Reviews

Jeg ble helt slått i bakken av denne boka. Utrolig imponerende å kunne skrive så tilgjengelig og samtidig så komplekst! Hun siterer Ditlevsen og Kirkegaard mm med letthet og gjør det vesentlig for oss, uten at det forstyrrer historien/drivet i fortellingen. Det er intenst, og til tider morsomt. Sårt og tankevekkende. Og godt innlest av forfatteren selv.

imogenrose97's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Well fuck. People keep telling me that they thought the book was weird but it just felt like living in my brain. The full narrative with supposed 'evidence', back filled when a new fact is learned, because of course that's true, and it still fits perfectly in my narrative see, that makes it more true. Johanna, our protagonist, edges closer and closer to a precipice that she doesn't seem to see coming. Scratching at an itch compulsively as if doing so will reveal the inspiration for an artwork beneath. It all felt deliciously plausible to me, except she's acting on it, except she's believing what her brain is telling her.
The writing held thoughts on having a mother and being a mother tied together so well it stung, to have both sides laid out for you and with such a forgiving kindness for the actions of the past. Feelings that felt indescribable to me were there. This book reminded me why I love reading.

chloeshawe's review against another edition

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4.0

I, too, don’t think I would know if my mother was dead. However, I would not start stalking her for closure.

callmeamelia's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

meeryluv's review against another edition

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3.5

I feel very deeply sad.

sanchwrites's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense

4.0

emlo's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

I liked the way the prose was set out, as a stream of consciousness, sometimes with only a line or short paragraph on each page. I found the novel quite a claustrophobic read and very sad. It is naturally very one-sided as you stay in Johanna's head as she tries to build a picture of who her Mum really is, patching together fragments from the past and impressions from the present. There is a line from the book "but what if the challenge is to reconcile yourself with the unresolved?" - it's beautifully observed.

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