A review by brb_reads
An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

4.0

I just read a review where someone said they were emotionally wrecked after reading this book and I believe that pretty much sums it up. This is not an easy read and definitely not recommended for everyone. The sense of hopelessness was strong throughout and sometimes that is hard to read about page after page but I didn’t want to put it down. There are parts I will not be able to forget about this book. One part in particular is the eventual relationship between Michael’s mother and Miri which is basically forced to form while his mother is sick and Michael cannot go back due to work to help his ailing mother. I don’t know why but it made me happy that when she ran away from home that’s where she ended up. She needed a parental figure and her parents were very clearly out of the question (and for good reason, I think) and she found that in Lorraine. This won’t end up on my favorites list this year but I definitely think it’s worth the read. Just know going in that it will weigh heavily on you, or at least it did (and likely will for a little while) for me.