A review by fkshg8465
An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Tons of triggers to be aware of first. The summary is insufficient. There is a lot of sexual violence and PTSD. I don’t consider these spoilers, but women, especially, need to know these are a big part of the story before deciding if they are going to read it.

I’ve read Roxane Gay’s before. I know from her other books the traumas she’s shared, and the whole time, it felt like she might’ve been working through some of her own trauma. It was impossible to read the book without feeling compassion and sorrow for her. It was equal parts deeply emotionally brutal to read as well as beautiful to see how Mirielle mends her way back to life. And other than Michael, Glen, and Victor, I think I hated every man in the book. In the end, I closed the book full of hope for her (both Mirielle and for the author) and grateful to Lorraine and Mona.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings