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chris_tyson's review
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
apjck20's review
3.0
motherhood is fucking complicated as fuck, especially if you are not even a mother.
flamesjoyce's review
reflective
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
2.0
If Otessa Moshfegh was manic instead of depressive.
The book has a really strong premise (how does a woman recover from accidentally killing her friend's baby) which sets the stage for what promises to be a slightly dark and reflective exploration of the psyche in A24-style. However, I found that it doesn't go anywhere with this other than emulate it, mainly remaining at the level of caricature character sketches that give insight into an overeducated academic elite more than anything else. It's short length is not made use of creatively, leaving the reader pretty much where they were found. It does contain some really beautiful imagery (tapioca pearl ova, squished-spider star charts). In the end it seems to ultimately be about the relationship with her husband-of-convenience, which until that point was largely peripheral to her relationship with a matronly masseuse. Perhaps I missed the point. It's short enough for you to find out yourself.
The book has a really strong premise (how does a woman recover from accidentally killing her friend's baby) which sets the stage for what promises to be a slightly dark and reflective exploration of the psyche in A24-style. However, I found that it doesn't go anywhere with this other than emulate it, mainly remaining at the level of caricature character sketches that give insight into an overeducated academic elite more than anything else. It's short length is not made use of creatively, leaving the reader pretty much where they were found. It does contain some really beautiful imagery (tapioca pearl ova, squished-spider star charts). In the end it seems to ultimately be about the relationship with her husband-of-convenience, which until that point was largely peripheral to her relationship with a matronly masseuse. Perhaps I missed the point. It's short enough for you to find out yourself.
piggyreadsbooks's review
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
montescrito's review
3.0
3.5 stars
i read a spanish translation of this story and now reading other reviews it must've given a different vibe to the book. i actually enjoyed this. author uses some elements from the genre that i don't usually connect with, but because of the topic i deliberately dived in and made meaning of every fragment.
i read a spanish translation of this story and now reading other reviews it must've given a different vibe to the book. i actually enjoyed this. author uses some elements from the genre that i don't usually connect with, but because of the topic i deliberately dived in and made meaning of every fragment.
charlotte_literat's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
3.25 ⭐️ it was a bit of a random one to be honest. Crazy entry to the story and then several random weeks in an Italian villa but I did still enjoy the imagery and the atmosphere though I still don’t fully know what the book is about. Maybe that is the point though.