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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is truly haunting and represents the best in speculative fiction. Can’t wait to discuss with my book club — LOTS to talk about regarding parental rights and responsibility, individual liberties, state control/support…
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
fast-paced
If you want to cry, read this book.
I felt a lot during this read. I also appreciated the commentary another motherhood and the state.
I felt a lot during this read. I also appreciated the commentary another motherhood and the state.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such a frustrating book. My heart broke for the characters over and over even tho they were pretty unlikable. It was an interesting concept of a book but after about halfway, it began to feel really dragged out and I got a little bored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt
well. i get why i have been seeing folks rave about this book. it is a Good Book. it's well written and frida is a very interesting character, but sadly this was not a book for me.
deep dives into the perils of motherhood are not stories for me. of course, i knew this book was going take a look at motherhood and the policing of childrearing when i picked it up, but i was expecting the dystopian elements and plot to make up for the topic i tend to avoid. unfortunately, that was not the case.
this is not a new universe. this is not handmaid's tale levels of dystopia. this is our current world only slightly worse, where policing of parenting has been ratcheted up. there are little tiny elements that tell you that this is the future - society is very slightly more technologically advanced - but it pretty much feels like the current day. there is one big sci-fi element (i'm being vague to avoid any spoilers) that gets dropped when frida arrives at the school and That Element carries through the story but it is not the driving force of the story. frida is.
there is plot, but this is not a plot-driven book which is what i was looking for when i picked it up. the heart of the book is frida and her story, not exploring or explaining the universe or the One Big Sci-Fi Element. since it is a more internal, character-focused book, the pacing felt slow to me especially since the main topic is already something i don't particularly enjoy. it was agonizing to pick up at points because it is so bleak and everybody is so sad. i almost dnf-ed at multiple points (including in the first quarter before frida had even gotten to the school) because i found it difficult to keep reading.
like i said, i get why people like this book. it deserves all the praise and accolades it is getting. i probably will pick up the next book jessamine chan writes because i thought the characterization of frida was excellent and it book is well written. she is a talented writer. "the school for good mothers" was just not the book for me.
deep dives into the perils of motherhood are not stories for me. of course, i knew this book was going take a look at motherhood and the policing of childrearing when i picked it up, but i was expecting the dystopian elements and plot to make up for the topic i tend to avoid. unfortunately, that was not the case.
this is not a new universe. this is not handmaid's tale levels of dystopia. this is our current world only slightly worse, where policing of parenting has been ratcheted up. there are little tiny elements that tell you that this is the future - society is very slightly more technologically advanced - but it pretty much feels like the current day. there is one big sci-fi element (i'm being vague to avoid any spoilers) that gets dropped when frida arrives at the school and That Element carries through the story but it is not the driving force of the story. frida is.
there is plot, but this is not a plot-driven book which is what i was looking for when i picked it up. the heart of the book is frida and her story, not exploring or explaining the universe or the One Big Sci-Fi Element. since it is a more internal, character-focused book, the pacing felt slow to me especially since the main topic is already something i don't particularly enjoy. it was agonizing to pick up at points because it is so bleak and everybody is so sad. i almost dnf-ed at multiple points (including in the first quarter before frida had even gotten to the school) because i found it difficult to keep reading.
like i said, i get why people like this book. it deserves all the praise and accolades it is getting. i probably will pick up the next book jessamine chan writes because i thought the characterization of frida was excellent and it book is well written. she is a talented writer. "the school for good mothers" was just not the book for me.
dark
I don’t know whether to love or hate this book. What a roller coaster ride. I wanted a different ending. I wanted the whole school to be brought down.