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heliaroghani's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
For me, this is a complicated book to review. On one hand, I loved the comforting aspects of the story; just the general feeling of warmth I got by reading about Jean performing daily household tasks and giving elaborate descriptions of food. That, I really enjoyed.
However ... the ending. I mean ... what? I was shocked, but not in a good way. I felt like I had read the author's attempt to end her story in a shocking, sad, and tragic way; all of that, but in a way that completely missed the mark. Not only did my shock dwarf the upset I should have felt, but the main plot, its conclusion was almost completely erased. One can explain that away with the ending, but it still felt very incomplete. Reading a whole book to discover the mystery of parthenogenesis ... for what? I don't even know.
Anyway, I really wish I could give this a higher rating. I really wanted to like it, having read it based off the recommendation of one of my favorite booktubers. Looking back, though, I should have paid more attention to their emphasis of an odd ending. The conclusion of a story usually makes or breaks it for me.
However ... the ending. I mean ... what? I was shocked, but not in a good way. I felt like I had read the author's attempt to end her story in a shocking, sad, and tragic way; all of that, but in a way that completely missed the mark. Not only did my shock dwarf the upset I should have felt, but the main plot, its conclusion was almost completely erased. One can explain that away with the ending, but it still felt very incomplete. Reading a whole book to discover the mystery of parthenogenesis ... for what? I don't even know.
Anyway, I really wish I could give this a higher rating. I really wanted to like it, having read it based off the recommendation of one of my favorite booktubers. Looking back, though, I should have paid more attention to their emphasis of an odd ending. The conclusion of a story usually makes or breaks it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism and War
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