Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Galatea by Madeline Miller

98 reviews

orchidlilly's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

An interesting take on the Pygmalion myth, certainly one that I think a lot of women have mulled over before. It was short and to the point, well written but not all that groundbreaking, I think. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Misogyny, Sexism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, Abortion, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, and Excrement

cepbreed's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

I’m familiar with the story of Pygmalion and Galatea and even had to present on it for an English class. That said it basically has no relevance to this story because Madeleine Miller’s take on the myth is anything but traditional. Most traditional retellings search for the romance in their dynamic and portray Pygmalion as a love struck generational talent. Everything I love about this short story lies in its diversion from tradition. Finally an author hones in on the creepiness of their dynamic and introduces that version of the story to the mainstream.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Confinement, Medical content, and Misogyny

Minor: Pregnancy and Abortion

marippe's review against another edition

inspiring fast-paced

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

4.5

It was so good I wanted MORE
I liked that her husband was confusing in his intentions - he wanted his stone wife to feel alive (the obsession with her becoming warm) but any notion of mortal feminity (such as stretch marks from childbirth) disgusted him

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

charlynlynlyn's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Abortion, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content

strawberrytheauthor's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

5.0

This is my first Madeline Miller book and I did enjoy it. I am excited to read Song of Achilles now that I know I like her writing.

I enjoyed reading the afterword included which talks about how Galatea came to be and the original myth it came from. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Cursing, Confinement, Body shaming, Murder, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Blood and Rape

xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I think this short story proves that you don't need a lot of words to say something that will stay with people for the rest of their lives. 

This is a beautiful and tragic story of a woman who just wanted to be free and wanted her daughter to be free. 

I think the song Labour by Paris Paloma really pairs well with Galatea's tale.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Pregnancy

Galatea also fakes being pregnant and then fakes having a miscarriage after drinking some tea made to force her to miscarry.

krisalexcole's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

0.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abortion, Cursing, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Pedophilia

michellesugen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Very interesting short story that is an adaptation of Pygmalion. Quick read. It reminds me of the never ending sacrifices of the women across the ages whose shoulders I stand on today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

jessicaludden's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

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

3.5

“The ocean floor was sandy and soft as pillows. I settled into it and slept.”

Madeline Miller managed to give Galatea such a distinct voice in such a short amount of time. She was blunt and cunning and exactly what you would expect a woman who was previously a statue to be like. I really liked Miller’s take on this story, especially the ending.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

alicecohenreads's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Suicide