poorlywordedbookreviews 's review for:

Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy

3.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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A story about motherhood to small babies and toddlers, that’s beautifully written - and one that, on some level, will be relatable to every mother. Reading it as a childless women or a man would be equally compelling, is it offers an important insight into the struggles many women face adjusting to such a seismic life change. 

   

That said, I wanted to love it more, but it feels like a great book that just jarred with me. My experience of first time early motherhood was very different to this, when taken in as a whole. And I personally was endlessly frustrated by the husband character here - not that he’s not completely genuine feeling - but because I cannot fathom the absolute tools some women choose to procreate with, and continue to tolerate long after the scales drop from their eyes. The husband here is almost redeemable, understandable, and I think I would have loved it more over all if he was, flawed but trying (but that scene when the baby is ill in the night? Fuck no.). As it stands, my abject rage at the lack of support the mother gets distracted me from truly appreciating the other aspects.

    

Fully recommend if you’re thinking of having kids though…Better to go in eyes wide open to what it can really look like in the trenches.