we might think, hope or dream, it inevitably will not be how we envision. I am confident this book will never leave me, it is truly one of the most sensational pieces of prose I have ever read, one that has educated & inspired me, its echoes will remain.
It’s strange to think a book entitled Still Born, that documents with such emotional fragility the complex, painful & raw experiences with parenthood, pregnancy, loss & grief, could be described as wonderful, but truly, this is. I am eternally grateful that I read it, & almost in one sitting, too. This book is so vulnerable, so honest, truly beautiful in its sincerity, so utterly affecting & also, heart breaking. As a parent, I read this book from my own perspective, one lucky to have not experienced baby loss, or difficulties in conceiving, but my journey through Motherhood has been tumultuous, peppered with unique scenarios that continue to be unchartered, both good & bad. There are so many confounding, gut wrenching & all consuming thoughts that accompany the journey. Parenting, maternal or paternal, isn’t always ‘typical’, with a biological or non biological child, it can be about the relationship or care between your own parents, siblings, friends, strangers, pets even. It is as simple or complex as the situation provides, & one of the things I took from this book was the exquisite depiction & acceptance of that. The main characters in this book are Laura (the narrator) & Alina, one happily ambivalent to becoming a mother, the other trying to become one, & the course of their adult lives through those times. Told her baby would die, Alina prepares for this, but against all odds, her baby survives, but with disabilities, & the pain, the confusion, is fraught with insecurities. By its content nature, the book is deeply emotional, of course, yet it is also unflinchingly gripping & intelligent, unsentimental yet compassionate & tender, an observation on life, death, what makes us human, & that no matter what we might think, hope or dream, it inevitably will not be how we envision. I am confident this book will never leave me, it is truly one of the most sensational pieces of prose I have ever read, one that has educated & inspired me, its echoes will remain.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very engaging, interesting and unusual. I loved the exploration of motherhood and family. I would like to read more from this author.
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Thought this was a memoir for 90% of the book! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯