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A review by holmesstorybooks
The Pregnant Widow by Martin Amis
2.0
I read this when I was younger, and I loved it. I loved the atmosphere and the gradual unfurling of the plot and some of the character arcs. If I had rated it back in the day, I might've given it 4 of 5 stars.
But now, Martin Amis and I have a complex relationship. I was so perplexed when people would say that they didn't like him as a writer.
Despite the fact that he's a really good writer, I don't like or necessarily agree with the way he often writes female characters anymore. His representation of women can be quite problematic and not entirely fully-formed.
He writes in a world all entirely his own, where women act or react a certain way, and men are allowed to explore themselves and their sexual fantasies or obsessions without any great repercussions, (particularly in this book).
I think my reading tastes have just changed in the past few years since I read this book last. There's something I just can't quite put my finger on that bothers me about this book.
I wouldn't read it again, but I might read more of Amis' work in the future (though a lot more critically).
(Oh, I think there's a trigger warning for a non-consensual scene involving some sort of date-rape drug, so be careful there.)
But now, Martin Amis and I have a complex relationship. I was so perplexed when people would say that they didn't like him as a writer.
Despite the fact that he's a really good writer, I don't like or necessarily agree with the way he often writes female characters anymore. His representation of women can be quite problematic and not entirely fully-formed.
He writes in a world all entirely his own, where women act or react a certain way, and men are allowed to explore themselves and their sexual fantasies or obsessions without any great repercussions, (particularly in this book).
I think my reading tastes have just changed in the past few years since I read this book last. There's something I just can't quite put my finger on that bothers me about this book.
I wouldn't read it again, but I might read more of Amis' work in the future (though a lot more critically).
(Oh, I think there's a trigger warning for a non-consensual scene involving some sort of date-rape drug, so be careful there.)