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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
Thank you to Booklist for the ARC.
Dani Silver has recently moved back to her hometown and commits to her new role as a stay-at-home mom to daughter Lotte. But she soon starts to feel idle and worry about her husband, Clark—what if Clark died? What would Dani and Lotte do? Restless and uncertain, Dani searches for new meaning in her life. She rekindles relationships with the Normal Women, her childhood friends who are now all mothers too. She also meets Renata, the owner of a yoga studio called The Temple. Renata convinces Dani that her calling is to help people, which might include providing therapy through sex work. Dani is intrigued, but when Renata suddenly disappears, Dani’s fears of abandonment become reality. Hogarth (Motherthing, 2022) has a talent for writing depth and invoking lavish mental pictures, but in this instance, the anecdotes become repetitive, and the promised mystery is short lived. Dani can be unlikeable—wishy-washy, judgmental, and paranoid—but there are some positive nuggets too, such as the importance of self-care and much-needed support for mothers.— Carmen Clark Booklist 2023
Dani Silver has recently moved back to her hometown and commits to her new role as a stay-at-home mom to daughter Lotte. But she soon starts to feel idle and worry about her husband, Clark—what if Clark died? What would Dani and Lotte do? Restless and uncertain, Dani searches for new meaning in her life. She rekindles relationships with the Normal Women, her childhood friends who are now all mothers too. She also meets Renata, the owner of a yoga studio called The Temple. Renata convinces Dani that her calling is to help people, which might include providing therapy through sex work. Dani is intrigued, but when Renata suddenly disappears, Dani’s fears of abandonment become reality. Hogarth (Motherthing, 2022) has a talent for writing depth and invoking lavish mental pictures, but in this instance, the anecdotes become repetitive, and the promised mystery is short lived. Dani can be unlikeable—wishy-washy, judgmental, and paranoid—but there are some positive nuggets too, such as the importance of self-care and much-needed support for mothers.— Carmen Clark Booklist 2023
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