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nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Six months after the gruesome suicide of her mother, Nadia is processing her grief by isolating herself from her friends, her church, her father, instead finding comfort in the sensation of anonymous bodies pressing against hers and imbibing alcohol. Secretly, she develops a relationship with the pastor's son, Luke, who was recently forced to abandon his college football career due to a debilitating injury. When Nadia becomes pregnant, she is wrenched back into reality, considering her conceptions of motherhood and what it means to love and be loved. Nadia slowly develops a friendship with born-again church girl Aubrey, and it is fascinating to watch her deliberate her actions and exhibit greater empathy over the course of the novel.
The first-person plural narration by "the mothers," the female church elders, establishes a sense of nostalgia and spirituality in the novel, and I loved all of their gossipy interjections. Bennett demonstrates a mastery of description, adding details about each character without getting bogged down in adjectives, and every character comes to life on the page. The development of the plot was predictable, yet still engaging with an overarching intrigue that propelled the story forward even when not much was happening at all.
The first-person plural narration by "the mothers," the female church elders, establishes a sense of nostalgia and spirituality in the novel, and I loved all of their gossipy interjections. Bennett demonstrates a mastery of description, adding details about each character without getting bogged down in adjectives, and every character comes to life on the page. The development of the plot was predictable, yet still engaging with an overarching intrigue that propelled the story forward even when not much was happening at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
allyjshand's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Such a complex character-driven novel. Bennett has a talent of making you simultaneously love and hate a character. Would have loved to have delved further into some of the characters’ pasts and family relationships.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
jowould's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Rape
Moderate: Abortion
thatbookbinch's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Rape, and Sexual assault
laurataylor's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Violence, and War
Minor: Racism
rbudd24's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Rape
frenchbooknerd's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I picked this up because I absolutely adored The Vanishing Half and I was very curious to read something else by the author.
I loved the writing and the narration, I loved how the points of view shift but in a way that is so subtle that you almost don't notice without being confusing. I loved how the characters were developed and how I could picture it all. And I loved this idea of "the Mothers" as those exterior unreliable narrators who are still very much part of the setting and the story.
That said, as I was reading it, I grew more and more uncomfortable and I wasn't sure why at first but by the end I figured it out. This book feels like it's giving a very "pro-life" - I'm putting that in brackets because I don't believe that putting the existence of a cluster of cells before the actual life of a woman is actually pro life but that's my opinion - message. If you've had an abortion, this book can be triggering. This may not be on purpose but it still made the whole reading experience difficult for me.
I loved the writing and the narration, I loved how the points of view shift but in a way that is so subtle that you almost don't notice without being confusing. I loved how the characters were developed and how I could picture it all. And I loved this idea of "the Mothers" as those exterior unreliable narrators who are still very much part of the setting and the story.
That said, as I was reading it, I grew more and more uncomfortable and I wasn't sure why at first but by the end I figured it out. This book feels like it's giving a very "pro-life" - I'm putting that in brackets because I don't believe that putting the existence of a cluster of cells before the actual life of a woman is actually pro life but that's my opinion - message. If you've had an abortion, this book can be triggering. This may not be on purpose but it still made the whole reading experience difficult for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion and Rape
urbanall's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Rape, Abandonment, and Infertility
rbacon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
At points, I related to different characters. Elements of themselves I see in who I am. The Mothers are like an ever-present force and are so articulately displayed exactly like the church Mothers (and Grandmothers) I have known. I both hope one day to be one, know myself to already be one, and hope never to be like them. It's an odd sense of familiarity and love, whilst with that honest disdain at how churches can be self-destructive and fail to protect those they love the most.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Rape, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Racial slurs
Minor: Death of parent, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
merin_aran's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I was really not a fan of this book and felt very disappointed having read it after loving The Vanishing Half. There's no doubt that Brit Bennett can write well, however I didn't find the characters compelling and the plot lacked adequate depth.
Initially I thought the discussion of abortion was going to be progressive and nuanced, with both sides of the debate explored. However, this book is plain and simply anti-abortion and pro-life propaganda. Additionally I didn't like the way Bennett dealt with Nadia's mother's story; I felt like mental illness and suicide were vilified throughout. I will not be recommending this book to anyone.
Initially I thought the discussion of abortion was going to be progressive and nuanced, with both sides of the debate explored. However, this book is plain and simply anti-abortion and pro-life propaganda. Additionally I didn't like the way Bennett dealt with Nadia's mother's story; I felt like mental illness and suicide were vilified throughout. I will not be recommending this book to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Infertility, Abandonment, Child abuse, Suicide, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Rape