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sreesha_diva's review
dark
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
//TW: Mention of rape.
There's an author's note at the beginning where he writes that this book was considered misogynistic by many. He writes that the misogyny of the characters was not up to him to control. I assumed he meant it was a portrayal of how people were at the time the story took place, but by chapter 2 I realized, the story is actually being narrated by a father to his son in the present day. Every female character - EVERY FEMALE CHARACTER - is either [TW] raped or murdered. Yes, EVERY FEMALE CHARACTER. Also, every time a woman is introduced, she's described breasts-first. This book is a karma farm for r/menwritingwomen. The horror of the narrator describing all this to a 5yo! Come on! It's a shame really, for the first chapter raised my expectations given the lush prose and interesting premise.
I started Moustache right after Olive Kitteridge (went in blind in both cases), and both books are collections of short stories only vaguely connected to each other because of the titular character. Some stories in Moustache have non-linear narratives and while usually a fan of these, it does not do any the book any favors, only making the narrative thinner and more convoluted.
A note about the audiobook: I listened to Moustache on Audible and Mary Joseph made a really strange choice with the tone of narration. I didn't mind the mispronunciations of words so much (though I doubt if I'll ever be able to read the words "interesting" or "vulnerable" or "wherewithal" again without her voice in my head), but the pauses (or lack thereof) in the middle of sentences really took me out of the story. Moreover, the narration sounded overly cheerful, while dealing with dark subjects. It was like watching a grinning news reporter talking about a bomb hitting a school bus. At multiple points, the narrator straight up chuckled, jarringly taking me out of the story.
If you're thinking of whether or not to read this book, maybe you heard about it or a friend recommended it or want to know more about the caste system or you're curious because it won awards, I'd still suggest skipping it is the way to go. I have learned nothing new from it, and the treatment of the women in this book has left a horrible taste in my mouth.
There's an author's note at the beginning where he writes that this book was considered misogynistic by many. He writes that the misogyny of the characters was not up to him to control. I assumed he meant it was a portrayal of how people were at the time the story took place, but by chapter 2 I realized, the story is actually being narrated by a father to his son in the present day. Every female character - EVERY FEMALE CHARACTER - is either [TW] raped or murdered. Yes, EVERY FEMALE CHARACTER. Also, every time a woman is introduced, she's described breasts-first. This book is a karma farm for r/menwritingwomen. The horror of the narrator describing all this to a 5yo! Come on! It's a shame really, for the first chapter raised my expectations given the lush prose and interesting premise.
I started Moustache right after Olive Kitteridge (went in blind in both cases), and both books are collections of short stories only vaguely connected to each other because of the titular character. Some stories in Moustache have non-linear narratives and while usually a fan of these, it does not do any the book any favors, only making the narrative thinner and more convoluted.
A note about the audiobook: I listened to Moustache on Audible and Mary Joseph made a really strange choice with the tone of narration. I didn't mind the mispronunciations of words so much (though I doubt if I'll ever be able to read the words "interesting" or "vulnerable" or "wherewithal" again without her voice in my head), but the pauses (or lack thereof) in the middle of sentences really took me out of the story. Moreover, the narration sounded overly cheerful, while dealing with dark subjects. It was like watching a grinning news reporter talking about a bomb hitting a school bus. At multiple points, the narrator straight up chuckled, jarringly taking me out of the story.
If you're thinking of whether or not to read this book, maybe you heard about it or a friend recommended it or want to know more about the caste system or you're curious because it won awards, I'd still suggest skipping it is the way to go. I have learned nothing new from it, and the treatment of the women in this book has left a horrible taste in my mouth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, and Murder
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