Reviews

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

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inkylabyrinth's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Addictive but in the end, it felt empty. I love the polyphonic properties but as I was listening to the audiobook, the ending felt very abrupt.

Though both the paragraph of Romy talking about heroin and Doc's sentence about ejaculation--I will never forget those.

Content Warnings

carolynu's review against another edition

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3.0

This story about a woman in prison who probably shouldn’t be, is a bit depressing. I found the ending unsatisfying. Learning about prison life is a tough subject, but I did learn.

torihoo's review against another edition

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5.0

Honestly surprised I liked this book so much, given the mixed reviews it’s received. I’ve described it as a more literary Orange Is the New Black, but it’s so much more than that. Romy’s story is heartbreaking, but does not ask for pity, which is probably why it’s so effective.

mslucymarple's review against another edition

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3.0

Not sure how to feel about this book at all. Some interesting commentary on life in prison and the justice system (in America) but I didn't find it engaging throughout. Would probably be more a 2.5 maybe. I can see other reviews are very split too.

faith2teach's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

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

1.0

The book has multiple POVs, sometimes making it hard to follow.
Romy tells about life in jail and what led her there. Doc tells how his life of crime as a cop gets him hurt. Hauer is a teacher at the jail and tells of how he knows it’s not for him.

tomleetang's review

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4.0

A brilliant, humanising narrative about poverty and the penal system. What is most incredible to me about this book is how the women it describes, who have committed quite nasty, violent crimes, can still be made to seem sympathetic. Kushner doesn't forgive their transgressions but places them within the context of their childhoods and their environments.

Of course central to it all is the titular Mars Room and what it represents: the commoditisation of female bodies, particularly the destitute.

I do agree with other people here who have said that in some ways the multiple character viewpoints don't fit together as neatly as one might like, but to be honest I wasn't as bothered by that as I was by the strongarming of the Iraq War into the narrative - it was too much soap box, too incongruous with the rest of the plot.

Nevertheless, I would wholeheartedly recommend this is an enlightening and gripping read.