While this book is supposed to be a look at the life of Hervé Guibert, I have no idea who that is or his significance to the literary world, which is notable according to the book. What stuck out to me in this book is the critique of motherhood and the failings of the US medical system.
Zabreno goes through two pregnancies during the writing of this book and the second one coincides with COVID. Her ailments are repeatedly dismissed (which is unsurprising given Invisible Women), she is strung along on part-time contracts with Universities and needs to keep playing whatever games they put in front of her because she needs the health insurance.
The US specifically, and the wider world, does a terrible job of listening to women and supporting families. If we should judge a government by how it treats the worst off people in society, most of our countries are failing.
If you’re into literary criticism then this was a decent read. If you have no idea who Hervé Guibert is and don’t like literary criticism then skip it.