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A review by wait_whoissheagain
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a story about love, grief, joy and (my personal favourite) female rage. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions and I absolutely loved it! One minute I was feeling all the anger that the characters were, and the next, I was crying right alongside them.
I really felt for Alex, the main character, because she was truly dealt some rough hands in her life. I loved her anger, but was disappointed that she never got to fully express it because she was worried about being ‘impolite’. I feel like she never received the apology or recognition she deserved from the adults that let her down, and it was maddening to me! I also found her naivety towards the events of the book a little annoying, but then I reminded myself that the events of the book take place during her childhood, and so of course she believed what the adults she trusted told her at such a young age.
I loved the relationship between Alex and Beatrice! It was heartwarming and endearing, and I understand Alex’s feelings towards Beatrice’s choices, considering everything they had already been through. Alex was still a child herself and was experiencing in incredible amount of grief in a world that had mostly written her off. I was very happy with the end of their story.
This book is so different to books I would normally choose. While I am aware that this story is from the perspective of a fairly stereotypical 1950s woman, it told a unique story of heartbreak, joy and (most importantly) love. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I really felt for Alex, the main character, because she was truly dealt some rough hands in her life. I loved her anger, but was disappointed that she never got to fully express it because she was worried about being ‘impolite’. I feel like she never received the apology or recognition she deserved from the adults that let her down, and it was maddening to me! I also found her naivety towards the events of the book a little annoying, but then I reminded myself that the events of the book take place during her childhood, and so of course she believed what the adults she trusted told her at such a young age.
I loved the relationship between Alex and Beatrice! It was heartwarming and endearing, and I understand Alex’s feelings towards Beatrice’s choices, considering everything they had already been through. Alex was still a child herself and was experiencing in incredible amount of grief in a world that had mostly written her off. I was very happy with the end of their story.
This book is so different to books I would normally choose. While I am aware that this story is from the perspective of a fairly stereotypical 1950s woman, it told a unique story of heartbreak, joy and (most importantly) love. I thoroughly enjoyed it.