bookmaddie's reviews
1104 reviews

A fun and informative read with gorgeous page design and so many amazing cartoons and comics! Loved learning about female cartoonists in the 1920s and 30s.

I saw this one on the NBA long list and was intrigued by the premise, so to the library I went! This book is told in four parts, following women in the same family and how different dolls helped each of them in moments of crisis.

I was a bit surprised that most of the book was written from the perspective of a child, and I was really into it at first. But as the story followed different women, I found the young voices a bit repetitive and indefinite. Even so, certain parts stood out, especially the historical stories that took place in different boarding schools. So harrowing and heartrending.

I enjoyed the nesting doll structure, which allowed us to be introduced to a woman in one section, and then get her perspective in the next section. I’ve seen this structure in some other books that explore generational trauma, and I’ve enjoyed it the most in this novel. I do wonder if another method of storytelling would be equally effective but more varied.. Guess I’ll have to keep reading to find out if anyone else has written something different!

This novel beautifully explores themes of healing, understanding, and intuition. The last part was especially touching and dug into how generational trauma is passed down, and what healing could look like. This wasn’t a standout novel for me, but I appreciated the time I got to spend with the story. If the premise sounds interesting to you, I’d definitely give it a go!

dark and twisted as fuck but quite interesting… ending felt a bit flat? 

i cry 😭

Another dramatic, dark, but warm story from Moreno-Garcia! Great audiobook—my love for Gisela Chipe’s narration only grows.

Wish it was a bit longer. Gorgeous art.

This novel explores the idea that trauma can be passed down through generations, and how someone can heal from it. Dorothy lives in the near future and struggles with crippling depression and anxiety, having tried all sorts of treatments that never live up to their sterling promises. She is recommended an experimental genetic treatment that allows the subject to experience the memories and lives of their ancestors, unlocking memories and finding ways to heal past selves. The narrative then jumps between Dorothy's perspective in the future, and those of her ancestors throughout history.

I really enjoyed the historical perspectives of the women Dorothy comes from. Ford's writing brings to life a vast array of time periods, creating engaging stories, even when we may only spend a fraction of the book with a character. However, in Dorothy's sections, I found the warmth to evaporate from the writing. It left her sections feeling lackluster in some way, and made it harder for me to connect with her story. I also found it a bit hard to understand the passage of time in Dorothy's sections. I can understand how some of these writing choices may have been made to reflect each character, but I think overall, it made for an uneven, and at times confusing, reading experience.

I also found the structure a tad repetitive. Each historical perspective ends with some sort of trauma, which makes sense due to the premise, but chapter after chapter—it felt endless. I wonder if there would have been a way to structure the story a bit differently so that each chapter felt a bit less formulaic.

This was a mixed bag for me. I think the writing wasn't strong enough to pull off such a complicated, idea. However, the idea is fascinating, and I'd be curious to see what Ford publishes in the future. Maybe I'd do better with a more straightforward (and historical?) plot.

Thanks Atria Books and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy. Sorry it took me so long to read it!