Scan barcode
A review by kaylo88
The Illness Lesson by Clare Beams
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book might have had mixed reviews, but personally, I found it a great read. The plot was clever, it was extremely well written and the characters were mostly well-rounded, though I did find myself wishing that some of the female characters had been given more in-depth backstories.
The story centers around a man who, along with his daughter and a male acquaintance, establishes a radical new school for girls. The idea behind the school is to teach girls the same way as boys. At first, everything seems to be going smoothly, but soon the girls begin to fall ill, and strange things begin to happen at the same time as red birds start nesting at the school.
I must admit that I found the male characters to be utterly despicable. Samuel, the father and mastermind behind the school, starts off with good intentions, but as soon as things start to go wrong, he abandons the idea of women being just as capable as men. It's disheartening to see how quickly he reverts to old-fashioned ideas about women's capabilities. And it probably makes him even worse than his contemporaries since he is such a hypocrite.
Unfortunately, the book is a sobering reminder that the medical community has a long history of downplaying women's symptoms and dismissing their concerns. While the book is a work of fiction, it's clear that the themes it explores are still relevant today.
My only gripe with the book is that I found the ending to be somewhat unsatisfying. While I can't put my finger on exactly what I was hoping for, I felt like there were too many loose ends left untied. It left me wanting more, but not necessarily in a good way.
The story centers around a man who, along with his daughter and a male acquaintance, establishes a radical new school for girls. The idea behind the school is to teach girls the same way as boys. At first, everything seems to be going smoothly, but soon the girls begin to fall ill, and strange things begin to happen at the same time as red birds start nesting at the school.
I must admit that I found the male characters to be utterly despicable. Samuel, the father and mastermind behind the school, starts off with good intentions, but as soon as things start to go wrong, he abandons the idea of women being just as capable as men. It's disheartening to see how quickly he reverts to old-fashioned ideas about women's capabilities. And it probably makes him even worse than his contemporaries since he is such a hypocrite.
Unfortunately, the book is a sobering reminder that the medical community has a long history of downplaying women's symptoms and dismissing their concerns. While the book is a work of fiction, it's clear that the themes it explores are still relevant today.
My only gripe with the book is that I found the ending to be somewhat unsatisfying. While I can't put my finger on exactly what I was hoping for, I felt like there were too many loose ends left untied. It left me wanting more, but not necessarily in a good way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Misogyny