Book: Swallows
Author: Natsuo
Kirino
Pages: 352
Date(s)
Read: September 24th, 2026 to October 24th, 2026
Date
Published: September 9th, 2025
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Thriller?
Characters: 4/5
Writing style: 5/5
Story: 3/5
Ending: 2/5
Cover: 1/5
Format: Hard Cover
Date Bought: August 3rd, 2025
Book Cost: $14.50
Review:
Swallows is
an interesting book but falls short, it's not a thriller either which was what
I expected.
In Swallows
Riki becomes a surrogate mother in a desperate bid for money. It's rather
uneventful, but the writing style makes you feel like more is happening than it
is.
This book
does pose a lot of questions about a woman's reproductive age and value as a
person in relation to it. It shows how surrogacy preys on desperate women with
few choices. There's also a deep exploration of parental family dynamics and
procreation, as well as family expectations about grandchildren and continuing
family lineage. It's truly a multilayered book that looks at the intricacies
behind one's decision to both have children and be a surrogate. There are also interesting characters,
motivations, and relationships that center around the characters that show how
decisions can become complicated by bringing other people into your choices and
decisions. That part of the book is truly well done.
But outside
of its deep philosophical questions about womanhood and motherhood, it just
falls flat as a story. The story really doesn't go anywhere. The ending was
abrupt and a huge letdown as well after all of the buildup.
I love Natsuo Kirinos writing style and her other books, but this left me feeling very hollow.
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