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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Though I appreciate the artistic/authentic writing, the style isn't for me. I DNF her other book as well so it must be her writing style that's not my cup of tea.
Some of quotes I liked:
Some of quotes I liked:
our relationship would be over by the time I overcame my insecurities because we only overcome our insecurities in death.
Do I want children because I want to be admired as the admirable sort of woman who has children? Because I want to be seen as normal sort of woman, a woman with not only work, but the desire and ability to nurture, a body that can make babies, and someone who another person wants to make babies with? Do I want a children to show myself to be the (normal) sort of woman who wants and ultimately has a child?
There is a kind of sadness in not wanting the things that give so many other people their life's meaning.
But I don't care about passing on my genes! Can't one pass at one's genes through art?
A child is not a combination of you and your partner, but a reality all its own, separate and unique - a distinct point of consciousness in the world.
Being a woman, you can't just say you don't want a child. You have to have some big plan or idea of what you're going to do instead. And it better be something great.
The stream of consciousness didn't keep me coming back, probably because I already know my answer to, "do you want to be a mom?"
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
As someone who is child-free by choice, I have a tough time finding any positive, empowering writing about women who are unencumbered and free to simply mother their art and their romance in this world. Women usually only talk about this choice from a mommy-blogger perspective (fulfillment through child birth), and talk about women without kids as being "barren" and sad...which is really just boring and unimaginative in the end. But I was so pleasantly surprised with this book! While it was a little dark overall, I was just proud to finally read something that empowered women to make their own choice...without the moral of the story being about breeding!
In parting, two little quotes for your reading pleasure. HOT DAMN!
"There is something threatening about a woman who is not occupied with children. There is something at-loose-ends feeling about such a woman. What is she going to do instead? What sort of trouble will she make?"
"What if I pursue being a bad woman and don’t breed—pursue failing biologically? Where is the realm of privacy? Only in failure. Only in our failures are we absolutely alone. Only in the pursuit of failure can a person really be free. Losers may be the avant-garde of the modern age."
In parting, two little quotes for your reading pleasure. HOT DAMN!
"There is something threatening about a woman who is not occupied with children. There is something at-loose-ends feeling about such a woman. What is she going to do instead? What sort of trouble will she make?"
"What if I pursue being a bad woman and don’t breed—pursue failing biologically? Where is the realm of privacy? Only in failure. Only in our failures are we absolutely alone. Only in the pursuit of failure can a person really be free. Losers may be the avant-garde of the modern age."
What I needed: empowerment in my choice to NOT become a mother. And this book provides it well. While reading how Sheila Heti is wrestling with all her feelings, doubts and wishes regarding motherhood I felt understood. But the beauty of this autofictional novel lies even beyond the question of one would like to be a mother. It lies in questioning society, your past, the pasts of your female relatives, the lives we choose or choose not to choose, the struggle with our minds. And I found it amazing to pare this philosophical ringing with „the soul of time“ with the coin tossing of I Ging. It is a marvelous take on destiny and coincidence in the face of a lifechanging decision about (not) becoming a mother.
Thanks! Just the book I needed. Speeking from a white, heterosexual, Atheist and privileged position (as does the book, which can be offensive at some points)
„Was soll ich sagen außer: ich verzeihe mir jeden Moment, in dem ich es versäumt habe, ein Risiko einzugehen, verzeihe mir all die Engpässe und Scheidewege meines Lebens. Mir ist klar, dass die Angst den Menschen genauso verlockt wie die Chance, wenn nicht mehr.“
„Wenn du kein Kind hast, kannst du in einem gewissen Alter dein eigenes Kind werden. Du fängst dein Leben nochmal von vorn an, diesmal mit dir selbst. Und was mache ich mit all der Zeit? Aber du machst gar nichts mit der Zeit, die Zeit macht etwas mit dir.“
Thanks! Just the book I needed. Speeking from a white, heterosexual, Atheist and privileged position (as does the book, which can be offensive at some points)
„Was soll ich sagen außer: ich verzeihe mir jeden Moment, in dem ich es versäumt habe, ein Risiko einzugehen, verzeihe mir all die Engpässe und Scheidewege meines Lebens. Mir ist klar, dass die Angst den Menschen genauso verlockt wie die Chance, wenn nicht mehr.“
„Wenn du kein Kind hast, kannst du in einem gewissen Alter dein eigenes Kind werden. Du fängst dein Leben nochmal von vorn an, diesmal mit dir selbst. Und was mache ich mit all der Zeit? Aber du machst gar nichts mit der Zeit, die Zeit macht etwas mit dir.“
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Killer book. Taboo subject, handled earnestly. Challenging in its form and insistence in its categorization as a novel. I'll have to read more Heti, but first I need to digest this one.
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes