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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This took me a loooooong time to read with multiple restarts. I just don’t know if I really understood it, to be honest. I think the commentary on sex work and women’s ownership of their bodies and their financial capital in life is really interesting. But Dani, as a character, was entirely too confusing for me. The ending felt unearned? Dani is just very unlikeable to me and for her to receive that ending just felt very dues-ex-machina. It felt a bit like the bottom fell out of the plot. Idk. I’ll have to keep thinking on it.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I didn’t really like MotherThing but I definitely like it way more than this one.
Her exploration of motherhood and the themes surrounding the female role in society are fantastic, but the plot is so odd. I found myself loving the start of a page, then going “huh?” by the end of the page
Interesting at the beginning, then got pretty dull and a not so great plot twist.
Tagged humor. Felt very relatable in the beginning. Then it went a bit off and stayed off.
ainslie writes a woman slowly losing it so so so well. loved "motherthing" & loved this one. exploring the stay at home mom trend from women's pov & the power dynamics in a marriage when only the husband works. also about the struggles & pressure around motherhood & all different types of work.
very well written & great character development.
very well written & great character development.
funny
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First of all, the story had some very interesting themes. There are some brilliant quotes in this book too. However, for some reason, it was not a page turner for me. I’d pick it up every so often over the span of six months. I feel like the themes were so large and the book moved so fast that I had to let each few pages simmer. I am very much a mood reader, and you have to be in just the right mood to pick it up. Anywho because it took me so long to get through, I couldn’t give this book four stars, but I did actually enjoy it.
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book explores the mundanity of being with someone, and is also kind of a feminist manifesto of sorts. This book explores themes of depression, as well as bringing to light and humanizing sex work and the deep, complicated paths of motherhood and navigating marriage
This book discussed the anxieties of mothering and finding yourself through your adult life, had a small bit of mystery, and then the ending just didn't match the rest of the book.Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration into defying "normal woman" and the feminist nature prior to the ending of the novel.
Loved!! It had a slow start, but once it picked up- it really picked up! I read other reviews and feel sad for the people who DNFd it, I think the end is well worth the beginning denser parts. As a SAHM, I could relate to a lot of the inner musings of Dani. I scoffed, laughed, snorted, and rolled my eyes at things Clark did, I got teary at how Dani thinks about her love of Lotte, and I sighed with jealousy at Dani finding inner peace outside of motherhood. Granted, very bizarre peace that she ended up almost going insane over, but inner peace and a sense of belonging nevertheless. I found it very entertaining that in the very end, she got exactly what she wanted: a name for her own, her own money, her potential fully realized, and all given to her on a silver platter by Clark! Her very own creature with pain! What I am confused about is how Clark initially heard of The Temple and how he thought it would be successful enough to bring in a lot of money for him. I also didn't understand the Haley plotline. It wasn't brought up until the middle of the book, despite it being something Dani finds earth-shattering and deeply upsetting, something she carries with her to this very day. I think a theme or a deeper meaning just went over my head with that. Great book. I love Hogarth's writing style! This was very different than Motherthing, as well, but in a way that I really appreciated! I don't want to read the exact same thing from the same author over and over again.