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4.37 AVERAGE
4.37 AVERAGE
interesting history of women’s rights in Canada
Touching story that does a great job of weaving the many-faceted challenges of women up to the point of legalized abortion in Canada. Having lived through this time period in the US, it was interesting to read about it as the backdrop for a story based in Canada.
Touching story that does a great job of weaving the many-faceted challenges of women up to the point of legalized abortion in Canada. Having lived through this time period in the US, it was interesting to read about it as the backdrop for a story based in Canada.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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:
Yes
A compelling story of brave women. Definitely bumping the HBO documentary about The Janes to the top of my watchlist now, since Marshall referenced it in her author’s note.
This story hit so hard. Absolutely heartbreaking and also heartwarming. Women lifting up other women!
This was a great book! I am grateful for opportunities to be reminded of the brave and amazing things that women did many years/decades ago, so that women today have the rights we have.
This story follows 3 timelines: a woman in the 1960s forced into a “home” to give birth to a child who will be stolen from her, a doctor in the 70s who puts her career and life at risk to provide other women a safe opportunity to make a choice about their bodies and their lives, and an adopted woman in the 2010s, experiencing a life where she has a choice.
This story follows 3 timelines: a woman in the 1960s forced into a “home” to give birth to a child who will be stolen from her, a doctor in the 70s who puts her career and life at risk to provide other women a safe opportunity to make a choice about their bodies and their lives, and an adopted woman in the 2010s, experiencing a life where she has a choice.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Honestly, this is one star better than I expected to rate this book. It felt timely, so I think that bolsters the relatively predictable interwoven storylines and mostly lackluster characters in my mind. It's not a bad 2.5 star read, and honestly one that I might recommend depending on the situation, but it just didn't fulfill the promise of what it could have been for me.
I'm also not sure how to go about this review without talking through the concepts it covers at least generally. Frankly I think this is one of those books that some readers should have an idea of the topics and perspectives that are covered. I'm not going to hide this for spoilers since I'm not doing anything other than naming subject matter, but if you are keen on going into the book relatively blind, don't read on.
......
To the author's credit, the book gives a wide range of perspectives on motherhood and the lack thereof. It covers miscarriage, illegal and legal abortions (obviously), willing and unwilling adoption, women who grow up knowing they are adopted versus the adoption secret being kept from them, pregnancy through many rounds IUI, a female couple hoping to conceive, women who want to be mothers, women who don't want to be mothers, women who ultimately change their mind on wanting to be mothers, and has a particularly gruesome scene of a "back alley abortion" that happens in the first twenty-ish pages.
Aside from that scene, I don't know that I ever got the depth of emotion I wanted out of any of the characters or perspectives. Additionally, it felt like there was a bit of an identity crisis in the novel. So much of the early writing and dialogue felt British, even though it is largely set in Toronto with only 1 or 2 named British characters. One storyline feels decidedly American instead. Timing also was strange, especially toward the end where it didn't really make sense that a 30 year old was splitting time between her parents' homes after their divorce. The twist at the end, while not the turn I expected, felt...unnecessary, not believable, and out of place. There was a simpler conclusion to be had there.
There are no mortal sins in this book, and nothing that rules it out as something people shouldn't read. The subject matter is deeply important and worth exploring through this book or others. The author's note at the end contains great information. The entire book underscores the importance of women having agency over their own bodies at all times in their lives. But at its conclusion, I feel that maybe if the author had done less, the reader could have walked away with more.
I'm also not sure how to go about this review without talking through the concepts it covers at least generally. Frankly I think this is one of those books that some readers should have an idea of the topics and perspectives that are covered. I'm not going to hide this for spoilers since I'm not doing anything other than naming subject matter, but if you are keen on going into the book relatively blind, don't read on.
......
To the author's credit, the book gives a wide range of perspectives on motherhood and the lack thereof. It covers miscarriage, illegal and legal abortions (obviously), willing and unwilling adoption, women who grow up knowing they are adopted versus the adoption secret being kept from them, pregnancy through many rounds IUI, a female couple hoping to conceive, women who want to be mothers, women who don't want to be mothers, women who ultimately change their mind on wanting to be mothers, and has a particularly gruesome scene of a "back alley abortion" that happens in the first twenty-ish pages.
Aside from that scene, I don't know that I ever got the depth of emotion I wanted out of any of the characters or perspectives. Additionally, it felt like there was a bit of an identity crisis in the novel. So much of the early writing and dialogue felt British, even though it is largely set in Toronto with only 1 or 2 named British characters. One storyline feels decidedly American instead. Timing also was strange, especially toward the end where it didn't really make sense that a 30 year old was splitting time between her parents' homes after their divorce. The twist at the end, while not the turn I expected, felt...unnecessary, not believable, and out of place. There was a simpler conclusion to be had there.
There are no mortal sins in this book, and nothing that rules it out as something people shouldn't read. The subject matter is deeply important and worth exploring through this book or others. The author's note at the end contains great information. The entire book underscores the importance of women having agency over their own bodies at all times in their lives. But at its conclusion, I feel that maybe if the author had done less, the reader could have walked away with more.
Heartbreaking and eye opening. Tough subject and so emotional. I learned so much about the topic and the time - so interesting. I loved all the different perspectives!
I struggled with the mix of characters and had to keep a list - it got confusing at times. Hence the four instead of five.
I struggled with the mix of characters and had to keep a list - it got confusing at times. Hence the four instead of five.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes