killertomes's reviews
57 reviews

informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

It's a translated Japanese fiction about a woman working in an office with all male employees and expected to do all the meanile tasks but one day announces she can't clean away all the dirty cups because she's infact pregnant and finds the smell of cigarette butt's and coffee nauseating. But we know otherwise she's not pregnant and she has to keep up her appreances as a mother to be.

This novel is about the expectations and demands made of women.

It brings to light the differences women are treated and how if you're pregnant that you may get treated more kindly than if you weren't.
I noticed that once pregnant, you become everyone's interest with prying questions, and your wellbeing is theirs to have commentary on or judge.
Shibata gave herself quite the commitment to keep up too but also embraced it and started taking care of herself more and recovering her body from the burn out she was subdued too.
As the story unfolds the pregnancy starts to feel more like reality than fake but as she made herself believe she has more value as a women by being a mother. Is a women's worth lessened if she's not intending to bear children.
I noticed a lot of empty cores and voids within the book in relation to Shibatas body, are we as women seen as empty cores? made and waiting to be useful.
Responsibilities in the workplace should've been shared all along, not left to the women to just get on with

Content Warnings

Out There Screaming by Jordan Peele, John Joseph Adams

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan

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reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Final Girls by Riley Sager

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Girls by Emma Cline

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoy this the coming of age young girl was portrayed really well and the way she felt misunderstood and had that longing to be loved by that particular person. It showed that young adolescent naivity and infatuation. Definately look up trigger warnings for this one but it was a decent depiction of the Mansonesque ranch and being apart of a cult group. If you like reading about cults then seeing a fiction based around one might be fun for you. Emma Cline is a good writer definately would like to see what else she puts out there.

Content Warnings