Reviews

Human Blues by Elisa Albert

womanvsthevoid's review

dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

annalieegk's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I think this book is really important. Women's experiences of infertility are so underrepresented in literature and this book worked towards resolving that. All of Aviva's feelings are so vivid. I think the book is also important in terms of promoting an understanding and education of our own bodies; choice and autonomy are only accessible with this education. And, the book is really readable. That said, I think at times, the argument of the book was unclear and made me feel a little uneasy as it grew too near anti-medicine standpoints. I also felt like Aviva's connection to music was poorly written until the end when it became a more dynamic element of her character. I felt like the Amy Winehouse connection was a little random but I could see my opinion on that changing if I knew more about Amy herself. Lots of food for thought. 

afreeby's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.0

noellewearscontactsbecuz's review

Combined my unsung heart in life. Amy Whinehouse needs respect for her feminine brilliance. Check. Sometimes women want children but their own body, their own life source, won't follow the ancient cry and it hurts them and grief takes root. Check. This book is amazing, and I just wish it were punchier and less repetitive, but grief is true in its being consuming, so the repetition works artistically, but I did end up skipping some parts because of it. I also thought the main character was fleshed with imperfections quite beautifully

malart101's review

dark emotional funny 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

4.5

thewrightsage's review

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

Aviva drove me crazy, but Albert’s pride is phenomenal and reading this book was a delight. I adored the sentence structure, the word selection—all of it. And even though Aviva drove me nuts at times, she felt genuinely authentic. Her struggle is a relatable one. Her resolution is a satisfying one.

radbrenfro's review

The worst ten pages I’ve ever read

haylztalez's review

4.0

4.24* This is the type of novel that really makes you think differently about our world. The female rage in this is done soooooo well. It's not preachy, or self righteous. It's honest and vulnerable. A lot of the ideas presented may not be for everyone, but I do think the main characters growth throughout the novel really exemplify the two sides of this artificial fertility argument.
The writing is so lyrical which is great since the main character is a singer. There are also so many great quotes about life, motherhood, and love. This is a book that I will be thinking about for a while.
This was truly a joy to read.

averyzim's review

4.0

definitely way too long and without really any plot but i still somehow really liked it. won’t be for everyone!

lifebymindyleigh's review

This entire thing is written in a sort of slam poetry fashion and half of what I read did not make sense to me. I am also not a fan of every other word being a curse word. It completely takes away from the story,

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility