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A review by secre
Mothered by Zoje Stage
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Mothered is one of those novels that has a good premise, but falls apart somewhat in the execution. Despite being only around 300 pages, it felt much longer and dragged badly at points. Part of this is almost certainly deliberate and is meant to convey the lockdown syndrome of people going stir crazy at home with nothing to do and no-one to see. But it also makes the novel hard work to read.
I think part of the problem is that the author relies heavily on dream style sequences, so you aren't quite sure what's real and what's imagined. When combined with the claustrophobic nature of the novel and the fact that it feels like it's running in circles, the novel just doesn't go anywhere fast. Stage does build up the creepiness factor well, but it's at the expense of actual plot and substance.
There are some interesting backstories being explored here, particularly that of Grace and her disabled sister. But it felt like too little and too late to really save the book from mediocrity. All in all, a bit of a disappointment and one I finished for the sake of it rather than actively enjoying.
I think part of the problem is that the author relies heavily on dream style sequences, so you aren't quite sure what's real and what's imagined. When combined with the claustrophobic nature of the novel and the fact that it feels like it's running in circles, the novel just doesn't go anywhere fast. Stage does build up the creepiness factor well, but it's at the expense of actual plot and substance.
There are some interesting backstories being explored here, particularly that of Grace and her disabled sister. But it felt like too little and too late to really save the book from mediocrity. All in all, a bit of a disappointment and one I finished for the sake of it rather than actively enjoying.