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A review by bunnipdf
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This is NOT spoiler free
Consider this review as more of a warning? There’s outright zionism in this book. Even though the protagonist criticizes zionism, it’s still hard to read. It’s an ongoing conversation throughout the novel and truthfully, though it’s an important conversation to have, I don’t believe it was appropriate considering the tone of this novel.
Second, the fatphobia and the fetishizing of fat women was disturbing. You might think it innocent at first, but as the relationship between Rachel and Miriam progresses, you realize that Rachel is a fatphobe. She presses Miriam’s physical and religious boundaries, she describes her body in odd, consumable ways, and at one point she intentionally dresses to remind Miriam of her thinness. She’s fucking mean. Rachel uses Miriam to liberate herself and by the end I just feel bad for Miriam. Rachel writes her off after their breakup, just assuming that Miriam is at least content when they see each other again. Fuck that.
And finally, I know it’s called “Milk Fed” but… that was a lot of incest. Or implied incest. I can’t even describe it.
Funny sure. Lighthearted ok. Constructed well and strong voice from the author. But I’m glad it’s over.
Consider this review as more of a warning? There’s outright zionism in this book. Even though the protagonist criticizes zionism, it’s still hard to read. It’s an ongoing conversation throughout the novel and truthfully, though it’s an important conversation to have, I don’t believe it was appropriate considering the tone of this novel.
Second, the fatphobia and the fetishizing of fat women was disturbing. You might think it innocent at first, but as the relationship between Rachel and Miriam progresses, you realize that Rachel is a fatphobe. She presses Miriam’s physical and religious boundaries, she describes her body in odd, consumable ways, and at one point she intentionally dresses to remind Miriam of her thinness. She’s fucking mean. Rachel uses Miriam to liberate herself and by the end I just feel bad for Miriam. Rachel writes her off after their breakup, just assuming that Miriam is at least content when they see each other again. Fuck that.
And finally, I know it’s called “Milk Fed” but… that was a lot of incest. Or implied incest. I can’t even describe it.
Funny sure. Lighthearted ok. Constructed well and strong voice from the author. But I’m glad it’s over.