Reviews with content warning for Terminal illness - Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies

Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies follows Lia, as she is diagnosed with cancer again and her coming to terms with her diagnosis and, ultimately, her death sentence. Written in an experimental form of lyrical/poetic prose, this book is one you don't see often.

However, I think this is one of those 'good book wrong time' moments, or when I really notice (again) that my English just isn't good enough yet to really get it, but I think a lot of the book's contents went over my head. It didn't work for me - perhaps because I've never been good at interpreting poetry/poetic prose, or because I've been too preoccupied with other things in my life, but I continually felt most of it went over my head. I do hope to revisit it in the future and that the second time around, I'll be able to appreciate it better.

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hanz's review against another edition

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There are some beautiful sentences and almost vignette like passages in this book, but some of it is so difficult to understand. It’s somehow both very readable and completely impenetrable in alternating paragraphs. Unfortunately, the parts that are difficult to understand are making me not want to pick up this book.
It’s clearly well written, but just not for me.

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hannahshort's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

An astonishing debut, and quite unlike anything I've ever read before. Parts of this novel blew me away, and I've found it hard to rate it. Would have given it 5 stars, had I not found the cancer narrative confusing and disorientating at times (although perhaps this is intentional?). May need to read again. I won't forget this book, and will look forward to reading more from the author.

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marfa's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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agnesbebon's review

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5.0

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abvi's review

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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perfectsolitude's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

For one, it’s a beautiful debut, with an exploratory, profound narrative. The format is different than most other books, with words flowing over the pages like waves, some big, some small. But never random.

We follow Lia, diagnosed with terminal cancer, and we get to know her past, current and future (not long to live) in alternating POV. I loved the characters, how normal and real they are, the way they’re portrayed. The narrative adjusts smoothly to the mind of the specific character. Even the body has a say.

Though it’s about, ultimately, terminal illness and death, this book is gentle and contemplative. It sort of beautifies it.

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edilund's review

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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