Syndrie
"Wife Shaped Bodies" read like a mashup of body horror fever dream and social commentary, and it was absolutely fascinating.
In a world where "normal" women no longer exist, a new breed of women — who are really more mushroom than woman at this point — has taken their place. But these women do not get to live normal lives as their main purpose is just to be wives for their husbands. They're there to keep the men company as well as provide new daughters to help continue the cycle. This novel mainly follows the story of Nicole, an extremely sheltered woman who has just now reached the age where she is to be wed to her husband.
Cranehill's prose is descriptive, evocative, and unsettling. This wasn't just a novel I could visualize in my mind's eye, but it's one that I could almost feel, smell, and even taste. The detailed descriptions of the women's fungi covered bodies really cemented just how unnatural their existence was while also giving off the sense of both wonder and disgust.
This is also a novel that feels more like an experience instead of simply a story. While we do have a plot that touches on themes of oppression and gender inequality, a lot of the story is used just broadcasting Nicole's inner thoughts and feelings. The novel is written in first person so we get an intimate insight into Nicole's emotions, thoughts, and physical senses. So while the plot is important to set the scene of the novel, the real story is getting to watch Nicole grow and see how her experiences shape her own personality and her relationships with others.
If you're interested in stories that are a bit weird or off kilter, and the blurb sounds interesting to you, then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of "Wife Shaped Bodies" for yourself. It's quite a unique read and I don't think a review will really be able to properly convey the experience — you really just need to read it for yourself to understand!
(Thank you to Saga Press for providing me with an advance review copy for free via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)
"Wife Shaped Bodies" read like a mashup of body horror fever dream and social commentary, and it was absolutely fascinating.
In a world where "normal" women no longer exist, a new breed of women — who are really more mushroom than woman at this point — has taken their place. But these women do not get to live normal lives as their main purpose is just to be wives for their husbands. They're there to keep the men company as well as provide new daughters to help continue the cycle. This novel mainly follows the story of Nicole, an extremely sheltered woman who has just now reached the age where she is to be wed to her husband.
Cranehill's prose is descriptive, evocative, and unsettling. This wasn't just a novel I could visualize in my mind's eye, but it's one that I could almost feel, smell, and even taste. The detailed descriptions of the women's fungi covered bodies really cemented just how unnatural their existence was while also giving off the sense of both wonder and disgust.
This is also a novel that feels more like an experience instead of simply a story. While we do have a plot that touches on themes of oppression and gender inequality, a lot of the story is used just broadcasting Nicole's inner thoughts and feelings. The novel is written in first person so we get an intimate insight into Nicole's emotions, thoughts, and physical senses. So while the plot is important to set the scene of the novel, the real story is getting to watch Nicole grow and see how her experiences shape her own personality and her relationships with others.
If you're interested in stories that are a bit weird or off kilter, and the blurb sounds interesting to you, then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of "Wife Shaped Bodies" for yourself. It's quite a unique read and I don't think a review will really be able to properly convey the experience — you really just need to read it for yourself to understand!
(Thank you to Saga Press for providing me with an advance review copy for free via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)