Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
oh boy this was a challenging read! i was so interested in the concept which made the poor execution so disappointing. the writing style was so odd! it jumps back and forth between past / present and straightforward and tedious / metaphorical in a way that makes no sense and just makes it difficult to follow and get into. plot lines are brought up and immediately dropped or turn out to mean absolutely nothing. the story is really interesting, but it’s so unrealistic it took me out of it. so much potential! but so bad.
This is a tough one to rate. While I give the concept five stars, I don't think the writing brought it to life the way it could have. There was a lot of repetition and the story didn't seem to be moving forward for long periods of time. I think there was more that could have been done with this one; it didn't fully reach its potential.
That said: given the timing of the book and what is going on in our country, it did hit hard. The idea that mothers must be perfect and give up all of their own needs/wants/choices in order to be a "good mother" was extremely unsettling. Coupled with the fact that the fathers did not get the same treatment, I think the book did get its point across. Would probably be excellent for a book club.
That said: given the timing of the book and what is going on in our country, it did hit hard. The idea that mothers must be perfect and give up all of their own needs/wants/choices in order to be a "good mother" was extremely unsettling. Coupled with the fact that the fathers did not get the same treatment, I think the book did get its point across. Would probably be excellent for a book club.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
I hated this book and I loved this book. It was creepy and made me anxious but it was thrilling and I couldn’t put it down.
I rooted for Frida and hated her at the same time. It was a conflicting addicting read.
I rooted for Frida and hated her at the same time. It was a conflicting addicting read.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
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
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Whoa, this one was intense. I both hated it and loved it at the same time. Hated it because the story made me so freaking angry and loved it because I couldn't put it down and it was so well written. The dystopic aspects of this story hit very close to home for me as a mother - wow. As I was reading, I was having truly visceral reactions - I felt sick to my stomach at times, and the end had me full on weeping. So good, and so troubling. It was clear that it was hopeless from the beginning, and yet Frida tried SO hard. I was rooting for her with every fibre of my being.
I liked that Gust was actually likeable and decent, though it seemed so unjust that his word on her behalf had no bearing on the end result.
The dolls were creepy at the start (like they were to the participants as well) but as a reader, I also felt them becoming more human-like and loveable (and deserving of love) as the book went on. The torture and pain inflicted on them felt no less inhumane.
The book also explored important issue of racism and gender disparities (especially in terms of expectations of fathers versus those of mothers -- holy cow!). I did have a hard time keeping track of the various situations/characteristics of the other mothers, though, so at times the issues being explored may have been somewhat lost on me. But it was also interesting how the "no judgment" idea kept coming up, and I found myself having to stop the judgment as well -- certain "crimes" seemed ridiculous to me (How many times have I done that??) and others egregious (How could anyone...?) and yet the desperation and fallibility of all mothers at times is such a reality.
An excellent but absolutely soul-crushing read.
I liked that Gust was actually likeable and decent, though it seemed so unjust that his word on her behalf had no bearing on the end result.
The dolls were creepy at the start (like they were to the participants as well) but as a reader, I also felt them becoming more human-like and loveable (and deserving of love) as the book went on. The torture and pain inflicted on them felt no less inhumane.
The book also explored important issue of racism and gender disparities (especially in terms of expectations of fathers versus those of mothers -- holy cow!). I did have a hard time keeping track of the various situations/characteristics of the other mothers, though, so at times the issues being explored may have been somewhat lost on me. But it was also interesting how the "no judgment" idea kept coming up, and I found myself having to stop the judgment as well -- certain "crimes" seemed ridiculous to me (How many times have I done that??) and others egregious (How could anyone...?) and yet the desperation and fallibility of all mothers at times is such a reality.
An excellent but absolutely soul-crushing read.