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bites_of_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
At its core, this book is about motherhood, all viewed from the perspective of two young women, Nadia and Audrey, who don't have their mothers in their lives anymore. There are also other mother figures, such as Audrey's sister and her partner, the women at the church who try to give guidance in their own way, and even people at clinics who hold hands and give advice when needed.
Nadia, Audrey, and Luke are three young people whose lives are intertwined throughout the book, they will fall in love, be protective of each other, hold resentments, and even hurt each other as they try to find ways to live their own lives. The influence of their parents, the church, and society weighs heavy on them and they really are only trying to find some kind of happiness in the best way they can.
If you like contemporary stories that take a hard look at the influence of a community on young people, this is a great book to read. It's a heavy book with a lot of sadness and loneliness throughout so do read carefully.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Medical content, Rape, Abortion, Car accident, Death of parent, Infertility, and Infidelity
reverie_and_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A group of elderly ladies, the mothers, lend us theirs eyes and ears, framing the start of every chapter. What they share is their wisdom, their morals, and, with it, their judgement. Central in their tellings are Nadia, Luke and Aubrey. We get their perspectives as well.
There is a lot of trauma in this novel, so read with care.
The title isn’t just referring to the wise ladies. Nadia has lost her mother. Aubrey has cut contact with hers. Luke is critically watched under the eyes of his mom. And there is the question about unmothering, as it is described in this book.
Ultimately, the three main characters are spinning their own trip wire. Caught in a love triangle with secrets kept too long, they struggle to move on.
I‘m still not sure if I’m on board with the overall morale of this story. But maybe this is life and what happens to it if we (have to) keep too many secrets. I keep rolling it over in my head. As in »The Vanishing Half« the writing is great and I’d consider the characters quite dynamic.
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🇩🇪 Die Mütter von Brit Bennett
Ein paar betagte Damen leihen uns ihre Ohren und Augen während sie jedes Kapitel mit ihren Weisheiten, Moralvorstellungen und Urteilen einleiten. Zentral in ihren Erzählungen sind Nadia, Luke und Aubrey. Ihre Perspektive wird ebenfalls beschrieben.
Hier wird ein großer Batzen Trauma behandelt - bitte mit Vorsicht lesen und ggf. Inhaltswarnungen nachschlagen.
Der Titel referenziert nicht nur auf die weisen Damen. Nadia hat ihre Mutter verloren. Aubrey hat den Kontakt zu ihrer Mutter abgebrochen. Luke wird recht kritisch von seiner Mutter beäugt - auch jede, die ihm nahe kommt. Und es gibt die Frage des nicht-Mutterseins, des Abbruchs, und wie abweisend damit umgegangen wird.
Letztlich spinnen die drei Hauptcharaktere einige der Fäden selbst, über die sie stolpern. Verflochten in einer Dreiecksbeziehung haben sie Schwierigkeiten, loszulassen.
Ich bin mir noch nicht sicher, ob ich mit der übergreifenden Moral der Geschichte einverstanden bin. Aber vielleicht ist so das Leben und was daraus wird, wenn wir zu viele Geheimnisse haben (müssen). Die Erzählweise hat mir wie auch bei »Die verschwindende Hälfte« sehr gut gefallen. Das gleiche gilt für die Dynamik der Charaktere.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Abortion
sarahholliday's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Like in any story, things happen and events transpire, but emotions are the main star of this story—the healthy and unhealthy ways we deal with them, how complicated and layered they are, how they evolve over time as we grow.
I wouldn't have minded a little more meat to the final chapters of the book.
All of those very small issues aside, The Mothers has proven my theory that Brit Bennett is an automatic-read author for me.
Graphic: Abortion, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Grief, and Infidelity
lindseyas's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Infertility, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault
namii's review against another edition
1.5
Nadia made awful choices that i don’t understand but i get that i’m not really supposed to understand most of those choices that just felt harmful to everyone including herself.
It’s like instead of choosing something easy she decided to torture herself.
Graphic: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Rape, and Xenophobia
jaja_1212's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
After getting such a deep, intimate look into the lives and minds of these characters the ending felt a little too abrupt, I can see why the author might want to end it at that point in their lives though.
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Violence, Grief, Rape, Infidelity, and Child abuse
Minor: Racial slurs, Car accident, Alcohol, and War
abbie_'s review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Suicide, Abortion, Medical content, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape
sparklefarm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Abortion, Suicide, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Medical trauma
yajairat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I appreciated the way the author approached the topic of abortion, with all of its nuances, what ifs, and effects on both parents. Also really liked its commentary on motherhood and the Black church (shoutout to the mothers).
Loved loved loved Brit Bennett's writing, using terms like unpregnant and unloved in the context of this story were very powerful, and a reason why I was so engrossed.
Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Suicide, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Pregnancy
arminam's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Abortion, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Suicide