Reviews

I finished The Mothers earlier this week and I'm still wavering between rating four and five stars. And I say that as a good thing! Typically I'd rate a story such as this four stars if I enjoyed the experience. Because...it is somewhat familiar territory. However! Brit Bennett finds some real moments of depth that make the characters and story touching and memorable. Most of all, Bennett's debut novel tackles issues like abortion from multiple points of complicated emotion without judgment. I say that's impressive. And I'll definitely be looking out for Bennett's next work.

773victoria's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

pikkumarja's review against another edition

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challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Äidit on koskettava kertomus kasvukivuista, ihmissuhteista ja yhteisöstä, jossa on välillä liian vaikea olla. Kirja seuraa kolmen nuoren elämää teini-iästä aikuisuuteen ja näiden kolmen nuoren ihmissuhteet ovat melko sotkuisia. Yksi on seurakunnan pastorin poika, yhden äiti on tehnyt itsemurhan vähän aikaa sitten ja yksi on paennut äitiään ja tämän miesystävää siskonsa luokse. Kaikkien elämä kietoutuu Upper Room -kirkon ympärille.

Nuoruudessa tapahtuu asia, jonka salailu ja jälkipyykki muuttaa kaikkien elämän lopullisesti. Ahtaat näkemykset kävivät välillä lähes raivostuttaviksi varsinkin kirkkoäitien näkökulmaa lukiessa. Kirja käsittelee ihmissuhteiden lisäksi hieman myös esimerkiksi uskontoa ja rasismia, mutta nämä ovat sivuteemoja kirjassa.

Alussa kirjaan uppoutuminen oli vaikeaa, mutta uskon, että tästä kirjasta saattaa vielä joskus tulla klassikko.

Content Warnings

julianananana's review against another edition

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3.0

I lent this book to a friend before I read it, and when he finished he told me "Nothing really happened the whole book" and I thought, "No way, you just didn't read it the right way 🙄" Then I read the book and I gotta say...nothing really happens the whole book 💀

What I liked about this book is not the story itself or even really the characters, but Brit Bennett's style of writing that is so well paced, that weaves each characters perspective so softly and seamlessly, a story that unravels with no drama or heightened emotions but instead a steady, level-headed consistence. Her writing style is stable and comforting.

jreading's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

sarah_in_scotland's review against another edition

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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

4.25

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