Scan barcode
fontrue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
myriadreads's review against another edition
4.0
Very, very dark and disturbing. Well-written and gripping, but unsettling.
em_harring's review against another edition
4.0
Per FTC guidelines: I received a digital copy of this book from Edelweiss for review; I'm not being paid for said review.
Fig follows the main character, Fig (or Fiona), through years six to seventeen. The novel chronicles Fig's desire to fix, and later care for, her schizophrenic mother. It's a heart wrenching novel about family, love, and growing up.
Fig is definitely a character novel. The plot is about the characters and how the progression of her mother's diseases affects young Fig's mental outlook on her own purpose and life. Fig's voice is great throughout the entire piece. Schantz captures the innocence and tone of youth, so Fig doesn't sound too cliche or overdone. She's a great character, and oftentimes the novel felt more like a memoir than a fictionalized story. That's how real Schantz made Fig and her family. And the novel does a wonderful job at portraying relationships between a daughter and her mother/father. I cared deeply for the family, and sometimes that's a hard thing to achieve.
I also thought that Schantz wrote about metal illness well. She portrayed the way to affects both the person who has the illness and the family, while making sure to stress how much of a disease it is without just painting the mother as 'crazy.' The degradation of the mother as the disease worsens is heartbreaking, and seeing Fig try to deal with it and fix it is equally as heartbreaking.
What helps the novel and drew me in off the bat was Schantz's writing. It's, at times, lyrical and poetic and awfully beautiful. She paints Fig's environment in such a whimsical way, it makes certain scenes shrouded in a dream like atmosphere.
I just really loved this book. I didn't much care for the last chapter, because it felt slightly out of character for everyone, but, the rest of the story is well executed. I highly recommend it.
Fig follows the main character, Fig (or Fiona), through years six to seventeen. The novel chronicles Fig's desire to fix, and later care for, her schizophrenic mother. It's a heart wrenching novel about family, love, and growing up.
Fig is definitely a character novel. The plot is about the characters and how the progression of her mother's diseases affects young Fig's mental outlook on her own purpose and life. Fig's voice is great throughout the entire piece. Schantz captures the innocence and tone of youth, so Fig doesn't sound too cliche or overdone. She's a great character, and oftentimes the novel felt more like a memoir than a fictionalized story. That's how real Schantz made Fig and her family. And the novel does a wonderful job at portraying relationships between a daughter and her mother/father. I cared deeply for the family, and sometimes that's a hard thing to achieve.
I also thought that Schantz wrote about metal illness well. She portrayed the way to affects both the person who has the illness and the family, while making sure to stress how much of a disease it is without just painting the mother as 'crazy.' The degradation of the mother as the disease worsens is heartbreaking, and seeing Fig try to deal with it and fix it is equally as heartbreaking.
What helps the novel and drew me in off the bat was Schantz's writing. It's, at times, lyrical and poetic and awfully beautiful. She paints Fig's environment in such a whimsical way, it makes certain scenes shrouded in a dream like atmosphere.
I just really loved this book. I didn't much care for the last chapter, because it felt slightly out of character for everyone, but, the rest of the story is well executed. I highly recommend it.
vivaloops's review against another edition
5.0
This has to be one of the most memorable books I have ever read. I first read it when it came out in 2015, and Fig's lonely, devastating world has stuck with me ever since. I've now re-read it 3 times!!
jaxyway's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
Beautiful, heartbreaking, haunting and poignant? Maybe, but lackluster, unsatisfying ending also applies.
Beautiful, heartbreaking, haunting and poignant? Maybe, but lackluster, unsatisfying ending also applies.
jam143's review against another edition
4.0
4.4
Plot was a bit messy, but it was eye opening to read about how the protagonist handled her mother's battle with mental illness.
Plot was a bit messy, but it was eye opening to read about how the protagonist handled her mother's battle with mental illness.
trishnouvelle's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf
I don't hate the book, I don't think its not good either. Its just too long winded for me.
It's from first person pov, she's just telling the whole thing. The events themselves are intriguing but the way it's told just puts me off. It's consistent in staying in character but it gets tiring.
She. Never. Uses. Pronouns. Everytime she wants to mention someone she's gonna use their name, again and again. It just gets so tiring to read each sentence that's obviously about this person but she has to bring up their 3 syllable name when "she" is sufficient.
Because it's so long winded, it hardly kept my attention and I realised, yea I'm not getting through this.
I don't hate the book, I don't think its not good either. Its just too long winded for me.
It's from first person pov, she's just telling the whole thing. The events themselves are intriguing but the way it's told just puts me off. It's consistent in staying in character but it gets tiring.
She. Never. Uses. Pronouns. Everytime she wants to mention someone she's gonna use their name, again and again. It just gets so tiring to read each sentence that's obviously about this person but she has to bring up their 3 syllable name when "she" is sufficient.
Because it's so long winded, it hardly kept my attention and I realised, yea I'm not getting through this.
alyssacrystal's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't review this after I read it, so it's not fresh in my mind right now, but I do believe if you love to hate a book, one that gives you not-great-feelings, but you want to hope your way through it, then this is a good book for you.
nightmare_nini's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book hit home for me, I grew up in a simular situation and it really touched me. I smiled, I cried and now that I've finished it I can't help but feel a sense of personal closure. I loved every page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis