Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Galatea by Madeline Miller

99 reviews

cassandra_burleson's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Excrement, Pregnancy, Abortion, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

astropova'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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Misogyny

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Abortion and Death

pipit's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, and Pedophilia

naomi_k's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Confinement, and Violence

Minor: Abortion, Medical content, and Pregnancy

bronzeageholly's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Body shaming

Minor: Murder

risten's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, and Emotional abuse

thebookbin's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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? No

3.0

 This book review was delayed in solidarity with the HarperCollins Union Strike. 

This short little story is a gut-punch to the face. Please be wary of any triggers you may have before picking up this book or even continuing this review. We all know and trust Miller's interpretations of history and myth from her fantastic work on both Circe and The Song of Achilles. 

Galatea is no exception. The fact that so much research had to be dedicated just to finding out the name 'Galatea' in the story of Pygmalion is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the brutal misogyny of this book. 

Miller gives Galatea life, and illuminates the dark corners that stories like this pose. The idea of a man giving life to a statue seems fine on the surface, but when you take into the account Galatea's loss of agency, and Pygmalion's disgust with female identity, empowerment, and sexuality--the sweet  story of love becomes a tale of horror, and that's what this is. 

While I love Galatea's quiet snark, and I acknowledge that many women would find empowerment in Galatea's demise, but to me it was hollow and painful. Yes, she got to die on her own terms, but it was still unsatisfying. The entire short story I was feeling how I felt when my dad doesn't take me seriously, or my grandparents cherish their male grandchildren and ignore my sister and I. The dismissal of working in a female-dominated field. The rage, pain, and shame of a sexual assault. Her return to stone felt like a kick when you're already down. 

It's hard to explain, but I don't want every feminist story to end in painful tragedy. It's not that I want to pretend that pain and tragedy never existed, especially for women, because I believe we all intimately know that would be a lie. But at the same time the message that women can only ever find solace in death is one that I deny with my whole heart. It gives Kate Chopin The Awakening vibes and while I acknowledge and respect this era in feminist history, I, personally am ready to move past it and embrace and cherish and love all that makes me a woman. 

3/5 complicated feminist retelling stars 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Abortion, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

Minor: Pedophilia

tamara_joy's review against another edition

reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Confinement, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

kaitlyng's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual content, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Cursing

Minor: Domestic abuse and Medical content

Themes of sex and pregnancy, and forced hospitalisation. Frequent cursing and

dying&killing to protect those you love

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cviii's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Body shaming, Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual content