Women Talking: The Oscar-winning film starring Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley and Claire Foy

Another dreary tale from Canada's one trick pony.

An uneasy read, not only because of the subject matter (' me too') but at first glance it's also plain and boring because let's face it, that is what these women are to OUR modern, non communal, open societies. The author got that also bang on and that got her the 5th star from me. Thanks. P.S. Anyone needing a faster paced, lighter and a slightly more modern look at the lives of the similar ( but not the same) Pennsylvania Deutsch/ Amish, I suggest you try Linda Castillo. Top notch crime-mystery.

Acabei de ler o livro, cuja leitura comecei, logo após assistir ao filme Women Talking. A obra me ajudou a preencher lacunas, para entender a história retratada. O livro e o filme são obras de arte, que trazem verdades duras de serem lidas. O caminho decisório das mulheres passa por muitas discussões, mas, quando elas conseguem definir claramente por quê elas lutam, o processo se torna mais fácil: elas querem manter a fé que professam, cuidar de seus filhos e pensar! Espero no fundo do coração que as mulheres menonitas estejam mais seguras e vivam em melhores condições.

I really dug how this was written. Although, at first, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to handle any graphic violence that could, or would be, discussed in intense particulars which led up to the secret meetings these women have. I was relieved to see the approach Towes took.She keeps it to a minimum, and the focus is more on if they stay and grant forgiveness, stay and fight, or basically leave.I finished the book in record time. Even with having to put it down a few times, when my emotions ran too high, and got the better of me.I was significantly crestfallen when not presented with the knowledge of how the women fared after making their decision, and what happens to August. I even tried to do some internet research to see if anything came up, and it almost seems as if the women were conviently "forgotten" about.Other than that, I would absolutely give this 5 stars. I'm rather rigorous on what gets five stars. I generally reserve 5 stars for one of 3 categories.1) The Classics2) Books I absolutely would read again, or3) Those that profoundly affected my whole being while reading, and left an intense deeply-rooted impression as well.This book hit #3 for sure. It can be a hard read at times, but I found it a necessary read. If nothing else, the voices of these women, and children, were given recognition and empowerment.

I'm rarely driven to write a review but - WOWWW - I loved this book so much. I downloaded it onto my Kindle after seeing an ad for the movie, because I thought it looked like a story I'd enjoy (I didn't know anything about Mennonites but find religious cults quite fascinating!). Anyway, I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but somehow it wasn't what I got. What I got was smarter, more beautiful, more profound than I could have expected. It's a story about independence, what fighting looks like, what love, abuse, hurt, hate, ferocity, bravery and passion are. It's about finding the words for the world around us, when we've been made voiceless. God, I wept at the end. Just brilliant. Astoundingly brilliant. A story I won't ever forget.

With this rather short novel, Miriam Toews demonstrates against just what a great writer she is.A very dense atmosphere, great character observations, psychological depth and astute analysis of authoritarian, patriarchal societies or rather closed communities.Reading this, I cringed so many times at the structural and religious violence the women depicted and the power exerted over them - but Toews also shows the resilience and resistance and solidarity of her characters.