Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is provoking, exasperating, arresting, philosophical, existential, humanistic and very moving. It asks the questions of what might a woman become when she’s stripped to the core; what might a woman be like under the conditions of having no culture, no knowledge, no physical interaction, and living in isolation; what does it mean to be a human when everything is stripped away. The main character tells the story from her, first person, point of view. We experience the journey with her. We feel her confusion, loneliness, grief, understanding, hope, uncertainty, love, pride, acceptance, giddiness, pain and resignation. The reader is completely immersed in the main character’s experiences. There are so many questions, right from the very beginning, and nothing is known, by the characters or the reader. Nothing is ever explained. We, in fact, are left with the very same questions, along with a few more, by the end of the book. But I don’t think anything needs to be explained - the beauty, power and significance of this story is in its ambiguities. The vibes of this story are very Dali-esque. While most of the book is very bleak, there is also an undercurrent of the hope and resilience of humanity that lifts the story up and keeps you reading. This is not a book that allows for a passive reading experience. As a reader, following along with the main character, you are forced to be an active participant continually reflecting on themes of cruelty, human nature, capitalism, femininity, etc. I was surprised at how much my emotions matched those of the characters while I was reading. The audiobook narrator was wonderful. I really enjoyed the overall experience of reading this book.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, Dementia, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation