Review: The Womb by Mary G

Published: October 2015

Pages: 142

Synopsis: “Isaac lives in Istanbul, Turkey, and in a week, he'll turn eighteen and he will die. There's nothing tragic about it because it's all happened before, over and over again. In every life Isaac has ever lived, he dies at eighteen and returns to his mother's womb to relive the same empty existence day in, day out. He knows every moment of his life by heart. He remembers being born and then growing up to see his parents' marriage fall apart. Isaac has spent each life isolated; what's the point in making connections when they end at eighteen? This life, though, something is different. In this life, the week before his birthday, he receives a gift. His mother, who has many dark issues of her own, sends Isaac a typewriter. He thinks maybe-just maybe-if he rewrites his own story, the story will change. Maybe he'll find a new ending. He doesn't have much time, but there's a chance he can save himself and his mother from a cursed destiny that brings nothing but pain.”

Rating: ****

I received a free copy of The Womb in exchange for an honest review.

Within pages the book already felt real and had such authenticity. It felt so relevant to now, even down to people being so absorbed in themselves and their own lives to even notice when someone bumps into them on the street.

The idea of the protagonists’ parents’ marriage falling apart when they are an adult is an unusual one, with a different set of emotions and reactions to when this happens to a child.

It was an interesting idea; Isaac believing he can remember details from inside the womb.

I found Nadia's storyline distressing and difficult to read, and the way they finally came together was very well written and thought out.

The group counselling sessions were a very clever way of the author integrating numerous opinions and theories about a particular subject, be it the human experience as a whole or something more specific such as forgiveness.

The quote that resonated with me most came near the end of the book: "Being alive is a treasure no one can ever steal. Give it your best shot daily. Be happy. Sometimes it is the smallest things that make you happiest."