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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
dark
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a really hard book to rate. On one hand, I thought it was an incredibly insightful and viscerally honest exploration of motherhood and womanhood. The language was so evocative and often like, kind of gross? In a way that really brought the viewpoint of this woman to life.
On the other hand, the wheels entirely came off in the second half. The ending was very unsatisfying, and I found myself getting tired of Danis endless back and forth of "my husband is wonderful, my husband is terrible". At the beginning I found that really interesting and probably very close to the experience of being a new mother, but it got very repetitive.
It somehow felt like the author had too many ideas? Like she couldn't quite decide what she wanted the book to be... And in the end, unfortunately that made it feel like it wasn't meaningful at all?
Overall, a strong start, but fell off the edge which is a shame.
On the other hand, the wheels entirely came off in the second half. The ending was very unsatisfying, and I found myself getting tired of Danis endless back and forth of "my husband is wonderful, my husband is terrible". At the beginning I found that really interesting and probably very close to the experience of being a new mother, but it got very repetitive.
It somehow felt like the author had too many ideas? Like she couldn't quite decide what she wanted the book to be... And in the end, unfortunately that made it feel like it wasn't meaningful at all?
Overall, a strong start, but fell off the edge which is a shame.
dark
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know. I hated the ending. Loved the journey.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
medium-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
dnf halfway through couldn’t focus and nothing was happening but not in an interesting way, could maybe come back to it later but idk
was it the best book i've ever read? no. would i consider it an incredibly important feminist work? no, probably not. however, normal women does do a good job when it comes to taking liberal/tiktok/pop-feminist talking points and just showcase how absolutely brainrottingly dumb they are. can every #girlboss read this book like right now? please
funny
medium-paced
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't understand the sweeping criticism of this book, especially for those who enjoyed Motherthing. Stylistically and tonally, it's consistent with Hogarth's other works. It delivers well on its promise of being darkly witty, subversive, and biting. It makes explicit the connection between women's paid and unpaid labor and is a hilarious send-up to gendered expectations surrounding appearance, motherhood, and societal value. The real issue is the synopsis of the book which does it a disservice by centering around the supposed mystery of a missing person, making readers feel dissatisfied by its conclusion when that subplot isn't really the point of the book.