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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Offers some v good perspective on this issue I otherwise might not have considered.
Returned to lib, never got around to re-loaning it
This is a really interesting, character-driven story nestled right in the center of the abortion debate. The main protagonist, Claudia, is a counselor at an abortion clinic. This book captures the desperate need for women to have control over their bodies (and the humanity it grants them), while highlighting the abrasive, overwhelming force of resistance against this idea.
The misogyny and conspiratorial-thinking found in some of the characters is just absurd enough to be believable. It’s astounding in the same way as reading misogynistic hate comments on the internet; the hate is nonsensical and runs deep. The plot itself is quite interesting and minimal. The story is mostly driven by character-development, and the anticipation comes from waiting to see if and how the characters’ lives will finally intersect.
To me, this one felt a bit like a slow burn. Lots of descriptions of Boston, back-stories, and motivations. Just when I felt like it was starting to get boring, it picked up, and I finished the rest quickly.
Overall, a solid read. Especially if you’re looking to fiction to learn more about pro-choice views. But it can feel a bit heavy, just given the state of the world and how true it rings. A few lines had me chuckling. Check this one out!
The misogyny and conspiratorial-thinking found in some of the characters is just absurd enough to be believable. It’s astounding in the same way as reading misogynistic hate comments on the internet; the hate is nonsensical and runs deep. The plot itself is quite interesting and minimal. The story is mostly driven by character-development, and the anticipation comes from waiting to see if and how the characters’ lives will finally intersect.
To me, this one felt a bit like a slow burn. Lots of descriptions of Boston, back-stories, and motivations. Just when I felt like it was starting to get boring, it picked up, and I finished the rest quickly.
Overall, a solid read. Especially if you’re looking to fiction to learn more about pro-choice views. But it can feel a bit heavy, just given the state of the world and how true it rings. A few lines had me chuckling. Check this one out!
Claudia works at a women's clinic in Boston where she runs a hotline for pregnant women. She has spent a lifetime trying to avoid going what her mom had done. Timmy is her weed dealer who she turns to to help with her insomnia and anxiety. Victor is retired and is a fervent racist who believes white women should carry babies to term to help the white race. Anthony suffers from headaches from a long ago accident and Timmy is also his dealer. Anthony also supplies Victor with pictures of women who go to the Mercy Street clinic. Victor's website is called the Hall of Shame.
Claudia pops onto Victor's line of sight because of the pictures, and Victor makes a trek to Boston to find her. Meanwhile Timmy is busted in Georgia with weed (he wanted one last big run to start a legitimate business) Anthony is fingered for taking pictures and stops. Claudia pregnant at 43 by Timmy after a one-night stand and carries to term. Victor is in a car accident in the Berkshires and left in a wheelchair.
Good lead up. I really thought it would be a bigger blow out in the end. A little weird with Claudia thinking her daughter is a miniature mom (Deb) inside of her.
Claudia pops onto Victor's line of sight because of the pictures, and Victor makes a trek to Boston to find her. Meanwhile Timmy is busted in Georgia with weed (he wanted one last big run to start a legitimate business) Anthony is fingered for taking pictures and stops. Claudia pregnant at 43 by Timmy after a one-night stand and carries to term. Victor is in a car accident in the Berkshires and left in a wheelchair.
Good lead up. I really thought it would be a bigger blow out in the end. A little weird with Claudia thinking her daughter is a miniature mom (Deb) inside of her.
Solid and enjoyable read but it was almost like character vignettes linked together. And I felt like the character development did not go deep enough.
Thank you to Libro.fm and the publisher for an audio ARC of this title.
This was the first book by Jennifer Haigh that I have read, and I look forward to reading more! Not all of the characters are likable, but I suspect that is part of the point. Seeing the different perspectives through each character’s eyes and experiences, and learning why they hold the beliefs and opinions they do is a powerful thing. Haigh did an excellent job developing the various characters, as well as highlighting some major issues in society, including abortion, poverty, race, religion. While the book wasn’t what I was expecting, I enjoyed reading it.
This was the first book by Jennifer Haigh that I have read, and I look forward to reading more! Not all of the characters are likable, but I suspect that is part of the point. Seeing the different perspectives through each character’s eyes and experiences, and learning why they hold the beliefs and opinions they do is a powerful thing. Haigh did an excellent job developing the various characters, as well as highlighting some major issues in society, including abortion, poverty, race, religion. While the book wasn’t what I was expecting, I enjoyed reading it.
There were portions and lines of this book that were very hard hitting on the reality of living in this country as a woman, which I liked thinking about and talking with those around me about. However, the deep dive into the protestors around abortion clinics/those who worked there fell flat for me. Overall a solid read