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A review by paulap
La hija única by Guadalupe Nettel
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a heart wrenching account of motherhood. I like how nuance it is. There are three main characters that are connected through the characteristics of life: Laura is the narrator, and she sterilized herself because she knew she did not want children, but she does not hate them either; Alina is her fried, and originally didn’t want children, but changed her mind and struggles with infertility and then with a malformation on her newborn that will kill the baby when it’s born; and Doris, Laura’s neighbor, who has a 8 year old boy that struggles with behavior because of his abusive father.
This is not a book about how great having children is, or how they reduce and limit their mothers live, but how both things exists and how anyone can be thankful and reject children depending on the situation.
There is also a lot of emotional connection. In the parts about the diagnosis of the newborn, I felt a knot in my throat because of all the baggage.
One small aspect that felt a bit forced is the parallels that the book tries to make with certain pigeons in Laura’s roof and the situation with both of the children in the book.
Overall I really enjoyed and made an emotional impact on me.
This is not a book about how great having children is, or how they reduce and limit their mothers live, but how both things exists and how anyone can be thankful and reject children depending on the situation.
There is also a lot of emotional connection. In the parts about the diagnosis of the newborn, I felt a knot in my throat because of all the baggage.
One small aspect that felt a bit forced is the parallels that the book tries to make with certain pigeons in Laura’s roof and the situation with both of the children in the book.
Overall I really enjoyed and made an emotional impact on me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness