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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
This book explores fascinating, complex issues in parenting and how our society views parents, some of which I hadn't thought of before. Unfortunately, the world it creates to do so is a huge drag- this just was not fun to read at all, even though it was thought-provoking.
challenging
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sadly this book was a total flop for me, had it not been chosen as a buddy read I would have DNF’d.
My biggest gripe with this book is how the writing felt almost like reading a shopping list! Just a recount of events without any emotional depth or key development points attachment to them. Especially when getting to the end I genuinely feel like Frieda isn’t any different to before.
Additionally the writing felt so disjointed, this sedated slow paced writing with random snippets of graphic sexual references was jarring and didn’t add anything to the book at all.
The premise of a school could have been pushed so much further. This book felt like it missed so many possible opportunities to create interesting hooks … - Could Freida of fallen in love with a woman? Could the bad mothers rioted? Could she have stolen her robot baby? … all could of been so much more interesting. Instead I feel like this book relied so heavily on a half baked concept with a lack of any intriguing plot points for me.
Overall a really disappointing read for me across the board.
My biggest gripe with this book is how the writing felt almost like reading a shopping list! Just a recount of events without any emotional depth or key development points attachment to them. Especially when getting to the end I genuinely feel like Frieda isn’t any different to before.
Additionally the writing felt so disjointed, this sedated slow paced writing with random snippets of graphic sexual references was jarring and didn’t add anything to the book at all.
The premise of a school could have been pushed so much further. This book felt like it missed so many possible opportunities to create interesting hooks … -
Overall a really disappointing read for me across the board.
The plot became so unbelievable it was problematic. I understand what the author was going for, but it was much too far of a stretch to accept from a functional perspective (especially the dolls). This story felt like it became more about seeing what the author could make the protagonist endure. It's my first DNF this year!
Really interesting premise, but something got lost in the execution.
I loved the concept, the idea of "bad mothers" getting sent to a retraining facility.
What irked me was how repetitive some of it was. Other things that I would have loved to see more development for, such as how American parenting differs from Chinese parenting, were unfortunately just touched on, as were some of the themes on racism, or fathering vs mothering. Those are ideas I would have loved to read more on.
I loved the concept, the idea of "bad mothers" getting sent to a retraining facility.
What irked me was how repetitive some of it was. Other things that I would have loved to see more development for, such as how American parenting differs from Chinese parenting, were unfortunately just touched on, as were some of the themes on racism, or fathering vs mothering. Those are ideas I would have loved to read more on.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
I am not sure about the ending. The pacing at times was infuriating, likely more because of what the protagonist was going through rather than an issue with pacing. One feels immense amounts of frustration and infuriation on behalf of the protagonist. I think this piece of work really exemplifies the book “minor feelings”, just constant transgressions on so many different levels - that one isn’t sure if the protagonist really perseveres or how the story “resolves”. Sadly, I am sure many of the things in the book happen, if not worse within the systems of child family services etx.
It feels all too realistic in this dystopian Philadelphia.