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A review by zenzi2read
My Mother's House by Francesca Momplaisir
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The publisher of this story compares it to Toni Morrison’s the Bluest Eye and I disagree.
First of all, this is extreme horror. The sexual. violence is explicit and exists in every chapter. I don’t feel like the characters are developed enough to set this title in the literature or literary horror category.
The main character is irredeemably depraved. We spend far too much time in his mind and reveling in his exploits. I wish we had spent more time with the spirit of the house or Lucien’s victims.
The author also decides to deliver the chapters stream of consciousness style. The more disturbed the character is the more fractured the writing is. It made the narrative difficult to follow.
Ultimately my goal was to get to know these women and their backgrounds and their personalities. Their narratives just weren’t reflective enough to achieve that.
I could see a comparison to beloved being made here. You have a house with a spirit seeking revenge on his occupants. But this is no beloved.
First of all, this is extreme horror. The sexual. violence is explicit and exists in every chapter. I don’t feel like the characters are developed enough to set this title in the literature or literary horror category.
The main character is irredeemably depraved. We spend far too much time in his mind and reveling in his exploits. I wish we had spent more time with the spirit of the house or Lucien’s victims.
The author also decides to deliver the chapters stream of consciousness style. The more disturbed the character is the more fractured the writing is. It made the narrative difficult to follow.
Ultimately my goal was to get to know these women and their backgrounds and their personalities. Their narratives just weren’t reflective enough to achieve that.
I could see a comparison to beloved being made here. You have a house with a spirit seeking revenge on his occupants. But this is no beloved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping