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A review by vikreadstons
Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book was challenging. TW: animal harm and death.
On one hand, it’s a good, thrilling story that takes you on this journey. Estella, a maid is talking to us, an unnamed audience on the other side of mirrored glass about her experience working for a family. The daughter drowns, and we meet Estella after the fact as she tells her story. It covers issues of class, service work, poverty, family dynamics and secrets. You fall into this rabbit hole with all its twists and turns and get sucked into the story. It feels like a descent into madness.
On the other, the way the on page animal abuse and deaths are treated as a mechanic to move the plot along is unfortunate and took me out of the story. Especially because of how gruesome it is. I never feel like these scenes are necessary.
On one hand, it’s a good, thrilling story that takes you on this journey. Estella, a maid is talking to us, an unnamed audience on the other side of mirrored glass about her experience working for a family. The daughter drowns, and we meet Estella after the fact as she tells her story. It covers issues of class, service work, poverty, family dynamics and secrets. You fall into this rabbit hole with all its twists and turns and get sucked into the story. It feels like a descent into madness.
On the other, the way the on page animal abuse and deaths are treated as a mechanic to move the plot along is unfortunate and took me out of the story. Especially because of how gruesome it is. I never feel like these scenes are necessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Classism