A review by harrimyers
Disobedience by Naomi Alderman

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

the movie is one of my favourite films ever so I thought id give the book a go. i was pleasantly surprised by it! i thought the writing style was definitely interesting if a bit confusing and half-finished at times. i think it could probably have had a few more passes. the writing overall was quite beautiful but I think the philosophical discussions were a bit heavy handed at times though I did appreciate how they directly tied into what esti was thinking. as for characters, I have to admit that I'm torn between the movie and the books for which I like best. ik that some are more of a fan of ronit in the movie (i mean, its rachel weisz c'mon now) but i actually really loved her book version.

i kind of liked that her entire inner monologue surrounded therapy and growth but that she was actually a bit nasty? in the movie she was definitely easier to get on with and more artsy, but her book adaptation is Interesting. shes not cut and dry and she makes some insane choices that were fun to actually read. esti was a different matter, i was honestly a little put off with her at the start but i loved her progress through the book. the ending is. idk. the movie ending is the better one in my eyes but i can see the beauty in it despite the oddness. i adored esti and dovid. i really did i thought it was such an interesting relationship and i get all of their choices. “It is a terrible, wretched thing to love someone whom you know cannot love you. There are things that are more dreadful. There are many human pains more grievous. And yet it remains both terrible and wretched. Like so many things, it is insoluble.” i think the fact that esti came out how she did sort of, undermined what it was trying to say? despite the fact that the book was advocating for being vocal, esti's coming out didn't even read as an action that she would take. it was too sudden. i think that it was necessary for the books central thesis but i wish it had been more slow burn, esti was such a quiet character who could be very suddenly decisive like with ronit, but i almost wish we could've seen her really take this into her own hands. also this was one of the only books that i have ever seen discuss grief in a way that was relatable. ronit and her father being estranged and her awful complicated emotions that she wished she could get rid of were just. so relatable. “My hand found the kitchen light switch before I could remember that I might not know where it was.” this quote about never really losing the parts of your past is just. ahahhahadhasd. i cant find the quote that made me go Ough but ill add it when i get to my book