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A review by sarahholliday
Women Talking by Miriam Toews
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
In Women Talking, Miriam Toews has achieved some sort of alchemy.
The subject matter is dark and horrifying, yet the pages are filled with humor, tenderness, and resilience. It is a book about women, but we read all of their thoughts and words through the transcription of a man. By most standards, very little happens "on the page"—we spend two days in a hay loft with a group of women deciding whether they will stay in or leave their cloistered community. And yet, we get such an expansive look at their daily lives, their culture, and their personalities.
I read 135 pages in one sitting because the story drew me in immediately, and the simple, straightforward way August transcribes the meetings combined with his philosophical musings made the reading experience both quick and engaging.
If you can handle the heavy subject matter, I couldn't recommend this book enough.
The subject matter is dark and horrifying, yet the pages are filled with humor, tenderness, and resilience. It is a book about women, but we read all of their thoughts and words through the transcription of a man. By most standards, very little happens "on the page"—we spend two days in a hay loft with a group of women deciding whether they will stay in or leave their cloistered community. And yet, we get such an expansive look at their daily lives, their culture, and their personalities.
I read 135 pages in one sitting because the story drew me in immediately, and the simple, straightforward way August transcribes the meetings combined with his philosophical musings made the reading experience both quick and engaging.
If you can handle the heavy subject matter, I couldn't recommend this book enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse