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dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75 ⭐ Firstly, the writing in Hum is fantastic - the author is able to evoke such a feeling of dread and anxiety and confusion that I had to take a couple days break after Part 2 because I was genuinely anxious. I could feel May's desire to give her children the life she felt they deserved, while restricted so heavily by the world around her - between finances, the state of the world, the environmental crisis, everything was against her in different ways, making her feel like she was failing as a mother and partner.
Some spoilerly thoughts:
Some spoilerly thoughts:
Phillips did a phenomenally earie job in demonstrating how freely and openly society judges and villainizes mothers in moments of hardship in parenthood, while father's so rarely feel this judgement and scrutiny despite frequently being involved in those moments just as much as the mother. - After the incident, I couldn't help but agree with how thoroughly May wanted to protect Lu and Sy from every possible instance where they (or their DNA) could be accessed by someone other than herself. That protective instinct going into overdrive when her brain recognized a threat.
- Jem and May's relationship throughout the book was so raw and realistic, each of them just wanting to be better for each other and their children while at the same time unsure of how to just exist together during their struggles.
- What the hell is horsie go round??
Ultimately, a creepy creepy book with some seriously good writing.