Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo
Published by Penguin, 5th March 2020 (first published 2nd May 2019)
Genres: Contemporary fiction, literary fiction, feminism, LGBTQ+, race
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Trigger warnings: sexual assault, racism, discrimination
Synopsis
This is Britain as you’ve never seen it.
This is Britain as it has never been told.
This book tells the stories of twelve women from all over the country, of all ages and from many walks of life. All of these women have a story to tell, they are searching for something in their lives, be it love, success, family, or simply hope.
My thoughts
What a book! This one really lived up to my expectations and was very impactful.
When I first picked it up, I wasn’t sure that I was going to get along with the writing style; it is written almost in verse, with no punctuation. But I quickly forgot about that. The text simply flowed naturally and the lack of punctuation quickly became a non-issue. I think it really works though because it is as if the characters are speaking their stories, and the style allows for their individual expressions and voices to be heard.
I have read several reviews from people who listened to the audiobook and had no idea it was written in this style.
In addition, I really enjoyed that each chapter focused on one woman and her story. It was interesting to read a book from so many different perspectives and to spot the connections between these women. This technique also allowed for multiple perspectives on the same situation which I loved.
And of course, this is a book about women. And in some ways, I think it is a book for women. These twelve women come from completely different backgrounds and have faced many struggles in their lives. But their stories are valid and their lives matter. I loved the strong female voices throughout this book and I had to take a couple of days after reading this to let it all sink in.
One of the best books I read last year!
My rating: 5/5