A review by mcrespo
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

i love and appreciate nightbitch's descent into madness and the power of female rage displayed in this novel. yoder's language is visceral, and the way that she links birth and motherhood to depictions of gore and brutality is very purposeful and powerful. at this novel's core, it is one mother's descent into madness, desire for community and support,  the embrace of female rage, and reverting to a feral state as nightbitch evolves from a depressed and frenzied housewife to an animal or monster who defends her child with her teeth and demands more from the world. one of the highlights of this novel is the way yoder critiques capitalism, and displays the way that capitalism disrupts the natural order by isolating mothers and preying on their need for support, self-reliance, and financial stability. unfortunately, this book falls short in the end for me. the relationship between nightbitch and white, the author of the field guide, is one big question mark, and it doesn't seem to conclude neatly or in a way that made a significant impression on me as a reader. overall, this nature of the novel felt repetitive, and if there were less descriptions of the mother's animal-like care taking of her child and more emphasis on this motif of the field guide and nightbitch's relationship to the author of the field guide, this may have made more of an impact on readers overall.  
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